The Mollusc

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THE MOLLUSC
GREAT COMEDY SUCCESS
REDPATH




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GREAT COMIDY SUCCESS in 3 ACTS

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THE MOLLUSC

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A NEW YORK CAST


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THE MOLLUSC
THE Redpath Lyceum Bureau makes announcement of the producing rights of The Mollusc, a three-act comedy by Hubert Henry Davies, and the organization of a strong Broadway cast to present it to Lyceum audiences.

The Mollusc is a successful comedy which originally had a run of two seasons in New York City under the management of Mr. Charles Frohman.  It was afterwards played on a tour of the country with May Irwin as its star and later by Mr. Kyrle Bellew who was appearing in the play at the time of his death.

It later had a successful revival by Mr. George Arliss, and the accompanying illustrations are made from pictures posed by that actor and supporting cast.

This play also has had several seasons of triumph in London.

There are two hours of laughter in the play, but behind each laugh there is an idea.

The comedy has for its central figure a representative of the family of human molluscs—those delightful, lazy people who have the happy knack of making everybody work for them, feed them, amuse them, wait on them, without raising a peg to help themselves.

Sir James M. Barrie who saw the play in London declared the text to be of such superb workmanship that it would be a delight to hear its dialogue even out of the mouth of a megaphone, were actors not available.


From the New York Critics

A charming comedy.—
EVENING WORLD.


The Mollusc is a jewel among comedies.  Don't miss it, for it is one of the gems of the season.—
EVENING SUN.


The Mollusc is hailed as a charming, clever comedy.—
TELEGRAM.


The Mollusc is a delightful, sparkling comedy.—
MAIL.


Hubert Henry Davies' comedy, The Mollusc, is a sparkling, clear-cut, witty comedy.—
GLOBE.


Mr. Hubert Henry Davies' charming comedy, The Mollusc, which was seen here earlier in the season at the Garrick Theatre, was presented last evening with Sir Charles Wyndham in the leading role.—
NEW YORK HERALD.


Sir Charles Wyndham gives charming revival of Davies' play, The Mollusc.  The event is an artistic treat at the Empire Theatre.—
N. Y. MORNING WORLD.




THE MOLLUSC
The New York Times gives the following very interesting outline of the story of the play:

Mr. Davies went to the animal kingdom to get a name for his comedy and a definition of the besetting weakness of the principal character in it—Mrs. Baxter.  In the mollusc he found an animal of a kindred nature, hence The Mollusc, which sets forth in comical situations the indolence of the idle rich; an indolence which becomes an insidious disease.

Mrs. Baxter is a human mollusc.  That is what her brother calls her at the conclusion of a long dissertation on the weaknesses of his family.  But she is a mollusc of such attractive beauty that he would be a mighty poor man who would refuse to minister to her every want.  And how she enjoys the luxury of attendance!  Young, beautiful to behold, selfish, pampered, indolent—but withal a bit domesticated, she is the idol of her family and a perpetual worry to her husband.

The action of the comedy occurs at the country home of the Baxters, several miles outside of London.  They have two children for whom they have provided a pretty governess, Miss Roberts.  Mrs. Baxter is thoroughly selfish in her tastes and indifferent to the occupations of her husband.

That she might not be compelled to leave her home, she enjoins the governess to accompany Mr. Baxter wherever his fancy leads him.  The husband and the governess take long walks, play chess, read together and attend the theatres.  Mr. Baxter becomes infatuated with her.  The behavior of Miss Roberts has been beyond reproach.  She is Baxter's companion, as well as the governess of his children.  She has no affection for him.  But Baxter gradually finds her indispensable to him, and the affair is reaching a serious stage when along comes Tom Kemp, brother of Mrs. Baxter.  He sees the danger and quickly puts himself to the task of averting it.  He shows his sister the weak points in her own character, suggests that she be more attentive to her husband, and at another time takes occasion to remind Mr. Baxter of his duty.

The wife eventually sees the gravity of the situation, and by ways peculiar to her sex she restores love and order in a house about to fall.

During the progress of his efforts to cure his sister of molluscry Kemp falls in love with the governess.  And when he reveals his affection both Baxters oppose him, the husband because he has a secret attachment, the wife because she does not wish to lose such a valuable servant.  In the end, however, Kemp is victorious, and he sees the house effectually cured of its besetting weakness.