The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-18
News Of the Local TheaterS
BIJOU.
Original Book Used for Splendid tro- duction of "Pudd'nhead Wilson,

duCtion of "Pudd'nhead Wilson
 New Haveners are to be eongratula- ted that So splendid an opportunlt! lS at their door to witness q fine proouc- tion of a play of such standing reputa- ton as "Pudd'nhead Wilson AS ali ready announced the play is a drama tization by the late frank Mayo or
 Mark Twain's' famous story, and the author of the play was the orlglnai 'Phdd'nhead" and he was followed py his son in the same character,
 The prologue take place in Mlssouri' at Dawson's Landing in 1886. The son of slave owner is to be chrlstehea' and the negro nurse of the child, W[lo also has q child of her own, born on the same day as the white papy' changes the coral chain from one child to the other, and before she can re- place it. the god-mother, Pudd'nhead sister has taken the wrong child ID be christened. Pudd'nhead who has mania for taking thumb marks has taken those of the two infants, anu thereby hangs the story, and later the reputation of the two. After seven years the thumbs of each are again pressed upon the glass, and labeled and again at twelve years of age.
 The play opens twenty-three years after the time of the prologue, and al the same place. David Wilson is about to have his first law suit, and plead his first case. There are robberies go- ing on all over DaWsons Landing, and the thief has not been caught although many suspect the criminal A murder IS finally done and the guilty man is apprehended ny the marks of his thumb upon the handle of the knife with which he attempts the deed, and which match those on one of Pudd'nhead 2 glasses.
 Miss Shlpnan plays the part of
 Roxy" the mother and nurse of the infants, and is splendid, her southern accent being perfect, and her strength
 in the climax of the second act shows
 her to be equal to any part, for here | overacting would be ruin. Mir, Law renee McGill as ''Pudd 'nhead' Is idea the slow qulet manner in which he
 goes deliberately about his work in 1 spite of the taunts of his neghbors giving him just the sort of make III | the author intended he should have ! MT. Paul Anderson handles the part oi
 From Driscol' the supposed nephew of the wealthy York Driscoll,
 and does 1t very ably, while the part
 of Chambers Is done ample justice tc 1 by MT. Burt King. About these twt
 hangs the principal interest of the play | The twins MT. Clennett and MT. Fec are as like as two peas and to then ' belongs the knife-but its too long { ! story to jut down here. The part o'
 Howard Pembroke" lawyer and frient
 of York Driscoll is played by Mr. H
 A, Huse, Jr, Miss Edith Crolius q!
 Patsy" and Miss May Abbey as Row cy," "Pudd sister and nice,
 are both very necessary characters II i the cast. In fact to be Just there il not a part which is not felt, and eacf
 one has finish about his performance 1 that Is positively delightful. Mir. H IA I Huse, Jr, of Bath, Maine, who is thu
 owner of the manuscript used by tn | Mayos, father and son, and who l. l playing a pat in the cast admits tha | "Pudd'nhead Wilson" is his hobby. H. 1 has played in the Mayo productions i doing the part of Tom over l,50
 times. During short interview witt a Journal-Courier reporter after thu performance yesterday Mir. Huse sail l that the likeness between Mir McGil and Mr. Frank Mayo, when the form ! CT came on the stage yesterday wa absolutely startling. The art is q yer! 1 long one. having as many lines as tha | of Hamlet and these lines were per l fectly delivered by MT. .McGill at in 1 first production. The original manu i script. in fact the only full manu script in existence is the property O i Mr. Huse. It and the original musi are used in this weeks offering, and i can be truly said that it would be diff | ficult to equal the performance give, by the stock company this week evel ! if the piece were the only thing beini 1 done for weeks. Take into considera ton the fact that this Is one weel
 production, is marvellous, complete f
 every respect and should pack in
 house for every performance. Matinee
 as usual every day with the usual sou venr matinee Friday.