The Washington herald., 1917-04-01
H'ALF.PORTION' ACTOR
SMALLEST ON stage
George Mack Has Long List of Sue
cesses, Despite Size,

George. Mack. who plays the nsping
put nevertheless fascinating little Eddie
Kettle" In the Marbury-Comstock pro-
duction OF VERY Good Eddie" which
plays the Belasco Theater this week, is
The smallest comedian on the stage.
Mr Mack.s ability is head and shoulders
over his size Standing only four feet
nine inches IN his boots. he played op-
posfte De Wolf Hopper and has managed
70 hold his own for laughter even against
that tall and able comedian.
Georgie Mack was boy phenomenon
some ten years ago when Joseph Hart
Produced Foxy Grandpa" Hart saw the
diminutive actor in q vaudeville sketch
and Immediately offered to double his
salary II Mack would play one of the
Two ntschtevous boys in that cartoon
comedy. Needless to say. George ac-
cepted and, was the hit of the piece for
two seasons Then De Wolf Hopper en-
gaged him to play the part of jockey
IN his musical comedy. 1.-The Matinee
Idol" Mack played all of his scenes
with the tall star and they shared laughs
equally
Next came the role of the stable boy
with Lillian Russell IN 'Wildflre." and
again the boy actor scored the comedy hit
OF the piece. A year later found the
tiny comedian playing the copy boy in
the newspaper play THE Truth Wagon"
way, and then came the part in George
NJ. Cohan's Running for Office," follow
ed by "Stumpy," the valet in John
Philip sousa's opera, IAN American
Maid"
When The Dummy scored its big
success in New York two or three sea
sons ago with Ernest Truax in the role
of the boy "detecuf"' a second company
of this most successful play was formed
for George Mack to play the lead in
Chicago. He then played THE Dummy
in Boston, Philadelphia and many of the
other principal cities for a period of two
years
Ernest Truax and Georgie Mack were
Familiarity known to the profession as the
beloved "tvo-half-portion'' stars. Truax
is now playing the role Of Eddie Kettle
in the Boston company of Very Good
Eddie" Mack having followed him In
this role in New York just as he follow
ed him IN the lead in THE Dummy. a
few seasons ago.
Things seem to even themselves up
pretty we'll in this world somehow, said
Mack when chatting with an actor
friend. "If there are very few plays
that REQUIRE an actor of my particular
size and traits, 1t is equally true that the
stage has corresondingIy a limited num-
Der of actors who can play them. II the
plays like are scarce. that is not pecu-
liar to myself, as all actors. even those
not limited to being under average
height, make that same complaint. L
have this advantage tool am equally
at home in musical comedy and straight
legitimate
Mr.. Mack is twenty-slx years old, al
though he can make himself up to look
not a day over ten or eleven years when
he takes A small boys part. He Is a
conscientious actor who takes his profes-
sion earnestly and thoughtfully. He has
an excellent tenor voice which is given
ample opportunity for exercise in Very
Good Eddie" where, with Mignon Nc
Gfbney he sings several duets. which all
New York have been whistling for some
time now, including Isn't 1t Great to
be Married" To the One You Love
and Babes in the Woods" Before 60
ing on the stage Georgia Mack was
well known boy soprano in one of the
Fifth avenue churches in New York.