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Show THE GREAT JOHN GANTON. While one can scarcely credit the correctness correct-ness of Mr. Sumner's conception of the title role of "The Great John Ganton," that actor's portrayal at least has the virtue of fidelity to his idea of the dominating figure in the novel of "Ganton and Company" and the stage adaptation adapta-tion of the letter by J. Hartley Manners, under the title given above. And the fault that the characterization is not convincing enough at crucial moments is due to Mr. Sumner's understanding of the part rather than any defect in his interpretation. The Chicago meat packer, as he plays it, has not the reserve and repressed strength apparent back of his boisterous, domineering ways that was originally written into the part. Mr. Sumner, however, is faithful to his role as he mapped it out and he has made a success of the play for the Garrick. ' The stage version of the book has gained if anything in the retelling of the story, and taken as a whole the Garrick's production has been rather a surprise even to those who were familiar famil-iar with the work before its presentation this week, and were sanguine of its success. Mr. Parker, Par-ker, the company's leading man. has but little opportunity as Ganton's son, although he is effective ef-fective always. Ethel Clifton as May Keating had little to do aside from her one scene with Ganton in which she pleads for herself and his son, and she does it well. Mr. Seymour's Larry Delaney Is excellent and he, too, carries off a denouement "witjh Ganton that is splendidly handled. Neil Pratt as the Reverend Mr. Clav-ering Clav-ering does an. Excellent bit, the first he has had for a week or two. Miss Dills is not consistent in her characterization of Mrs. Jack Wilton. In other respects the Garrick's presentation of "The Great John Ganton." is creditable. |