The Mummy

Rating:
Summary: A Mystery Becomes Mystical
Review: Based on the Bram Stoker potboiler "The Jewel of Seven Stars," this radio play treads the line between mystery and tale of the supernatural. An Egyptologist falls victim to a murderous attack in his own bedroom. A noble young man springs to the aid of the stricken Egyptologist's beautiful daughter. Things continue to go bump in the night as the young man, the daughter, and an ace Scotland Yard investigator attempt to guard the Egyptologist against -- what? Gradually the mystery begins to unfold with the disclosure of a manuscript written by a Danish explorer. As more is revealed, the story becomes less a mystery and more a tale of the supernatural. With the solution of the mystery, the tale becomes a quest for scientific/magical discovery. The climactic scene reminded me somewhat of Indiana Jones.

Refreshingly, no bandage-wrapped zombie staggers around trying to kill people. The play differs greatly from the 1930's vintage Mummy movies with Boris Karloff. It is light years away from the modern Brendan Frazier Mummy opuses.

The plot is well crafted, and the story may have broken new ground back in 1903 when it was originally published, but it seems somewhat tame by today's standards. That very tameness adds to the play's charm. We have a hero who is really heroic; a truly virtuous damsel in distress; no profanity; no sex; no graphic violence; and no heavy-handed moralizing. The play provides an entertaining diversion.