New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-22
"BUNN' OFF THE STAGE
Molly Pearson a Player Of Un-
usual Training and Experience.

such a simple way that you hardly stop
10 notice the art she has used in produce
ing her effects YOU are very likely to for
get that she has needed preparation Tor
IL or that very serious effort is back or her
playing The emotional actress, with great
technique" and highly developed per-
sonal style. on the other hand. is constant
" asked What was your training Tor the
STAGE"
A feeling of humility 10 his own edu-
cation and background often steals over
the one who hears the story OF study ana
experience that stretches back from the
first success of such n player OF light COM
edv as Miss Molly Pearson. who is now'
with simple grace and unaffected art play
ing the difficult role Of Bunty at the Com
eay Theatre. New York remembered her,
because she had already attracted notice
here in THE Passing OF the Third Floor
Back with Professionalism But that
together with her present success in the
new Scotch comedy, is all that New York
ers generally know about Miss Pearson.
Everybody who sees her agrees that he has
had charming evenings entertainment
but usually he is not curious. lie does
not say to himself: Yes. but now did she
learn character like that
Miss Pearson is unusual There is no
favor Of the stage about her. She has
learned In a different school from that OF
the majority Ii was not dramatic school,
nor even a repertory theatre. Ii was travel.
considered by some to be the best Of
schools And when YOU talk with Miss
Pearson YOU find IL is places and peoples.
not plays and parts. that form the subject
of her thoughts
II was only few days ago that she said
with genuine delight and with the exquisite
pleasure in the thought that only born
wanderer can show, DO you know have
never been in aoy one place in the world
for longer than four years? And those,
she added laughingly. were the first four.
Going around and around the English prov
inces, playing al Glasgow. at Manchester.
at Brighton-all the big and little places.
with all their different crowds of people
and their widely differing tastes-was Miss
Pearson's entry into stage life. After that
II was her lot. or her good luck-she
seemed undecided which 10 consider ito
play in London for awhile. Fortune beck
oned her to South Africa next. TO play TO
such audiences as could not be gathered
elsewhere. audiences OF khaki-clad soldiers.
without womans face in the throng from
the first row in the pit TO the last circle Of
the top gallery. and audiences of Beers and
gatherings of South African society at
Iadysmith and the larger cities audiences
formed of every kind of men and women.
many of them driftwood from all parts Of
the world After South Africa there was
Australia and after Australia the United
States. She has been twice across this
country to the Pacific Coast. and now she
wants to go TO Honolulu and the South
Sea Islands
But 10 play--to give performances down
there. on the Pacihc islands" was asked
Of her. incredulouSly.
"Oh. no, 1 shall learn 10 ride the break
ers. as the natives do. perhaps. AT any
rate, | should think it would be magnii-
cent there. and | am anxious TO go and
catch the spirit Of IT, Some places make
me very happy. South Africa did. can't
tell exactly why. but l think 1t was just
something about the place and the WONDER
ful-perhaps | should say magician II
IS fresh and strong and sweet But then
that doesn't describe IT, There is flavor
about Africa that one cannot liken 10 any
thing else
Every place is different" she unused.
"aud all are worth going 10. have
not seen 30 much OF the older countries as
of the new. although / had good taste
of Germany | was educated there. In
little North German town. In sehleswg-
HoIstein. very remote from any cosmopoli-
tan Influences. that was where 1 went to
school-one of those rigid, thorough Ger
man schools, where everything that's done
at all must be done properly There were
only two persons In the whole town who
spoke.a little English. ] never saw either
Of them. SO you see hau 10 rear" "ei
man"
So much aIertness To places and people
that have been new to her has no doubt
increased The Inconsistencies Of self when
seems natural 10 her and which is one OF
the most charming qualities Of her acting.
" was hard 10 get her TO talk about her.
self 10 tell the personal things OF which
when YOU are with her while. you feel sure
ter short history is full There were only
scrans Of things to be coaXed from her
One was that when she decided 10 90 on
m. stage. a decision which fell like bomb
in the midst Of her orthodox Scotch family
she managed 10 &c; letter 70 Sir George
Alexander the we'll known London manager
When she saw him finally she was so con-
fused she could hardly speak
Il wish to 20 on the stage. have had
no experience a. all" was all she managed
10 nnurmur i
Sir George was amused and sent her 10
Ben Greet. thinking he might take an inter-
est in her In three months she was playing
the provinces as Lady Babbie IN The Lit
lie Minister" Since then she has taken
every kind Of part that required personal
and unique flavor and according 10 her own
opinion mad varying success.
1T is unsatisfactory often to play in
London" she said Il think ] became a
though nothing counted. No matter what
efforts ! made ] didn't feel that ] was
getting on as fast as ] wanted TO-
People come 10 the theatre in London
in a moody state very often, and how
ever they feel they reflect II on the play
They are given 10 grouches you know
] have felt in such good spirits here that
am devoted 10 America. Americans make
one feel that IT is only ones work that
counts II the work is good they recog-
nize II and give encours cement. That puts
heart in one. tell you.
Il am the only one in the 'Bunty' com
pany. you know, that has ever been 70
America before. And the others chung 10
me before We had our first performance
They were ell quite nervous about the cold.
undemonstrative FIRST night New Workers
that every one talks about told them 70
Go their best and the audience would be
with fheYo nd uarped them not n