AMUSEMENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8542, 24 March 1908, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

HERBERT FLEMMING COMPANY "THE MUMMY AND THE HUMMING BIRD."

The Opera House will be open tonight with Hr Herbert Flemming's new English Comedy Company, who will produce for the first time in Palmerston Mr Isaac Henderson's four-act play, "The Mummy and the Humming Bird " The "mummy" of the title is Lord Lumley, a married man, who gives more time and attention to scientific hobbies than to the wife whom he has vowed to love and cherish. What follows may easily be guessed. Young married ladies who are neglected by their lords find consolation in another direction. Lady Lumley's consoler is an Italian adventurer, one Signor D'Orelli. Lord Lumley's suspicions arc awakened in the first act of the piece, where takes place one of tho strongest scenes of the wholo production. His lordship, being left alone to his scientific researches, while his wife and her associates are dining at a restaurant, rebukes his servants by asking ih to dinner'the organ grinder whom they would drive from the door. In sign language Lord Lumley and this Guiseppc converse. The organ-grinder has come to London to be revenged upon the man who has tempted his young bride from the path of duty and of honour, and Lord Lumley knows, so graphic is the description by gesture, that tho betrayer was none other than Signor D'Orelli. Later, returning from his travels, his lordship rescues his wife from her perilous position in the Italian's house, and by a device which need not be explained in detail here, gives D'Orelli to understand that Nemesis is upon his track. Guiseppc has now been taken into Lord Lumley's service as valet, and a useful servant he proves to be. When Lady Lumley runs away to Paris, it is he who traces her to tho Hotel de Londres. Hero sho is found by the forgiving husband. The tempter makes tracks; his attention has been called to the ex-organ-grinder thirsting for his blood. The season in Melbourne was brought to a close amidst a scene of the greatest enthusiasm, Miss Beatrice Day being called for again and again for a speech, but the popular actress was to oovercome to respond, and thus, with the strains of "Auld Lang Syne" from the orchestra, in which the audience heartily joined, tho first season of Mr Herbert Flemming's New English Company was brought to a close, a company which ha 3 beon compared by the leading Victorian journals as being equal to that of the famous Brough and Boucicault combination.

"The Mummy and the Humming Bird" was obtained from Sir Charles Wyndham during his recent visit to England. The play is said to be full of strong dramatic interest, the attention of the audience being rivetted from the rise to the fall of the curtain. It affords excellent opportunities for Mr Flemming and Miss Beatrice Day _to display their., , talents, whilst Mr A. S. Homewood (late leading man with Miss Ellen Terry) and Mr H. W. Varna (late stage manager for Mr Becrbohm Tree in London), and new acting in the same capacity for .Mr Flemming) pre admirably suited with: strong parts. The piece will be lavishly mounted, all scenery and properties being carried. A special feature of this unique production will be the dresses worn by Miss Beatrice Day, all being of the very latest London and Paris models. A compact orchestra will be under the baton of Mr Frank Eugardi. The business arrangements are in the hands of Mr W. E. Bryan. To-morrow night "The Red Lamp" will be staged here for the first time.