Gay Zenola MacLaren

              GAY ZENOLA MACLAREN



Figure

GAY ZENOLA MACLAREN 
Imitative Recitals





GAY ZENOLA MACLAREN



F
OR one person to present an entire play, with its many characters of varying types, is a task that would seem well nigh impossible, and that Miss MacLaren is a genius along this particular line of character presentation is readily admitted by all who hear her.  Of her ability in this particular, the Brooklyn 
Daily Eagle
 has this to say:




She has an almost ventriloquistic power of changing her voice to portray a seemingly unlimited number of characters, and it is due to this rare and remarkable gift that she is able to present plays successfully.




Miss MacLaren's power is not the result of years of study and work, but of a natural born gift of mimicry.




The art of imitation is not a new one, but heretofore it has been confined to a line or speech from some play in which the imitator, by means of voice, facial expression, and costume effects suggests the artist to the audience.  Miss MacLaren uses neither costume, scenery or accessories of any kind, and her work is upon a much larger scale.  Instead of one speech, she gives the entire play.  Instead of one player, she imitates each member of the entire company.  She moves about over the stage with fairy-like grace, subtly changing from one character to another with consummate skill, never once intruding her own personality into the picture.  Whether the play has six characters or twenty, the individuality of each is sustained throughout the entire play.  A very clear idea of her methods of presenting a play may be gained from the Asbury Park 
Daily Press
:




She acts the entire play, portraying each character with such remarkable distinctness as to cause her hearers to mentally witness the play enacted by a full cast, and forget for the moment that they are being entertained by a single artist.  It seemed as if she had a large company of players at her call, and as if by magic they entered, rendered the lines, and exited at her command.




There is great need for artistic dramatic entertainment outside of the theater to furnish variety on the Fine

IMITATIVE RECITALS

Tributes


I consider Miss Gay Zenola MacLaren one of the marvels of the age.  She possesses unique genius combined with womanly beauty.  It is a delight to see and hear her.—


Ella Wheeler Wilcox.



It is little less than marvelous to see and hear Miss MacLaren in her imitations of great actors and their company of artists.  The play is given so fully, the characters so perfectly presented, as to leave a profound impression upon all.
—
John W. Wetzel, Professor of Public Speaking, Yale University.



Miss MacLaren gave 'The Sign of the Cross' at the Brooklyn Institute both afternoon and evening.  Her work was superb.  It is not too much to say that she scored a phenomenal success.—


New York Times.



No words can describe her power of keeping from eighteen to twenty characters distinct before an audience.—


Minneapolis Journal.



She acts with a fire and intensity and authority and conviction that are startling.—


Brooklyn Eagle.



Miss MacLaren deserves her fame.—


San Diego Union.



Her imitations were perfect.—


Baltimore Sun.



Miss MacLaren appeared before an audience of over a thousand people, who were held spell-bound by the young artist's marvelous work.—


St. Louis Times.




Had the room been darkened no one could have believed one person was presenting all the characters.—


The Saratogian, Saratoga, N. Y.



The audience was charmed with the young artist's youth and grace and her clever imitation of the many characters.—


New York Telegram.



Her recital before the country club was really phenomenal.—


Dover (Del.) Index.



The audience sat motionless through the entire performance.—


Philadelphia Times.




Her rendering of an entire play is nothing short of wonderful.—


Springfield (Mass.) Republican.



The attention was so great as to amount almost to awe.—


Trenton (N. J.) Daily True American.



Her sixth appearance in Buffalo.  Another triumph.—


Buffalo Courier.




Her work is faultless.—


Youngstown (O.) Vindicator.



Miss MacLaren gave her 100th recital on the Canal Zone at Culebra Saturday night.  She is a little wonder.  She is the idol of the Isthmus.—


Panama Morning Journal.




Miss MacLaren's Recitals are Under the Personal Direction of MRS. SIDNEY McPHAIL CONGRESS HOTEL, CHICAGO



GAY ZENOLA MACLAREN
 Art Courses which are composed almost wholly of music, consequently the Gay Zenola MacLaren recitals are in great demand.


Miss MacLaren Sent by the United States Government to Panama



Miss MacLaren was sent by the U. S. Government to Panama where she gave 108 recitals for the builders of the Canal.




In celebration of her 100th appearance on the Isthmus the Clubhouse at Culebra was beautifully decorated and souvenirs in the form of little booklets, containing Miss MacLaren's picture, signature and repertoire were given to the audience.




She was called the 
Idol of the Isthmus
 and showered with praise and attentions from the humblest steam-shovel operator to the President of the United States himself.  Army officers, in full regimentals, and day laborers, in shirt sleeves, all the important men of the 
big job,
 including Col. Goethals, attended her recitals and paid homage to her wonderful genius.  When she appeared at Camp Elliott for the United States Marines, the band met her at the railroad station, playing the 
Beautiful Lady
 waltz, as her train came in, and before the recital, Uncle Sam's boys turned out in special parade in her honor.




The Panama Morning Journal pays Miss MacLaren the following tribute:




Miss MacLaren is the 'Idol of the Isthmus.'  She is an institution.  This is her fourth missionary trip to the Isthmus and each time she has carried to the exiles here the best play of the New York season.  There is one bet that Col. Goethals has overlooked.  He should have subsidized Miss MacLaren and retained her services for the Canal Zone only.  Nevertheless practically the same thing has been accomplished, thanks to her kindness.  She has come down for two weeks engagements and staid more months and she has returned four times.




Miss MacLaren has been a blessing to the exile Canal Diggers.  She has helped to dig the Canal in her own way, and she ought to be given a Roosevelt Medal.




DESIGNED AND PRINTED BY THE W. M. KING SERVICE, CHICAGO