The Washington herald., 1922-08-28

Booth Harrington is unequalied
in Depicting the joys and tragedies
of adolescence. He knows young
America thoroughly; he sympathiz-
es with youth and in a degree sell
dom approached by any other au-
thor, is able to understand and to
make others understand the grow
ing boy and girl. In Seventeen"
in Clarence" in The Intimate
Strangers" all of which have been
seen here in the last two seasons,
Tarkington's adolescents have been
perfect And In the Interpretation
Of Seventeen last evening by the
Garrick Players, the foundation aid
by Mr., Tarkington's manuscript
was built up most effective.
The story of Seventeen" ia
miliar no doubt to most Washing
tonians. is intensely human. 1t is
a story, of course. of puppy love"
IL one cares to call It that. but
puppy love" can bring an anguish
that more matured passions rarely
bring in their train. William
Sylvester Baxter, just on the verge
of manhood and misunderstood by
the parents who DO not as yet Wis.,
ion his somewhat underlined long
ings and hopes. is to himself. at
least, a person to be taken most
seriously; and though the world
at large may regard him with a
somewhat amused tolerance, there
Is behind the humor of his first
adventurings with love, a very real
touch of pathos.
AS the play begins. Willis has
reached the point where he no long
er wants to be called Willie. More
over, he wants a dress suit. And
then he meets the girl" Lola
Pratt. a visitor at friends home.
In his desire to outshine all the
other boys. he utilizes his fathers
evening clothes as a means of con-
quest, only, at the last. to see his
adored one carried away by young
man who owns a car.
The dialogue is mastery. the
Characterization superb. 1t is
comedy of real life in America that
has its prototypes everywhere. Will
lam Sylvester Baxter, in short. is
pretty nearly every boy though.
fortunately, Lola Pratt is not every
girl.
Percy Helton. to whom the roe
is thoroughly familiar. is cast as
william and he plays is admirably.
The fervor Of the young man is
most convincing. and he enters
splendidly into the character. Ruth
HOFFMAN. who has become one OF
the most popular members of the
Garrick company, is congenially
cast as Jane, the enfant terrible
of the Baxter family, and not In
many months has a child been bet
ter portrayed on any local stage.
Duncan Penwarden, who pleased
the Garrick audiences last week
by his work in "A Successful Ca
lamity." plays Mr.. Baxter, the vii
lain of the piece. IL there is any.
and a newcomer to the Garrick
ranks. Gertrude Augarde, Is given
the role of Mrs. Baxter. which she
handles with excellent discernment.
Henry bdloy, ds JoHHnlc "dtSohs
williams chum, is another readily
recognizable adolescent type-the
staggering, unimaginative youth.
not altogether at ease in the pres
ence of girls. and yet to make his
acquaintance with the little god OF
love. Constance Brown, now WELL
established with the Garrickers.
Granville Palmer and George Henry
Trader, are in the current offering.
and Edwin Truslieim branches out
this week by appearing in black
face. His Genesis" Is a most in
teresting character. quite unlike
anything Trusheim has yet done
with the local company. He dem
onstrated last evening unsuspected
versatility in this new comedy role.
Miss McGraw. as Lola Pratt, won
once more the deserved applause of
her Washington friends
The production is staged and pro-
duced with the care characteristic
OF the more recent offerings at the
Garrfck. but since the play is in four
acts 1t Is eminently desirable to start
II on time or to reduce the length
Of the performance. That, however.
Will be taken care Of as the week
progresses Last evenings presen-
tation lacked smoothness in one or
two details. almost unavoidable In
preparing stock productions, but for
the most part Il was eminently sat-