The Washington herald., 1919-07-21
Garrfek-ADaddy Leag Legs.'
By EARLE DORSEY.

By EARLE DORSEY.
It's barely possible that SUM-
cient credit. in the past. has not
accrued to the gentlemen who Sc
lect the plays which enable the
Garrick stock players to earn them
selves such unusual recognition.
First. the Garrick's play-buyers
dragged in Upstairs and Down."
the Hatton hit Then followed
choices like Johnny Get Your
Gun, intensively popuiarized by
Fred Stone in pictures; Polly With
a Past" the Ina Claire-David Be-
lasco sensation; The Brat" and
finally. Daddy Longlegs." Ruth
Chatterton's success.
they had found their box-ofice
high-water mark in Polly with a
Past" when they went ahead of all
regular Garrick attendance rec
ords. They were wrong. They
started Daddy Longlegs." in per-
iunctory fashion, last Sunday night.
ana almost instantly the stock de-
Notees of the District rose up,
called them blessed. and proceeded
TO organize a run on the Garrick's
supply of loose change. Now. it's
all very well to write glowing
panegyrics on the work of this ac-
tor and that actress and this plays
merits and that plays excellence but,
n hAf rfna to M
like there is an element greater
than all these behind the success of
the Garrick Players and that IS
some good, old-fashioned headwork
devoted to the selection of dramas
which have created an almost in
Simultaneous popular response.
Just by way of emphasizing the
reaction of Washington stock low
eTs to the stimuli administered by
the whole Garrick OUTFIT, IL is hero
by noted that the Garrickers be-
gan their second weeks perform
ance of DADDY Longlegs" last
night. The returns from last weeks
presentation of that play were so
generous that the move was re-
Garded as advisable. And after
carefully noting the effect of Dad
dy LOnElegs," on last nights au-
dience. the real depth of that show
manship became pleasantly appar-
cnt.
Daddy LongIegs" is no great
piece of drama. to be honest. It's
quite conventional in theme. it's al
together according to Hoyle in its
construction. and its dialogue is
certainly no whit more brilliant
than the legitimate plays one sees
week after week all season. 1t
has, however, an asset. It's
crammed with the soft, allurinS
quality known to the trade as ro-
mantle comedy. It's sweet, it's
lcveable, it's funny. it tells story
and finally, II gives Lynne Overman
a chance to cut up.
We strongly doubt whether the
town fully appreciates the comedy
talents of this blond-haired young
fellow. He clowns necessarily but
he clowns with a rare sense of dis
elimination. He never clowns out
of character. He never clowns too
long and he constantly adds dia-
locue to his part. which makes it
impossible to tell whether his lines
were written or whether he in
serted them. Last night he ap-
peared in one scene in which he
was supposed to serve tea to three
persons He decked himself in
yellow handkerchief. became a cab
aret dancer. pirouetted before the
guests until he had ascertained
that they wanted lemon instead OF
sugar in their tea whereupon he in
stantly cast aside his cabaret i'm
personation in favor of a soda-water
waiter and shouted loudly: Three
lemons We haven't read the
script of Daddy Longlegs," but
we don't believe Jean Webster ever
wrote Three lemons into its
dialogue.
Mr.. Foxe, the leading man. as
suming the title role of the piece, is
miscast. He's not so badly miscast
that it becomes trying. but putting
LIQUID white on his brunette locks
and trying to look like a diSnihed
gentleman prematurely grey is
Characterization with which MI.
Foxe can earn few laurels. His
part. however. was enacted. with
dignity and restraint, though the
spirit of youth refused to depart
from his legs and arms. Foxe is
best in parts like Capt. Terence IN
Upstairs and Down
Miss Eileen Wilson. the leading
lady, is another member of the cast
not cast to the best advantage. She
gives US a portrait Of an orphan
girl rescued from an asylum that is
technically correct and proper. but
il is a role to which Miss Wilson fails
to bring more than a passing note
of verify. Mrs. Jacques Martin.
however as Daddy LongleSs
old nurse. completely captivates her
audience with an impersonation as
fine as Beryl Mercer might be cx-
pected to give. Miss Doris Sheerin'
one of the Garrick's new acquisi-
tions, is eet and winsome in an
ingenious role though lacking. IN
~NnEATrcc