The Washington herald., 1911-03-21
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THE COLUMBIA.


Adelaide Thurston as Miss Ananias.
A dainty, clean-cut little farce, Miss
Ananias,'' served last evening at the
Columbia to introduce to a large au-
dience Miss Adelaide Thurston. one Of
those clever actresses of wide experience,
whose ardent worshipers are legion in
the lesser cities of all sections of the ma
ton, but whose talents have never been
made known TO playgoers of the greater
centers-
Preferring TO enjoy the distinction OF
steIardom in the provinces" to the less
conspicuous roles offered them in metro
poIitan companies, these idols of the one
two. and three night stands usually END
their often highly meritorious careers IN
the same darkness of obscur1ty that
shruuds their debut, so far as the theater-
goers of such cities as New York or Wash
tngton are concerned Once in a while,
however, some New York manager more
far-sighted than his brethren, and
little more speculatively inclined, dis
covers in one of these road stars" the
essential elements of a metropolitan
favorite, selects a play, orders the seen
cry, engages a good company, and takes
the booking Of plays in the large cities
is known in professional parlance-
In the case Of Miss Thurston, Messrs,
Cohan & HarriS-the youngest, clever
est, and luckiest firm of producing man
ayers in New York-are responsible for
the welcome, if long delayed. advent in
this city of charming and accomplished
player. incidentally, a great deal of the
credit belongs TO Francis y Hope, Miss
Thurstons active manager, whose en-
thusiasm inspired the pleasant arrange
ment that brings her to US this week.
Miss Ananias'' tells a simple story Of
a lovable little spinster. just sweet thir-
ty-three, who has fallen in love with
man who was thrown out OF an automo-
bile and upon her stone wall and sub
seQuent merCiful riniStrationS as
nurse His injury has brought on blind
ness, expected TO be lifelong. Her voice
and gentle tenderness lead him to think
her a young and beautiful girl, and fear
full of losing his love through revealing
her real age and at she mOdestly consid-
ers her prim plainness OF appearance, she
enters upon a course OF harmless lies
and receptions to conceal the truth of
those awful thirty-three years. The re-
covery Of her patients eyesight calls for
deeper ConSpracies and deceltS. until
but perhaps it were better not to know
the story. for half the fun Of a farce
lies in its unexpected twists and turns
1t is enough to say that Catherine CHS
holm cushing has written a charming
little play, which won't set the world
ablaze or break any laughter records.
but which provides a wholesome, enter
tanning evenings diversion. She has
drawn with broad strokes a number of
amusing Chara CterS, chief among which
is that of Nanny Chloe, a specimen Of
the almost obsolete colOred nanny of
that dear old by-gdne school
Miss ThurSton was revelation OF
dainty comedy acting. She is a most
attractive, trim bit of femininity, with
light sweet flexible voice; purity Of die
ton. expressive features and gentle,
womanIy bearing, Her role calls for no
evidence of a greater histrionic gift than
the ability to play sheer comedy with
defines and conviction. but one can
readily picture Miss Thurston in such a
part as that Of Miss Frances Starr, in
THE Easiest Way or THE Rose of the
Rancho" and it is picture that we may
expect to see painted and framed. Miss
ThurSton. while not in her teens, has
many years in which to endear herself
further to Washington's theater patrons,
and IL Is to be hoped that season by
season We shall have the pleasure Of
greeting her in new and a trfe more
serious expressions OF her unmistakable
ability.
Among those in the company support
ing Miss Ananias' whose work is of
particular merit are Laura Bennett. as
Nanny Chloe; Marion Kerby. as a
breezy. slangy young girl: Augustus
Phillips. who played a difficult leading
role ConvincinEly and with manly dig
nifty: Henry Carlin, as a brash picka-
nlnny, and Constance Glover, AS the old
maid sister OF the charming fbbcr. The
play is laid in one scenic setting-the
comfortable and attractive living room
of summer cottage
+. RICHARD SCHAYER