The Theatre in Boston

"The Mollusc" is a light comedy, with a weak, sentimental ending, but has the virtue of illustrating the all too prevalent type of character who struggles to stand still. In order to bring out this point, both the plot and the acting are a good deal over done. George Arliss himself seems just a bit unnatural, and his conversations with Philip Merrivalle, the weather beaten and long suffering husband of the "Mollusc", holds the attention but seems to lack essential characteristics of reality.

Viva Birkett as the "Mollusc", however, is superb. She has remarkable poise, and convinces us from the start that something out of the ordinary will have to be done if she is to be aroused. The device which does eventually arouse her is not strong enough to eliminate credulity.

The ending is grossly untrue. It is doubtful if any man ever won his wife by weeping over her future, and enlarging on his hope that she would find a good husband; yet George Arliss does it and the audience looks on with rapt attention apparently oblivious of the inconsistency.