The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-27
Andrew Mack's New Play.

For some years, Andrew Mack has struggled for
recognition as something more than an Irish.
singing comedian. He played his new play,
tom Moore" at the Lyceum yesterday after.
noon and last night, to two standing .room.only
houses. This when considered in connection Will.
the church calendar is significant. Mack has
attained his ambition as far as Scranton is con.
cerned.
TON Moore" is the most pretentious thing
that Mack or any other actor of his ilk has ever
essayed. In the matter of story it is on a par
and religiously along the lines OF Orchard Say.
idge' and "oliver Goldsmith" more particu-
larly the latter. As to presentation it. is so far
in advance of anything Mack has ever before
been the central figure of, that there is no com.
parison. Heretofore Mack has been in the
scanlon.O Olcott.Nlurphy class lie is now act.
ing; his singing is incidental.
There is pretty though rather forced story
to tom Moore" Some almost appalling sacri.
fees are made for melodramatic effect, but on
the whole it is really artistic. Moore's pic.
turesque life-story is told in the main-with
some slight violence to history--and his songs
are made use of in an exceedingly clever way to
enbellish the story, and, incidentally, to give
Mack an opportunity of using his wonderfully
sweet tenor voice. Some of the most effective
scenes are those in which Moore is portrayed as
the singer.
1t was the wont Of Mack TO be well satisfied
with himself in measuring the quality of the
cast OF characters He and pretty child or
two and some very ordinary filling in the way of
a loveress, villain and the like. when bathed in
green moonlight deemed amply sufficient to
make up the makers OF the entertainment. In
tom Moore" he is content TO be one OF several.
His leading lady, Miss Josephine Lovctt, the
villain, George +. Nash, and the comedy SER
want, Edward j. Heron, are most capable play.
crs The work of Mr. Nash is cspccally com.
mendable. Sheridan. Beau Brtmmel and the
Prince of Wales are portrayed as leading roles
and they are essaycd in an appropriate manner
by Giles Shine, Harry =. Stone and Myron Calice,
respectively. dozen children form a part of
the company and they add much to the fun and
picturcsqueness Of the school room scene with
which the play opens.
"Evclyn's Bower" "Lovc's Young Dream"
"Ihe Last Rose of Summer" and .Believc Nc
If All Those Endearing Young Charms" are the
Moore songs rendered by Mr.. Mack. The third
act in which the last named song IS sung was
interrupted for fully five minutes by the unrea-
sonablc demands of the upper part OF the house
for cncorcs. Mr. Mack sang the song as an Incl.
dent OF the play. To repeat it, as il it was a
topical ballad would destroy the effectiveness OF
the song and its setting. Mr.. Mack declined to
do more than bow his acknowledgements of the
applause. The upper house insisted on having
more singing but Mr.. Mack proceeded with his
speaking lines and having finished them left the
stage. Two of the other characters attempted to
proceed with the dialogue. but the applause
drowned their voices. They ceased speaking
looked UP TO the flies and waited Finally one
OF the company came from the wings to the
footlights and announced that if the perform
ancc was allowed to proceed, Mr.. Mack "might''
be heard to sing later. The applause was not
resumed