The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-10
THEATRICAL.
"The Elder Miss Blossom"

After an absence of a number OF
years, Mr.. and Mrs. Kendall reappeared
in this city last night at the Lyceum,
presenting the three-act comedy, THE
Elder Miss Blossom" 1t is a clean,
wholesome comedy that at times Is
dangerously close to the tragic. In It
the Kendals have scored their great
est success of recent years.
The story deals with the circum-
stances that follow the confusion of
the identity of Miss Dorothy Blossom
and her niece, Miss Sophia Blossom.
Andrew Quick, a somewhat noted nat
uralist and explorer and a man OF
middle-age, meets Miss Sophia Bios
som, is captivated by her charms, but
is called from England before he has
time to declare himself He supposes
her name is Dorothy, and before his
departure nails a proposal of mar
riage to her. The letter is directed to
Miss Dorothy Blossom and goes to the
elder Miss Blossom who believes the
proposal is meant for her and accepts
by mail 1t is three years before An
drew Quick returns to England, and
the marriage is to be celebrated i'm
mediately upon his arrival. The elder
ding the invitations are sent forth and
the presents are being received when
the traveller arrives upon the scene ana
finds that his prospective bride is
woman he has no recollection of ever
having met.
During his absence the younger Miss
Blossom has given her heart to the
Rev. Arthur Leacroft, who is accepted
do ho tl,o
Blossom home. There is a touching
scene when Quick tells the elder Miss
Blossom of the sad mistake that has
occurred. Though crushed by the shat
tering of her dream of happiness. she
shows such nobleness of heart and
bravery in confronting the situation
as we'll as such unmistakable evidence
of her real love for him that life takes
on a new aspect for Quick and the fol-
! lowing day he returns to lay himself
| and his affections at her feet She
! puts him aside, believing his propose,
is dictated by his pity for her. but he
| finally succeeds in convincing her that
! love, not pity. is the thing that has
| impelled him to propose for her hand
and is accepted.
This bare outline naturally suggests
| something far removed from a COM
edy. but in the manner in which the
main story IS handled and the auxil-
iary stories that are woven into it there
is much that is comedy of the best
kind 1t is the kind that requires not
the aid of slap-sticks to provoke a
laugh.
Mrs. Kendall as the elder Miss Bios
som was delightful. No other word,
perhaps, so accurately describes this
charming woman as she appeared LAST
night. 1t was a performance that dis
armed criticism and left the spectator
lost in admiration. Mr.. Kendall was
also very effective and after the second
| and third acts both he and his gifted
wife received enthusiastic curtain calls.
The stars had the assistance of a
company that was almost fiawless
The leading roles were assumed by
Miss Nellie Campbell, the younger
Miss Blossom; Athal Forde. Frank
Fenton, Bruce Harding. Rodney Edg-
combe and P. f. Ames.
The audience was large. taking into
consideration that it was the first
night of Holy Week.
'The Woman in Black"
one of the most popular of the COM
panies, playing at the Academy. the
! Gibney- Hoeffler combination, opened 4
weeks re-engagement there last night
with a well-staged and cleverly pre-
sented production of THE Woman In
Black" one of Jacob Lifts big sue
cesses. Nellie Gibney in the title role
and Morgan Gibney, as Krautzner, a
| ROwerv pOlitical boss did work Of a
very commendable character. The cast
as whole is above the average.
Between the acts high-class vaude-
vile specialties were presented by De
Hollis and Volara, comedy jugglers;
Billy Stanford, the tramp comedian;
Mabel Fowler singing and dancing