Life — September 18, 1902 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Once More to the Breach. DISTINGUISHED foreign observer, who has lately sojourned in New York, voices the conclusion that the American public de- votes its time, after taking out what is necessary for slecping and eating, to making money, to going to the theatre, to talking about money and to talking about the theatre. Ile admits that there is a slight interest in horse-racing, which he attributes to its money-making possibi that some slight attention is given to other sports. of interest in art and in literature, of knowledge of true social in- tercourse, he finds only the merest trace, although his opportunities for observation have been varied and many. Of course, he found a few persons who cared for pictures other than chromos, a few persons who read books besides those advertised as “the novel of the year,” and went toa few houses where hospitality meant some- thing more than a display of wealth, but his conclusion was a gen- eral one. Granting that his conclusion with respect of American interest in the theatre is true, and admitting what we all know to be true, that Americans excel the world in everything they undertake, the logical inference is that just as America leads the world in matters com- mercial, so is the American stage pre-eminent in matters dramatic. Butisit? Let us watch the events of the coming season and see. LIFE'S THEATRICAL PRIMER. ARLY among the season's attractions is a society play to which its author, Mr. Isaac Henderson, has given the curious title, “* The Mummy and the Humming Bird.” The mummy turns out to be jh an English nobleman so interested in scientific o [ pursuits that he is as far removed from the life surroundivg him as Rameses or Seti, and the humming bird is a polished Italian villain who is trying to steal the affections of the nobleman's pretty wife. Neither theme nor incidents are entirely new, but the author has introduced one or two entirely novel and original episodes, and bound the whole together ijutoan interesting play, At points he fails to distinguish the difference between talic and conversation, and some would-be-clever-if-they-could epigrams are dragged into the dialogue by main force, but the general result is more than usuaily pleasing. As Lord Lumley, “the mummy,” Mr. John Drew is very for- tunately cast. The author has subordinated the scientist to the gentleman, and Mr. Drew is one of the few Awerican actors who can and does successfully portray gentlemanly characters. This is more difficult than might appear, and means more than simply avoiding such solecisms as eating with one's knife or wearing tan shoes with full evening dress. It is conveying to an audience by speech and manner that one is well-born and well-bred, a thing of art more than nature, as evidence the awkwardness and gawkiness of well-born and well-bred Leginners and amateurs. There is more than this to the part of Lord Lumley, and in the sterner scenes where he comcs to life from his mummified state and eucounters the villain with polite banter overlying deep emotion, Mr. Drew showed thorough understanding of the part and ability to interpret it. As D'Orelli, the villain, Mr. Guy Standing was somewhat handicapped by physique and temperament in demonstrating the butterfly qualities of the character, but in the main was a satisfac- tory Latin foil to Mr. Drew's Anglo-Saxon stolidity. Mar- garet Dale as Lady Lumley, the pivot about which the story re- volves, seems likely to become an able and attractive leading woman. Mr. Lionel Barrymore was a genuine artistic surprise. He im- personated a young, lowerclass Italian with an exactness, an earnestness and au attention to detail rarely seen among our younger actors, The rile of the simple-minded organ-grinder filled with the one idea of revenge is capable of many interpreta- tions, but Mr. Barrymore chose exactly the right one, and it isto be hoped that this success will incite his ambition to achieve others. “The Mummy and the Humming Bird” is worth seeing, both for itself and the way it is done. . ° . > RS. JACK" is one of those plays written to make prominent a single character, and is, therefore, not to be judged from the very highest standards. It is intended to introduce the breezy presence of Alice ‘ischer into the starry firmament, and is a satisfactory vehicle for that purpose. Miss Fischer impersonates a vigorous Western widow who goes through a number of complications connected with a fortune, a will and codicil, scheming relatives and a midnight burglary. All this sounds very strenuous, but Afrs, Jack is a widow a strong sense of humor, and Miss Fischer, by virtue of her personality, carries the serious situations into the realm of fun. ‘The play has agood many crudities, but it also has some clever lincs and some laughable situations. The supporting company is competent and the performance moves smoothly. Mrs, Jack is an amusing person with whom to spend an evening. Metcalfe, comicbooks.com