The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-09
THEATRICAL.
Mummy and the Humming Bird"

Mummy and the Humming Bird"
John Drew and his company presented
THE Mummy and the uumming Bird"
at the Lyceum last night. 1t is n drama
of English social life by Isaac Henderson
and Is ingenious rather than strong In a
dramatic way, though in Il dramatic way
1t is by no means dull.
The story OF the drama opens with tho
temporary neglect of his young and
handsome wife by Lord Lumley. Il scien-
tist, who Is immersed In some laboratory
work which requires all his time. While
he is closely conducting his experiments
he very nearly loses his wife, whom he
loves dearly, and who reciprocateS that
affection when she has a chance. Left
practically alone in the midst of the So
cial whirl, she takes up with "The Hum
ming Bird" an Italian poet, and for the
time being forgets her Mummy hus-
band. The poet induces my lady" to
visit him in his apartments, and plans
there u subsequent elopement. An or
gan grinder who has been befriended by
''The Mummy" recognizes in the tempter,
n villain who had previously ruined one
home in Italy and now seeks to destroy
another. Lord Lumley, THE Mummy"
goes to "The Uumming Birds" apart
tncnts and notifies the poet of his wife's
presence there, and by a trick gets his
wife out without the villain knowing 1t.
The wife in shame fees to Paris, whittier
the Cumming Bird" Is about to follow
her, having learned of her whereabouts
by stealing a letter which she left for
her husband: but Lord Lumley, too,
learns of her departure and address, ard
follows her for the second and last time.
The meeting of Lord and Lady Lumley
in Paris is followed by n touching love
scene. 1t ends in the complete reunion
of the couple. "The Hummng Bird" is
lafk OF ft,n nnrlr oil nf ha Nln n n
not too tender mercies of the organ
grinder.
John Drew as Lord Lumley has u part
that suits him to a nicely. 1t is more
serious than the usual Drew role. and the
famous moustache and eyes figure less in
his acting. He had Il curtain call at the
close OF every act last night.
The best scene in the play is in the first
act between Lord Lumley Drew and
Giuseppe Uionel Barrymore) The latter
is a stolid organ grinder who is in Lon
don searching for Signor D'Orelli. 1.-The
TIumming Bird" who has wronged him.
Guiseppi can talk no English and Lord
Plumley does not understand Italian
BY means of objects on the table and
gestures. Giuseppe manages to make
Lord Lumley understand his sad story.
The terrible earnestness that Giuseppe
displays in his gestures and facial express
sion and his pathetic efforts to find an
ed that Barrymore is an actor of unusual
feeling and ability. AS a bit of characteri-
zation his work during the evening, aside
from this scene, was splendid. He never
stepped outside of the part for an In
Stant.
Guy Standing was superb as the viii
lainous "Humming Bird and Margaret
Dale presented Lady Lumley in a vivid
manner Marie Derlckson and Lewis
Baker had minor parts, which were act
ed in harmony with the more important
ones. The company as whole was flaw
less.
The four acts of the play are staged
with the same elaborlteness they were
during the long run OF the piece at the
Empire theater in New York
First Production OF ''The Peddler."
The Academy OF Music was we'll filled
yesterday afternoon on the occasion of
the benefit kindly given to swell the fund
that Is being raised to provide the Scran-
ton newsboys with a Christmas dinner,
and the patrons of the worthy enterprise
were given IL treat in being able to wit
ness the first presentation OF Hal Roid's
four-act comedy drama entitled The
Peddler," with Joe Welch in the title role.
The Peddler'' is vivid picture Of lie
on the East Side in New York; is fraught
with heart interest and abounds in thrill
ing situations and quaint humor.
Abraham jacobson, the pcddler, invests
his money in store in order that his
son Sammy may be afforded opportunity
to make Il living in an honest calling.
While the father walks about the city
with his pack. the son cha fes under the
restraint of business life and desires to
get rich quick by playing the races.
Horses, wine and women work the ruina-
tion of the boy. lie becomes infatuated
with a married woman whose husband is
in pursuit. The complications lead the
characters through the slums of Gotham
and abduction, robbery and murder are
among the thrilling features of the play.
The author has woven train of every
day events into n fascinating story in
which the interest is kept up almost from
the opening until near the close where the |
disposition of the characters by u tragic |
turn of affairs Is sadly out of place when |
compared to the ingenious work that pre- |
cedes it.
Joe Welch as 1.-THE Peddler." gave an |
excellent delineation of the best side of |
fiddish character, and artistically blend |
cd portions OF pathos with glints OF hui |
NOR with repose in action that made the |
descent to low comedy unnecessary to |
produce best results. While Welch is the |
particular star, his support is good. |
Briton Radford as Sammy jacobson,
gave a finished performance, and tho |
character OF "Chuck" Conover became
prominent under the Interpretation given
by Ed Lawrence. Little May, the blind
girl was interpreted by Baby Abbey, who
displayed remarkable dramatic instincts
in grasping the requirements of the rath-
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