The Washington herald., 1920-04-27
Garriek - "Dorothy Dixie Lee"
BY EARLE DORSEY.

There is no denyiag the fact that
Edward Locke. author OF THE Case
Of Becky" THE Climax" and other
stage compositions of comparatively
recent date. Is an opportunist. He
is not at all above capitalizing the
current vogue for the supernatural
in the drama and he has hearkened.
expeditiously enough, to the fashion
that tends toward plays laid in
Dixie, and some will even tell you
that his Southern atmosphere will
md a more cordial reception in
Syracuse than in Savannah.
For all Mr.. Locke's expediency, It
must be admitted. however, that he
has combined most aptly and skill
fully both these tendencies toward
the fashion in one play and that
one play is Dorothy Dixie Lee"
the new production starring Miss
Edith Taliafcrro that opened at the
IGarrick last night. 1T is. essentially,
a very charming and rather we'll
done romantic comedy. rich in at
mospheric efforts of a singular fidel-
ity to type and notable. particularly.
for it's amazing adherence to au-
thenticity in dialogue.
Mr.. Locke has chosen a theme
which, while not thoroughly novel,
has its points of originality and
which is notable also for a down.
right ability to score as a story.
even though there are one or two
members of it's cast that might give
their own parts a bit more effec-
tive representation. The story Mr..
Lock has affected to tell, however,
con MS girl named Dorothy
niYi Whn haa haan kDnt n
close seclusion by an old Southern
fire-eater OF a rebel but who, at
the death Of her grandfather, comes
to New York to visit relatives.
This gives Mr.. Locke an oppor-
edy that is not unknown to the
stage, i. e.. the type of comedy to
be found in the astonished utter
knows the civil war is over and
whose knowledge of literature is
concurrent with Thackeray.
From this point on the story re-
wolves about the love affair of Doro-
thy for a Northern cousin, a ro-
nance that is lent counterpoint by
the unfortunate affection of a like
able young flier who is cursed with
Southern blood, whereas the author
has early indicated that Dorothy
must marry a Yank to lend contrast
to her earlier life. There is some
doubt created by Mr.. Locke's rather
abrupt and unexplained attainment
OF a romantic climax between the
Northerner and the girl. but II
makes a happy ending that Will
tickle the theater from A row to the
box office. and one need not have
much fear for the destiny of Mr..
Locke's latest composition.
Miss Edith Taliaferro, in inter-
preting the role CT Dorothy Dixie
Lee, approaches her task with a
rare equipment of Southern dialect,
though there is a possibility that a
younger actress similarly equipped
might have scored more effectively.
Miss Taliaferro,. however, attains a
degree of ingenuousness that is ap-
parently sufficient and she will
probably see fit to retain her role.
George Marion gives his usual ster-
ling characterization as negro
servant who finds a missing will
discovery that clears up the vexed
question of porothy's paternity and
her right to the Lee inheritance.
Lucille La Verne gave a splendid
performance as the young miss
negro NANNY and for the most
part. the cast was exceptional. 1t
includes such performers as Ar
thur Elliott Edith Shayne, Mabel
Maurel, Ryder Keane, Burke Clark,
William H. Powell and John Henry,
the dog.