New-York tribune., 1922-11-05
Ann Mason Praises
The Spirit of Stock
Company Players

"heh 4he Last warning" slipped
quietly into town and into the Klav
Theater and proceeded to raise goose
flesh In a New York irst-night audi
ence, Broadway habitues from Forty
second Street to the northern rim of
columbus Circle began asking Dues
tions. They wanted to know much more
than they did know about the two now
famous Mikes-Michael Goldrever and
Michael Mindlin-who produced the
show; more about man named Fallon.
who wrote it, and more about an ac-
tress named Mason, who played the
leading feminine role.
who is this Ann Mason, anyway ?''
they asked. "What did she ever do be-
fore? Where did she get that voice ~
Some Of the regulars did recall that
the Ann Mason of "The Last Warming
was the Ann Mason of "The Acouittal, /"
presented couple of seasons ago by
George M. Cohan. But the majority of
the first nighters seemed unable to
place Miss Mason with any degree OF
certainty.
For the benefit of those who knew
only little Of Ann Mason's past and
those who knew nothing at all, an ac-
count of her theatrical activities is
hereby presented.
Miss Mason came to Broadway via
was stock actress. Her first engage
ment was at Yonkers, and Getty Square
seemed as great as Times Square--or
greater. George Foster Platt came
across Miss Mason while she was at
1onkers and induced her to 70 to Mil
Waukee to join the Modern Players,
Ihere she obtained what she now con-
sIders highly valuable experience, act
ing in the plays of many of the Conti-
mental playwrights, More stock fol-
1owed at Northampton, Mass, and when
the young actress came to the con.
clusien that she was ready for Broad.
! way, even though Broadway might not
be ready for her, she had appeared In
just about every play ever written
During her stock career she made her
best impression, she believes, in "Erst.
while Susan"
In the Rita Weiman melodrama. "The
Acquittal," Ann Mason made he1
Broadway debut, and a successful
debut it was, as you no doubt recall
1t wasn't particularly pleasant part
that Miss Mason had, but her portrayal
of it ranked as one Of the best indi.
vidual performances of the month.
SIN my first engagement" said Miss
Mason the other afternoon, "I learned
something of the beauty and the in.
| spiration of stock company stage com.
radeship. Indeed, it is very strange te
me that no one has ever stopped to dis.
cuss the business of stock players
their confidence in one another and
their untiring desire to help one an.
other.
For years people have made critical
remarks about stage jealousy, egotism
and selfishness, but they have never
given thought to the unselfishness OF
stock players. Why, there were times
when we shared meals and salaries with
one another. There have been times
when we doubled in parts because some
one in the company was too i'll to go
on. Sacrifices of this sort are going
on constantly wherever there is stock
and repertoire.
"As to my present part in The Last
Warming like il particularly for the
simple reason that 1t reveals effec-
lively the inner life of players, their
comradeship, affection and mutual am.
bitions. And 1t is because / believe
these matters have never been fully
appreciated that l am SO eager to laud
stock"