PLIMMER-HALL CO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9003, 27 March 1915, Page 8

PLIMMER-HALL CO.

“THE MUMMY & THE HUMMING BIRD” A PLAY OP, ABSORBING INTEREST. An audience swelled by members of the New Zealand Natives’ Association fairly filled tho Grand Opera House last evening, when “The Mummy and the Humming Bird” was produced by the PlimmerHall Dramatic Company. The play proved one of absorbing interest, and was witnessed with considerable pleasure by tiie large audience assembled. The peculiarity of the play is that while the plot seems io oe mscioseu in a very simple lasiuon. in tue liret act, unusual complexities arise afterwards, and the course of events takes quite a different turn to what is naturally expected. In the first act the mummy” is found to be a scientific gentleman who is so absorbed in scientific pursuits that he neglects the delicate attentions wiucu are expected from a young wife. The "humming bird” is an Italian litterateur, who attempts to fill the place of th© husband. This Italian in his early career has figured as a seducer of a Sicilian wife, and the husband of the same comes in contact with the scientist. There is a very original scene at the outset, in which the outraged Sicilian, disguised as an organ-grinder, tells his story by signs to the scientist. Afterwards the wife of the scientist becomes involved in the toils of the "humming bird" adventurer. The Sicilian organ-grinder, obsessed, by a desire to wreak revenge on the man .who has ruined and caused tbe death, of his wife, becomes the valet of tho scientist, and the "humming bird” is practically run to earth. The ramifications, however, are not just what are expected, so that tho interest in what” seems a simple plot at the beginning is increased. Finally, however, the “mummy” scientist is reconciled to his wife, and the Italian adventurer, after pleading on his knees for mercy, is allowed to escape. The play was presented in a particularly effective manner. Miss Beatrice Day as Lady Lumley appeared ’n. a part which gives her much more scope than in the piece with which the company opened. The various phases of emotion to be portrayed as the neglected wife she illustrated to the life, and she elicited the sympathies of the audience at the commencement and retained them till the end of the drama. Mr Winter Hall as Lord Lumley, the "mummy,” had an exacting piece of characterisation to realise, and he did it with considerable power. In one Scene in which the -husband and the plotting betrayer come to a plain nnderstanding with thinly veiled courtesies, Mr Hall was exceedingly good, and this particular scene may be chosen as perhaps tho most effective in the play. Hr Harry Plimmer was the Italian adventurer— Signor d’Orelli by name—and in his impersonation he did much to hide his identity. His broken English was consistent throughout, and he gave what probably is the best piece of acting he has exhibited in Wellington. Tho part of (the Sicilian with the “vendetta ’ was taken by M.r H. W - Varna with commendable skill- In the first act Mr Varna was roost forcible and interesting- If the character faded into less importance later on it was the fault of the playwright and not the actor. As Lord Ronalds, E.N., a friend of thefamily who discloses disagreeable possibilities, Mr Vivian Edwards was excellent. So also was Miss Nellie Calvin as the fiancee of Lord Ronalds. The subsidiary characters were impersonated by Messrs Harry Halley. Paul ' Haroourt Hare, and Miss Marjorie Soper. "The Mummy find the Humming Bird” will be repeated to-night, when the season of tbe company will be brought to a close.

Messrs Plimmer and Hall wish to acknowledge receipt of the following further donations sent to Miss Hay: Anonymous, £5 10a j Bank N.S.W. clerks, auction of one ticket, las 6d; Hon. Jaa. Allen, £5. They request that those few buyers of goods at the various auction sales during the season who have not yet remitted the amounts will do so immediately to Mr Staveley, Grand Opera- House- To-night is the Patriotic Society’s night, when members and their friends ! will witness the in force after their efforts during the day on behalf of “the cause." On Monday the country tour is to be inaugurated by a two-nights’ season at Palmerston; Marton will be visited on Wednesday, and Taihape on. Thursday-