Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-06
ADJUSTMENTS.

easy to determine just what the potential
factor in the attraction Of a theatrical per-
Torrance is. Sometimes it lies in the inge-
nuity of the author; sometimes in the law
ishness of the production. and occasionally
in the abilities of single player to capt!-
vate the attention of the throng. The
credit shifts so constantly and elusively
among these quantities that it is very diff
cult, to arrive at a satisfactory decision. In
the case Of John Drew. however, there Is no
doubt. Mr.. Drew is the all important con-
sideration. He is the accepted exponent
of masculine propriety. He has shone as
the absolutely correct lover a number OF
times and in 1.-The Mummy and the Hum
ming Bird" Is displayed with most crafty
ing results the model husband. No more
daring theatric sacrilege could be imagined
than the presentation Of John Drew as a
stage villain. The experiment of making
a romantic hero of him was tried, but 1t
compelled him to appear in unconventional
GARD and use expletives, and there was
protest. Mr. Drew is admired-more than
admired. beloved-for his own sake. Inc
public approaches one of his performances
with the assurance that its isenSibilities will
not be shocked in any way; and at the same
time without the fear that it will be bored.
for these little Drewesque comedies OF
cOurtshp or domeSticity always possess the
charm of delicate sentiment and sprightly
language.
THE Mummy and the Humming Bird
presents no serious assumptions as a study.
AS a problem play it would be repu-
dated. for the motives which lead the wife
to engage in a rather tawdry little intrigue
are not sufficiently strong. Some greater
excuse than absorption in ambition and
overtrustfulness would be needed for even
dramatic justification of the deliberate
manner in which the mummy's' wife
chooses to compromise herself.
However, the play does not assume to be
a learned calculation of ethics 1t is
bright and CHEEKY bit of modern romancing
which does not hesitate to take the auditor
into the confidence of the playwright and
rely on his good nature not to spoil pleas
ant evenings entertainment by refusing to
take things for granted. The plot has some
very, ingenious episodes and Mr.. Drew IS
displayed to charming advantage. 1t Is
a relief to see the role of the husband in
vested with certain amount of honest
Anglo-Saxon dignity and at the same time
with the alertness and SAVIOR faire which
have too long been monopOliZed by the VII
lain
The villain in this case is portrayed by
Mr.. Guy Standing, who each season man
ages to add slightly but substantially to
very agreeable previous impression. Mr..
Standing attempts no superb emotional
flights, and thereby secures himself against
any of the awkward spills which are SO
likely to occur when talent is tempted to
press the speed limit His performance of
the role of the young literary man who is
nicknamed 1.-The humming bird is quiet.
even and most plausible one. He does not
revel in acute wickedness. He is merely de-
f1cient in moral sense; type of the SUI
preme self1ShneSs that is so often co-exist-
ent with the artistic temperament. He dis
plays no studied malevolence calculated
to invite the misses of a rghteously indig
nant audience; and at the same time COM
mands no sympathy when retribution Of
the most picturesque and refined descrip-
ton overtakes him.
One of the best bits of character acting
iS fho
OF Lionel Barrymore as the Italian street
musician who discovers in the ''Humming
Bird the destroyer Of his home in years
gone by, and who is finally loosed like
Barrymore played the part with admirable
artistic precision, never allowing its dra-
matte intensity to be overshadowed by the
touches Of comedy grotesqueness which
enlivened it.
The play attracts by It's dramatic interest
as well as by its comedy, and won unstinted
approval from the large audience at the
National Theater last night.
COLUMBIA Observation-Disclosures it was
in the singing Of such ancient and beloved
classics as This Little Pig Went to Mar
he and ade Ddde D ndnsI Pumpln the
to Be Idly" or any Of the other Of a
score Of songs. which go to make up the
musical accompaniment of IA Chinese
Honeymoon the playfolk in the big festi-
stinted approval of record-breaking au
dience 1t was like a jubilee occasion and
seemed as though ali the Coumbia's friends
had turned out to make amends for their
easily pardonable neglect of Sky Farm
last week. Good words had preceded the
coming of the musical comedy and this
time there was no disappointment. "A Chi
nese Honeymoon" is the elaborate produc-
ton that was promised and although the
company is not the original it has been or
gained on the same broad plans of liberal
ity and leaves the former very limited if
any opportunities for superiority.
Last nights celebration of the advent Of
the new musical comedy was a thoroughly
enjoyable one. The audience was one of
the most enthusiastic the play house has
known for some time and the encores that
were demanded delayed the fall of the final
curtain until twenty minutes past IL
o'clock The evening even at that time
seemed to have gone all too rapidly. For
once the speechlovers in the audience were
their demands for a curtain talk. They
seemed to think a number of the princi-
pals deserved the honor, but when little
Toby Claude had sung Il Want to Be a
Lidy" about the eighth time it was decided
that she should be the one, and Speech,
speech" went up from all over the house.
Miss Claude summoned up all the courage
such tiny bit of feminnity could possibly
footl ghts said in tremulous tones: Thank
you, ladies and gentlemen" 1t was the
second appearance of. Miss Claude in Wash
ington She was remembered as the dainty
little Persistence Fiji. in THE Belle of New
York; and was hardly recognizable last
night when she came on as the English
cockney slavey in China, Fiji. No one would
have had the temerity to call her pretty
then. But she was funny. In fact the
greatest share of the merriment of the
honeymoon is due to her ludicrous comicali-
ties. Her tiny stature seems to fit her to
the part and lends its share of the possibili-
ties for effect.
"A Chinese Honeymoon is one Of the big
shows Of the period in the musical comedy
class. 1t has its pretty chorus girls, it's
wealth of costuming. its comedians, singers
and calciums, and all that need be said of
it's worth is that 1t Is up to the standard
and In every way calculated to provide an
evening of happy entertainment. The fun
starts out right at the beginning with the
rolicking oncoming Of band of Chinese
sailors who "shiver their timbers,'' slap
their thighs and hitch their pajama-trous-
ers in the good old comic opera way. The
piece is an English contribution to the stage
in which the tunes are sprightly enough and
the book sufficiently interesting to carry
the music and specialties. John E. Hen
shaw, who plays Mr.. Pineapple has not
been seen here for some time and his COM
edy is rather refreshing. Belle Harper as
Mrs Pineapple, had much to DO and was
very clever through it all. Ida Hawley,
May Ten Brock. Charles H. Prince W. H.
lr N1xry0r (N1aV IL nr,1 L.,