The New York herald., 1921-02-20
Adams, Barrymore, Gillette,
Tempest and Now Miss
Ruth ChattertOn.

When n player Is intrusted with his
or her first J. NJ. Barrie role the follow
Ing OF the little Scotchman gathers itself
together, and there is much wagging Of
heads. lengthy discussions concerning
the previous performances OF the player
performances in which elements ap-
peared fitting the player. or rendering
him ineligible, for the test Of Barrie
role. And before this tribunal the player
must pass. conscious that to him or her
has been allotted the labor OF meeting
the widely differing views of the thou
sands of Barrieites. the big-almost I'M
possible--feat of pleasing them all.
The latest instance of breaking into a
Barrie role IS that of Miss Ruth Chat
terton, the heroine of Barrie's Mary
Rose" at the Empire. Her performance
In a play that has aroused perhaps.
more discussion than any earlier work
OF the playwright would seem to have
placed her securely in the esteem of the
judges. and she has been acceTted as a
new and satisfying Barrie player here
in America.
Miss Chatterton came to the role from
a succession OF drawing room" char
acters and sacch1rine schoolgirl parts.
beloved of prep schoolgirls, and sub
debs, and save for roles of more serious
import during an earlier training with
numerous stock companies before she
became known to New York. she had
been intrusted with no portrayals call
ing for any great depth or weiehiy
preparation. Her acceptance by the Bar
rie clan. therefore is gratifying to her
friends and admirers.
When Miss Maude Adams essayed
her first Barrie role. that OF Lady
Babbie in THE Little Minister at the
Empire in October OF 1897 she came
70 II prepared spiendidly by a long
term with the Empire Theatre Stock
Company and later service as lead
ing woman with John Drew.
William Gllette's first Barrie char
acter was that of the title role in THE
Admirable Crichton." produced at the
Lyceum Theatre In March. 1908. This
Barrie portrayal followed his success
In plays of his own construction. no.
tably Secret Service" and Sherlock
Holmes"
Miss Ethel Barrymores success in
her first part from the Scotchman's
hand occurred memorably at the Cri-
terlon Theatre In December 1905. when
she acted alice ce-Sit-by-the-Fire." The
latter performance takes on additional
interest when ID Is recalled that John
BARRYMORE appeared In this cast with
his sister. while n curtain raiser was
Barrie's "Pantaioon." in which John
barrymore was Cforu and Lionel Bar
ry,more the Pdutnioon. The one act
play. as well. marked the first and only
performance of Barrie role by Lionel
Barrymore.
In January OF 1912 at the Empire
Theatre. Ethel and John BARRYMORE
again appeared together In Barrie
sketch ~ Slice OF Life" the three
characters of the playlet. described by
the author as IAN advanced drama"
being interpreted by the two Barry
mores and Hattie Williams.
At the Lyceum. in September OF 1915.
Miss Marie Tempest essayed her first
Barrie role. the title part In "Rosalind.
the short play composing half OF
double bill the longer PLAY being re-
vlval of "The Duke of Killlcrankie."
An excellent delineator OF middle
aged Barrie characters Is Wlnifred
Fraser. who Is the mother. Mrs. More
land, In MARY Rose" She was n
mother. as we'll Mt tho Empire a few
seasons ago IN the whimsical The
New Word Z" and IN London. as firmly
as here. she is looked upon as one OF
tho most expert OF Barrie actresses.
The MARY Rose" cast also includes
O. r.. Clarence. who IN London created
roles in "The Will" THE New Word"
and "a Kiss for Cinderella" In his
younger days hs toured the English
provinces. playing the Rev. SGrin DIS
hart in THE Little Minister"