Bumlets is the newsie mostly known for spinning around on the ceiling fan in the restaurant, Tibby’s. Though he isn’t one of the main newsies, he does seem to be a favorite.
The first time you see Bumlets is in the prologue, though only briefly. He’s seen after the second close-up on two younger newsies, standing against a brick wall, holding his newspapers and his stick. The first time you really see him, he’s turning over in his bed behind Mush.
Besides spinning around on the ceiling fan, Bumlets is also known for carrying around a long walking stick, and his creative dancing. He seems to be good friends with Specs, Dutchy, Pie Eater, Kid Blink, Snoddy, Boots, Snipeshooter and Slider (you know who he is, right?), as well as everyone else.
Bumlets is also a very well developed character. You can tell by the “fight” he has with Racetrack Higgins during the dance number/song “Carrying the Banner” that he sometimes dreams about fencing. He seems like a newsie who dreams of being a Medieval knight.
You can also tell that Bumlets is a caring person. For example, when they make the “blockade” in front of the circulation office and the “Seize the Day” choral, when they all run off, Bumlets grabs Slider and pulls him off to the side in front of him. And after and “World Will Know” reprise, he puts Boots on his shoulders, and later hugs him after Jack announces that they beat Pulitzer.
Though Bumlets is a very good character, he did make some mistakes! Such as, when Jack first bumps into David and Les, you see him behind the statue of Horace Greeley. Then when they zoom in on Les, you see him leaning against the fence behind him! Another blooper is during “Seize the Day.” When they launch Specs into the air, Bumlets is seen standing behind him and helping him get launched into the air. Then he appears right next to Jack after Specs lands!
He didn’t have many lines, basically all he says are, “The best,” “Gotcha!” “He's right!” “Pass it back here!” “Look at dat angel!” and “Whaddaya mean?” He does, however, have a solo with Specs and Snipeshooter during the “Carrying the Banner” reprise. Together, they sing, “Welcome to New York!” You can also hear him sing clearly, “And the time is now!” in “The World Will Know.” And if you listen, you can hear him laughing at Snyder and when Jack and Sarah lock lips at the end!
Obviously, this role was played by a very talented actor. I think that the role of Bumlets should’ve been larger, don’t you?
