The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-14


have received from all kinds and
ditions of people.
"Jeromes play is decidedly one with
a motive--a purpose If not precisely
mission. and ii Is a curious coinei-
dencc that the next production to at
tract public attention to marked de
gree was another play with a purpose
inspired with the idea Of war, while
ours is permealed by the spirit of peace
and goodwill
''The power of the stage is becoming
more and more pronounced. and its
influence Is far-reaching TO Il pre-emI-
nent degree, Dickens and other great
writers-British and American-~have
written novels with purpose which
did great good, while the playwrights
of today seem to have discovered the
same philosophers stone.
Il was at first very nervous as 10
the reception The Passing Of the Third
Floor Back. would obtain. The theme
il so original, so daring, and, al the
same time, so delicate, that had my
doubts II the public would be attracted.
Hut that they have been is amply
shown by its twelve months success
fui run IN London ana New York, as
well as It's reception since on the road
am gratitied, too, To think that the
play may help to raise the conception
of the stage in the thoughts Of others
and inspire loftier ideals and bring a
little more beauty. perhaps, into the
lives of those who see il.
Yes. ] have seen many and great
changes in the stage since the days
when | frst became an actor, Moth
ing could be more remarkable than the
enormous improvement that has taken
place In the tone OF the stage. This,
indeed. applies to all brances Of en-
tertainmeut. And then again there
has been tremendous advance in act
ing. We have not, 1t is true, with us
today men who stand out like giants
In my early days there were actors
who stood out from al the rest like
great towering pinnacies-Phelps, Mac
ready. and others But | am afraid
that the day Of pinnacles Is past. Yet
the general level of excellence has been
! raised to q far greater height. 1t is
! difficult for a man to stand ont above
his fellows as Irving stood out In his
day. There are so many facilities for
bringing out all that is best In an
actor. who yet must have the born in
stinct."
This is the attraction for the Acad-
envy. Saturday matinee and night.
Thurston at Biiou.
Magic on the stage nowadays Is no
such simple thing as il was in the ear
~ days. Audiences can no longer BE-
satisfied with card tricks, disappearing
glass balls, restless handkerchiefs and
hats full of paper flowers Nowadays
mp TO date magicians have much
more strenuous task.
Thurston who Is the attraction Mt
the Bijou Theatre this week. doesn't
limit himself to Juggling ducks and
eggs. He juggles men, women, auto
mobiles. lions, fire. water and pretty
girls He deity passes the latter into
trunks and baskets, causes them to re-
appear high above the audience
palms them, in fact. AZ successfully as
the amateur palms his glass balls or
his china eggs.
It is said Thurstons present bag
Of tricks" is more varied and interest
ing than ever. 1t is full of def touches
| The breathless condition among the
spectators is worked up by clever pre-
liminaries and impressive staging. The
surprises are timely and the illusions
either dainty or paralyZing.
Most of Thurston's performances is
new this season. THE Spirit Paint
ings," Is a novelty. On a clear canvas
with a 4straaG light. applied. aa-s.,1ngs
Of many notable people develops mys-
teriously as by fingers of another
world. The Phantom Piano." in
which lady and piano are vanished in
mid.air while playing THE Lady and
the lion. And The Great Abbott De
troit 80 Auto Mystery requiring a
cast of six.
II is strange field In which this