Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-10-13
AT THE
THEATE Frs

A LITTLE cross-section o. ;
| ~ boys life, as viewed by Bootf
Harrington, has been made
into a most delectable comedy, ane
the same is set before us in an un.
commonly dainty dish by the Stuart
Walker company in Seventeen"
The trials and tribulations of a
hobble dehoy, his struggle between
the man and the boy in him, his UNI.
formed dreams, his pup love and
its inevitable calamitous end, are
told with detail and presumed hdel-
ity; at least with such SINCERITY as
warns the world-callouscd hear,
with something akin to sympathy
for William Sylvanus Baxter, jr.,
Esq. mighty few men have crossed
the magic bridge from boyhood to
youth who did not experience some
of the feelings of Willie, who
wanted a dress suit" to be called
William" or Baxter" and other
wise to have something OF the attri-
butes OF maturity, the while his
voice persisted in playing unex-
pected runs and modulations be-
tween the manly bass and the child
ish treble. And just for this reason
they laughed and chuckled and
sometimes almost gulped, as one
after another OF his whims came for
ward. just so the women folks get
CHARGE to see themselves once
more i'll the girls who surround
Willie. Maybe not in the baby-talk
vampire: she might have existed, but
no one needs stretch memory far to
bring into view the hoydenish Jane,
the patient Mary, or any of the 9TH
ers.
And so Seventeen" renews the
birth of youth for those who have
passed through the gates and gone
beyond into the sterner things of
life, and those who have not may
find kindred with Willie and Johnny
and Joe and the rest. and appreciate
their problems all the more keenly
because of understanding born of
presence.
Gregory Kelly, we'll remembered
i'll Omaha for his playing in "The
Birthday of the Infanta" and other
pleasures, gives us by the port
manteau Theater," shows and even
more delicate evaluation of artistic
opportunities, and makes the boy
source of delight. Not hint of
maturity mars the assumption of
callowness Overlapping the gap, and
convinced of maturity, trying to
live up to its requirements. 1t is
not easy to say when he is the most
delicious, and it is trite to pay him
the ordinary compliments. He is
unaproachable and irresistible in
the role.
Lillian Ross as the gangle-shanked
sister of our hero, whose amazing
memory and utter truthfulness make
her a terror to him as we'll as
combination of problem and source
of information to the elders, has a
less exacting but equally we'll de-
fined part to the working out of the
whole, and does it with much Joy
Gus precision. Ruth Gordon's "ba-
by-talk lady" is we'll done, and SO is
Louis John Barteps Genesis. Judith
Lowry is just the sort of compre-
bending mother a boy ought to have
at that age, while Aldrich Bowker
is the earnest, misunderstanding ia
Their to life. And it is a pleasure to
testify that the lesser roles are
played in a way worthy of the leads.
You will do yourself very bad
turn if you fail to see Seventeen,
which will be at the Boyd all week.
A grand opera star, prif1la ball
lerina, a ragtime pianist, "the only
survivor of Coxey's army" and a
new sketch by Jack Lait, are among
the offerings in the merry vaudeville
menu at the Orpheum this week.
Marguerite Sylvia won, generous
applause by her ability as song
stress and her pleasing personality.
She has well-selected repertoire
of numbers. which includes grand
opera aria from Carmen" Her con-
versational embellishments are win
some. In response to second en-
core Yesterday afternoon she offered
pretty little number which she
sang to the marines on various. oc-
casions during the "late unpleasant
ness"
La Bernicia, assisted by Ethel
Bixby and Yvonne Verlaine, and
Helen Ruoss, harpist, offers an ar
tistic dancing act in which La Ber-
nicia displays real ability. The harp
accompaniment, and dainty stage
setting, add to the effectiveness of
the number. There are five dance
scenes in the act.
Will McDermott, attired as a
Weary Willie, is in the front ranks
of this line of entertainment. His
originality wins. Mike Barnard,
ragtime piano player. has been here
before, but does not seem to wear
out his welcome. He has new line
of selections and finishes his act by
playing any numbers asked by the
audience.
Billy Frawley and Edna Louise in
a humorous skit, "Seven A. NJ" by
Jack Lait, have one of the best far
cical acts of the season. "Skeet'"
Gallagher and Irene Martin are
back again among friends. with a
laugh-provoking act named Sweat
ers." The Bradnas appear in an ac-
robatic and hat spinning number.
Topics of the Day and Kilograms
are projected on the screen, the for
mer being several moments of mer-
riment before the regular bill.
At the Empress the audiences
yesterday were highly entertained
by bill rich in comedy elements,
with generous intermingling of
song and dance numbers. Mana
Sullivan and company head the bill
in most laughable playlet, Never
Again" They get the utmost out
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