El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-29
! ABHOR THESE
PROBLEM PLAYS
May Robson Says the Real
Human Plays Are the
Ones That Live.

! Il abhor these problem plays-there
is nothing to them; they don't last; they
/ are frothy, sensational and all the talk
! for the minute, but forgotten as quickly
Z as they came into prominence"
This was the very emphatic declara-
/ ton of Miss May Robson, beloved of
American actresses, IN her dressing
: room at the Crawford last night during
\ her last performance Of her FL Paso
! engagement She was resting between
acts two and three and petting q beau
! tiful red-brOwn Pekinese poodle buddy
He's the best there is" she said. as
she patted him tenderly. His mother
/ was given TO me in London and his
father is the prize Pekinese OF New
York" The proud little mother paraded
: around the chair as her mistress talked
As the puppy cuddled up in her lap.
I Miss Robson returned TO her discussion
of the drama.
The Plays That Live.
How many Of these sensational
problem plays will we hear of five years
from now? What makes a play? Tt is
holding up the mirror TO nature. Take
the old Homestead In Old Kentucky
shore Acres and those good old plays
( Why. old Homestead ran for "a years
and II is still popular. My 'Rejuvena-
tiOn of Aunt Mary has been running
for eight years and still the people
don't want me TO give it up. The plays
the people want are plays that are true
TO life; that have the sentiment the
smiles and the real humanity in them.
When I have retired, ] want it said
Of me that whatever May Robson
played, ii was clean. / was never
prouder in all my life than once in Los
Angeles, when q daughter asked her
mother if she might go to the theater
to see May Robson, and the mother an
swered: Yes. YOU may go to see May
Robson any time. for when you see her
billed for a performance, you can be
certain that it is one that viii not make
young girl blush Since that. I have
heard many such remarks from moth
ers and II has always made me happy
TO know this reputation L have main
tanned.
Likes Real Characters.
Il like plays with real characters in
them. l study my characters and try
to make them all real I try to put them
before the public as the characters live
in real life. I have never played any
thing but character parts and 7 like
comedy parts because I think that is
the best way to reach the people. a
play does not become sloppy or mushy
when il has a comedy element in it,
You can introduce sentiment into a
comedy-all my plays have it--,but with
comedy in them. you don't drive people
into the blues. While you may tug at
the heartstrings once in a while you
soon bring a laugh that keeps the
mushy element out. Life is tears and
laughter. A play made up OF tears and
laughter is the sort of play that ap-
peals-just few tiny tears; just
enough TO make people feel the reality
OF it all.
Likes to Make People Fec Good.
Il have been before the people "a long
time and I enjoy it, for I make them
laugh. and sometimes they shed a tear
and they feel good about it. and I feel
good for making the~7 'cel good. I be-
lieve in laughter. as 'tily i'm private
life as I preach il I'm plays. Laugh
ter is the great tonic % lie. Without it,
what would the world be-
- good healthy lauGhable play is a
great blessing, but these modern prob
lem plays-ugh,'
After the matinee Miss Robson re-
ceived number Of El Pasoans on the I
stage for a short time, including Rev.
and Mrs. c. L. Overstreet Mrs. Frank !
FTickleton. who knew Miss Robson's 4
mother. who lived TO be almost 90; Mrs.
a. T. AVerill and Mrs. 5. H. Sutherland, /
eXpresident and president Of the Wom- |
ans club: Mrs. l. G. Witherspoon. Mrs. |
W. G. Roe. Mrs G. A. Martin and sew /
eral others.
Likes FL PasO.
ct like FL Paso and the west she !
told them. "and 7 am always happy /
when 7 come out here. Your people are !
always so generous in their appreci |
alton. 1 feel as II I am among real |
friends when I come here. I am going |
on to Los Angeles for a week and viii |
fill engagements at Pasadena and other /
places nearby for another week. so / am /
going to have two whole weeks i'm that /
delightful California city, and 7 am |
going to take an apartment and keep I
house. Think how nice ii will be to l
keep house for two whole weeks"
Miss Robson. who In real life is not /
a miss, but Is a grandmother. is ac-
by her daughter and little
grandson on her trip and she thinks
there is nothing in the world like the !