The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-01-12
Music and Drama
Coming Attractions for
Wichita Amusement. Lovers.
At the Crawford.

Coming Attractions for
Wichita Amusement. Lovers.
At the Crawford.
Stetsons Uncle Toms Cabin" Com
pany last night at the Crawford gave ono
of the best productions of the famous old
story of the slavery days Uncle Tom :
Cabin seen in Wichita for long time
This company has introduced many good
specialties which seem to liven up the
many sad and touching parts in which
this story abounds. new feature was
the two Topsies and two lawyers. Mark
Sr. and Mark Jr., which seemed to please
the audience immensely. Every one
knows how funny these parts are with
one actor in each separate part, but to see
two seemed to double the fun. which Kept
the house in roars of laughter. The trans
formation scene in the last act where
little Eva is in Heaven was especially
pleasing and was pronounced one OF the
prettiest closing scenes. ever produced by
any company which has presented thie
play in this city. With the exception OF
one or two parts, which were very poorly
played, the company gave eminent salts
faction. In all this company's new YER
sion of this piece is in many parts more
interesting and a great deal better than
the old version
Wednesday night. Paul Gilmore in ''The
Mummy and the Humming Bird
THE MUMMY AND THE HUMMING
BIRD"
Last nights play at the Grand Opera
House, THE Mummy and the Humming
Bird" possessed strength of plot, and
was portrayed by an evenly balanced cast
of unusual ability. A large audience wit
messed the performance, and was intense
ly interested throughout.
A narration of the plot could not possi-
bly, convey an adequate idea of the play.
for it is one that must be seen to be
appreciated and any effort at a synopsis
Of it could but fall short of justice TO the
play and players. Suffice to say. the
story is of a man, the Mummy" absorb
ed in scientific pursuits to such an ex-
tent that he appears to his young wife.
whom he really deeply loves, to be neg
ligent and forgetful of her existence
The wife loves her husband. but the So
cial spider THE Humming Bird" in
trudes and all but poisons the mind of
the woman by his attentions and persua-
sion
The plot hinges upon this situation and
these characters, but by no means can 1t
be said that there are no other char
acters in the play who are without in
terest As a matter of fact, each part
the of the
whole play, and there is a most well
come absence of unnecessary characters
and superfuous lines in the production.
Each part in itself is possessed of an in
terest and seems necessary to the others.
In other words, the play is a smooth and
even one, with ma superfuous ballast.
Galveston theatre-goers had not forgot
ten Mr.. Paul Gilmore. who appeared here
last year in THE Tyranny of Tears"
and by that remembrance they were
somewhat prepared for his success in the
play presented last night. Although he
has already reached a high place in the
theatrical world. he is young actor
who gives promise of even further up
ward steps in his profession. His por-
trayal Of THE Mummy last night was
one OF the most natural tHlflSS seen ON
the local stays for long time. 1t re-
quired an artist TO make one or two
scenes between The Mummy and The
Humming Bird appear natural last
night Those scenes were when it ap-
peared to the average man that violence
was the only course open, but Mr.. Gill
more in an transformations and sup
pressed manner made ii so clearly ap-
parent that a tender feeling and a su-
preme desire to shield his wifes repu-
tation from any trace of shame was what
governed his action that nothing but
approval of the coursep ursued was pos
sible. None but complimentary terms can
be used in a description OF Mr Gilmore's
portrayal of Lord Lumiey last night.
Miss Margaret Drew, as Lady Lumley.
essayed a role OF no small dimensions.
and one that was a difficult task. She
sustained it creditably The wife. craving
the affection OF her husband, and falsely
driven to the conclusion that he merely
tolerated her. the woman, whose pro-
lection against the opportunities OF The
Huming Bird. was her Unborn goodness
and her devotion. though she hardly
knew OF it, to her husband. and the peni-
tent woman. when she learned the truth.
was the characteristic Miss Drew was
called on TO play. To say that she per-
formed her part well is 10 say the most:
and she deserves thatp raise.
Thep laywright had correct idea OF
the probability and plausibility of things
when he made the part Of Mrs. Ruth
Thornton. a widow. for lines are put in
her mouth that show q knowledge pecu-
liar TO a woman who has passed through
the married state. The character is well
drawn andi Il Miss Adele Luchrmann's
hands is properly cared for.
Giuseppe is an Itaiian-a peasant
whose life has been ruined by The Hum
ming Bird back in the land Of sunny
Italy He has sworn the vendetta against
the william who has wrecked him. Nj
John Martin portrayed the character. and
he did it well Throughout his work
was satisfactory and in some OF the
scenes il was of an unusually high or
der
The william in play is persona non
grata. and If the actor in that role makes
a favorable impression upon an audience.
1t is purely through his art Mr.. Neil
Florence in the character OF Signo-
D'Orelli. was entirely satisfactory.
Mr.. William Strong. as Lord Ronalds Of
the Royal Navy. presented the character
in an acceptable manner. There is not
a great deal IN the character. but there
is sufficient 10 show that Mr.. Strong 10
not on the stage without license
The balance Of the cast is satisfactory
Galveston Daily News, December d