New-York tribune., 1919-04-13
AU-An1eriica Dozen
Of Our Actresses
By Haywood Broun

with the dramatic season almost at
an end, 1T is about time to pick an ALL
america acting nine or eleven. At
least, 1t began as nine, but such a
compression was too difficult. even
though we confined ourselves to act
resses alone. Making the team an
eleven did not solve our difficulties. as
three or four players seemed equal. in
our estimation, We finally decided unon
Team OF twelve. That must be the
right number for soccer or lacrosse. or
one OF the round games At any rate.
we needed twelve positions, and twelve
it is.
Ihe list is made up entirely of act
resses who have played in New York
thls season. 1t is our selection of the
twelve best performances. If Laurette
Taylor had been along this way we
probably would have been compelled
to send somebody to the bench. Ethel
barrymore might have further compli-
Gated the situation, but both p1avers
nave been absent for season. One or
TWO players, whom we have not men
TONED, are perhaps more ACCOMPLISHED
than some on the list, but thew did not
come up to their highest standard this
year Also, we have not paid much at
tentlon to versatility. Several of the
players are limited in the type of part
which they can play, but since thew
have done extremely we'll within tb;s
field we felt that they belonged on
the list.
The team, arranged in alphabetical
order, is as follows: Blanche Bates.
Irene Bordoni, Patricia Collinee. Jane
Cowl, Laura Hope Crews, Mrs. Fiske.
Vera Gordon, Helen Hayes, Beryl Mer.
Ger, Ida Rauh, Florence Reed ard Giida
Vatesi.
Blanche Bates not only did extremely
we'll IN two roles. but thsss sFssded
het aH opportunity fer A variety af
w6fk Whieh shows that hef aetiHe
fshes has net lesseHed dufine tbs ti,ae
~ which sie has been absent ffsH The
stage She aaH zoe and she can raae.
"Meliefe" gives her opportunities far
lght comedy, and for full speed ahead
playing as we'll Possibly she is at her
best in full flooded emotional roles.
Her work this season has been note
worthy not only in "Molisre" but a1so
in rather Indifferent poetic pav
called "The Golden Fleece" which she
fairly lifted out Of It's even course in
one big scene
Irene Bofdoh *ss seen IN onlv ore
legitimate production hers this seq
scr, ahd in "sleebihe Partners she
showed very sute i6ueh for fstes, a
touch very definite and light ss we'll.
Patricia Gellinee's little play, "1'illie, ,"
vas net sleeessful IN New YORK, but
Al The same Lime II saemed Ia us that
the Young star was engaging without
beeoming syrupp Miss Golinge has an
exceptional capacity for ereaiine an
impression of exatalon, and she made
The fervor Of the Mennonite girl ex-
tremey convincing
Jane Cowl one of our most able and
versatile actresses, abors under The
handicap Of being also extremely her
sonsble. Cfroniclets Of the theatre are
hereby misled, we think, Into believing
THAI she gains certain tndehiable er-
fects merely by being good ooknc
She Is, however, to our mind very
shfe*d ahd finished scttess. iieht
t6tisHy sfd hsavt eiH8lieH ats almost
equally #ilhin het abiiit. tier per
fermsHee ~ hinfettaaien tea4eH vas
nat neleWerlhF, hu! ~ "the ilrawded
tieuf" she played weli aHalleh Va came
within range Hf her wark IN nlllue
Time" which was rerhsna The hesl
aelnH of her career.
Laura Hope Greps Ia sl her hesl IN
light comedy In this field M othnr
actress in the lai, with the exception
of Mrs. l'iske, can approach her. with
Cyril MnlIdo IN "The Saving Grace" aho
gave one Of the exceptional perform
nncos Of the acnaon. MBs Grows is an
actress who knows that "A certain M
thetc reserve, even in her lightcet mo.
ments,. affords the best roaablc beck.
ground for comedy.
Mira Flake showed mn unfiagging
spirit and n positive genius for gaiety
in "Mis' Nelly Of N'Orlenns," which
transformed a passable play into n
huge success. In this role at least the
name might we'll he Mrs. Frisk.
Vera Gordon is foreign actress