New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-15
THE CAST
By HAYWOOD BROUN.

Gust Boys" is a sentimental journey.
Travellers who pursue such course
face dangers tenfold greater than
those which beset Christian in his
Pilgrims Progress A sentimental
traveller must follow n path which is
narrow but not straight. On either
side Of this footway are deep pits and
these ARE filled with mush.
Almost invariably travellers fall into
the pits, and although they are some
times rescued, they invariably come
out with ears, eyes and mouths-oh,
particularly their mouths stuffed with
"a mothers love" or something equally
sticky.
The only escape for the sentimental
traveller is to balance himself step By
step down a thin red line in the centre
of the footpath. This line is called
sincerity. For playwrights it is line
of life or death. The third act of
Just Boys" stuck to the line sure
footedly yesterday and those who came
to sweat remained TO cry.
Katherine Browning Miller and Al
lena Kanka have succeeded in taking a
play 70 court and coming out with
their self-respect intact
A courtroom scene without an emo
tional actress is in itself triumph, but
the big act Of Gust Boys" has more
than this negative merit. Splendidly
written. the act affords Master Mac
Macomber an opportunity for re-
markedly impressive portrayal OF the
emotions of youngster under the
stress of his first appearance in court.
The actor is eleven years old in the
play and out as we'll. To US it was
little short of amazing 10 find so much
sincerity in a child.
Much of the boys success in the
scene is due to the skill of Milton Sills,
who plays the part of the judge of the
juvenile court. Acting with rare re-
straint, Mr.. Stills heightens the contrast
of emotional reaction in man and boy.
The child is in court on charge OF
theft. and he has his burst of fright
and sorrow. His grief is the unbrldled
copious. wet sorrow OF boy. Later
when the judge discovers that the little
culprit is his own son, II is the mans
turn 10 SUM ct, anu tiS "S'OA $500
suffer much, but all the time ne keeps
tight rein upon himself, as men do
and actors don't.
Il took bit Of coincidence to fetch
the lad up before his father, but it was
not an excessive one, and the recogni-
ton came naturally enough. 1t is scrap
of childhood doggerel which convlnces
the fudge of his sons identity. AS TINS
verse has been introduced in the hrst
act. II comes with much dramatic torce
at the critical point Of the play. II the
scene does not get under your rlDS
richt here YOU are suffering from hard
eninp of the heart strings and shou!d
not see another play for at least SIX
months. t.. A.
Much has been said now about the
third act. and we think it is only fair
N mn. the emphasis there. The scene
in The Juvenile court is so good that
critic il Justified in overlooking many
manifest faults Of the other acts. ne
fret act in particular is weak, SLOW
ard colorless. The second IL interest
inc enough. but the fourth and last IS
conventional. This Is TO be expected
We don't remember having seen goou
fourth act all season.
Milton stills. as William Livingston,
earned the honors of the play, in our
oninion hut there were others IN the
cast who did we'll. Ernest Truck as
Puffy Dutton, a tough boy, was anus
ing most of the time, although MS
seif-consciousncss marred some INES
II was interesting 10 note that III SPITE
of The kindly warning of the Judge Wheh