Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1913-05-30
Merely Mary Ann"

Merely Mary Ann"
Merely Mary Ann as presented by
the Senior class of the Cresco high
school at the Armory last Tuesday
evening, was a clever mixture of
humor and pathos and held the undi-
vided attention Of a large and dis
eliminating audience. The scene is
laid in London, and Mary Ann is an
orphan employed as a maid-of-all-
work in Mrs. Leadbeater's boarding
house. Among the latter's boarders Is
Launcelot, composer with lofty
ideals but lean purse. He disdains
to write popular music that will sell,
or accept the return Of a loan from
his college chum, Mr.. Peter. He is
finally given chance to pay his board
by teaching music to Rosie, the land
lady's daughter, who wants to be
''lady," but gives this up in disgust
when she expects to learn at once
something classical like 'Good-by and
Goodnight" He falls in love with
Mary Ann and the latter returns it in
her sweet, confiding way. They plan
to go to the country, taking Dick,
Mary AIMS canary with them, when
their plans are suddenly upset by the
announcement that Mary Ann has
fallen heir to five million dollars. She
cannot understand his motive when he
tells her that their marriage is now
impossible, and the parting leaves her
broken-hearted. Five years later she
is discovered as Marion the beautiful
young heiress, besieged by endless
lovers. At party given at her coun-
try home she meets again the CON-
poser Launcelot, now famous for his
opera "Maid Marion," of which she
had been the inspiration. He recog.
nized her at length as the Mary Ann
he had really loved all these years. He
again asks her to marry him, but this
time it is she that tells him it is i'm
possible. Grief stricken he turns to
the piano and strikes up the melody Of
the song he had played for her at their
parting five years before. The music
suddenly ceases and Launcelot leans
over the keyboard, overcome by an
guish. Silently, however, Marion
steals back into the room and looking
up at length he discovers her. You
here! he cried, 'you just told me that
our marriage was impossible" Eyes"
she replied ''but that was Marion.
This is Merely Mary Ann -
It would no doubt have been impos-
sibie for Miss McCook to select a play
that was better fitted to the talents of
the class eff 1913 In Will Darrow she
found an ideal person for Launcelot,
the composer. His unusual talent as
an actor and musician made it possible
for him to carry out his part with al
most the skill of professional. For
the part of Merely Mary Ann there
was also an ideal person in Winifred
Evans. She seemed to fairly live the
part and her Interpretation of the in
nocent, lovable nature of Mary Ann
won the hearts of her audience from
the very start. Alice Clemmer had
the difficult role of the landlady, and
is entitled to much credit for her work.
So also is Jessie Smart, who appeared
as Rosie, the landlady's daughter, and
formed a decided contrast to Mary
Ann., Rufus Culver, as the friend of
Launcelot, was an able second to Dar-
row, and carried his part with ease
and distinction. There were several
other minor parts, and all did exceed
ingly we'll. A record-breaking crowd
was in attendance, the receipts total
ing nearly $3.50. All seemed more
than pleased with the evenings enter
tainment. ...