Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-14
NATIONAL-"Mary Rose /"

MARY Rose" an Elusive, ethereal
product of the brain Of Sir James NJ.
Barrie. with Ruth Chatterton in the title
roll mystified a large audience at the
New National Theater last night, where
it opened for weeks rum There was
much audible comment on this fact
That it also delighted considerable
number was evident from the applause.
It is not unlikely that many explana-
tons will be offered for this latest play
of Barrie. Yet it will be difficult to
find a single one that satisfies. The al
tentative is to take MARY Rose for
granted and enjoy the mysticism culled
perhaps from the Gaelic Hebrides, where
one of the acts is laid, and the charm
Of an unusual production. Throughout
runs strain Of humor, entirely delight
full.
One Of the closing pictures of the play
is an Anzac holding real live ghost
on his knee at his wits end to learn how
to lay the ghost. With all respect to
the eminent author, it was evident that
many of the auditors were having no
less difficult task than the AnZac. AS
an aid to mental exercise "Mary Rose"
may be set down as unusually beneficial.
The fantastic creation out-Barries
Barrie. The mysticism keeps on the
alert the particular nerve that reacts
to the supernatural. 1t may be that
Barrie is taking a sly dig" at Sir
and others who are bent upon bring
ing the departed back to the scenes
of their earthly activities in such form
that they may converse with the liv-
ing. At any rate, the lesson appar-
emily contained in the play is that
there is no place on earth for the de-
parted once they have passed over the
great divide.
To Ruth Chatterton has been in
trusted the by no means easy task of
portraying Mary Rose, a sweet young
English girl. but one who has an
swered the call of supernatural pow
ers, or if not supernatural. powers
not as yet recognized. At the age of
twelve. she vanishes from tiny isle
in the Outer Hebrides, where she was
left while her father fished in the
nearby waters. 1t is called "the island
that likes to be visited" and the resi-
strange legends of what has hap
pened to it's visitors; they never visit
the island If they can avoid it. For
a month Mary Rose is lost. and then
she is discovered by her father. sitting
on the island. just where he left her.
totally unconscious of the passage Of
time and unable to recall anything
that has happened to her.
Ten years later Mary Rose falls in
love with Simon Blake, young naval
officer. They are married. and for four
years they lead the normal lives of
young married couple. They have
son. Harry. little shaver approaching
three years Of age. when the whole
family goes to the Hebrides for a holi-
day. Then Mary Rose disappears again.
This time it is for twenty-fiv years.
telegram tells her middle-aged hus
band, now an officer of high rank in
the navy. and her parents chat she is
being brought back. She has not
changed at all. But the changes she
finds In her aged parents and her gray
haired husband terrify Mary Rose.
Then she seeks for her baby boy. Years
before the boy had run away to sea.
and his family had lost all track Of
him. Mary Rose rushes to his old room.
All this is revealed, in a dream or a
vision. to Harry. the grown son, as he
sits In his old home, an Anzaf veteran
Of the great war. The house Is reputed
to be haunted by the ghost of his
mother. and for long time no one has
lived in 1t but an aged caretaker. Then
Mary Rose appears to Harry as the