The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-12-02
A Noteworthy Attraction.

one In Il theatrical way for Norfolk
Miss Adelaide Thurston in Miss An
anias,' new COMEDY, has been de-
clarcd one of the big hits OF the sea.
son In Kansas city where she played
all last week. and Norfolk Is fortunate
To get her
The company Is an expensive one
and Miss Thurston, who Is ranked as
one Of the Clcycrest condolences on
the American stage today will be a
rich treat for Norfolk playgoers
From accounts In Kansas City papers,
even more Of a show is to be expected
than Henry Woodruff last week in
"rho Genius"
Even in Kansas city, Miss Thurs.
tons week was spoken of AS note
worthy one" so that Norfolk may we'll
know the attraction will be one of the
best that ever has come to the Audi
forum. A large out.oftown attend.
ance Is anticipated as this will be one
of the big events of the season and
will be u show emincntly worth com
ing to see
Seats 20 on sale Thursday morning
orders mailed now will be reserved in
the order of their receipt
A Conan & Harris Show.
Miss Ananias" Is a Cohan q Harris
attraction, which in itself is enough
to tell people familiar with things the
atrical that 1t is of first rank This is
the first trust" show that has come
IN b,r la,
Eranger. This acquisition is one
of the results of the settling of the
theatrical war.
Here's what Frank A. Marshall in
the Kansas City Journal had to say
about the show week ago Monday:
A most charming addition to the
membership of the Ananias club was
made at the Willis Wood last night
when Miss Adelaide Thurston, a par
tiCuarly effective actress in dainty
comedy began a noteworthy weeks en-
gagement in Catherine Chisholm Cush-
ing's very clever farce comedy, Miss
Ananias." OF course there isn't any
thing more Biblical than the name
about it, else it would have been call
ed, with strict regard for the laws of
gender, Miss Sapphira." 1t might
much more appropriately be called
such Little Whopper" for the
whole delightful affair hinges on one
of the teeniest, whitest and most JUS
titiabe little tibs that pretty woman
ever told. Her lover, temporarily
blind, thought she was 10 and had blue
eyes and golden hair, whereas she was
33 and had brown eyes and brown
hair. She let him think so until he
was about to recover his sight, for
what could the poor girl do" since
she loved him?
The basic situation is purely farci-
cal and the chances for getting very
much real sentiment over the foot
lights from behind such situation are
rather slender. While the tempo of
the action might be quickened to ad-
vantage and while the whole thing
would probably "go" better if the far
cical element emphasized more strong.
ly there is much to be said in favor of
the quieter methods employed by Miss
Thurston and her unusually capable
support. In fact the company is one
of the very best seen here this season
and every role is admirably played.
There is not a weak spot in the cast
and the acting alone is a dramatic de-
light. No cleaner or Cleverer farce or
comedy has been seen here this year
The play is most cleVerly constructed
and wittily written, its literary and
dramatic craftsmanship being of a
very high order. Acted so skillfully
as it is. the piece is a gem in its way
Miss ThurSton, one of the dantieSt
little condolences of the day, who has
wide variety of artistic gifts, is de-
liciously convincing as Nancy Lyle
N
spinsterhood when handsome young
fellow got thrown into her life by an
automobile accident which temporarily
blinded him and made him a patient
in her cosy little home-hoSpital. Her
sprightly manner makes him conjure
up picture of budding young woman
hood and she tibs in order to preserve
the illusion and her own chances Of
happiness. A frsky old uncle, a
breezy young cousin and delightful
old colored nanny help carry the de-
ception to the funniest of farce COM
edy extremes until the inevitable de-
nouement comes. only to bring the
happiness which was aimed at from
the first. A fussy old aunt and most
laughable old maid sister add not a
little to the fun of the piece.
Augustus Phillips, an actor of ster-
Ills merit, plays the blinded young
lover effectively. Marion Kirby, who
played with distinction Helen Ware S
role in THE Third Degree" and is a
gifted young player is capital as the
slangy young cousin, and Miss Laura
Bennett, one of the best "mammies"
of the stage, is inimtable as Nanny
Chloe. Miss Edna Won Buelow is eX-
cellent as Mrs. Beekman, and a. S.
Byron is clever as Mr.. Beekman Con
stance Glover is a screaming hit in an
eccentric bit of character lasting about
three minutes. Francis X. Hope
makes a very successful reporter and
several other roles are we'll handled
Cohan & Harris have given a stump
tuOus setting.
Ont IF HOIIaoe