The Washington times., 1913-03-19
W. HEN 1t was announced by the
w management of the Poll Thea
w ter that the stock company

"i management of the Poll Thea
| ter that the stock company
which has become so popular
| would play The Passing of the Third
Floor Back, regarded this statement
with considerable amount of skep.
ticism. The Poll Players deserve much
commendation for many worthy under.
takfngs. and this department Is only toe
glad to encourage them in any aspiring
effort. The essaying of such an ambi-
tious offering as ''The Third Floor
Back" however. looked like a case OF
Ditlng on more than they could chew,
II 1 may be permitted to use a common
place expression. II is a play of pc
cuiiar psychic extraction, which. would
Grain the resources of any stock COM
nany. / pictured in my minds eye the
central character, so wonderfully played
, by Forbes Robertson, and awaited the
outcome at Polls Theater with a great
deal Of interest.
The literary position of Jerome K.
Jerome is not to be lightly treated, and
his play. interpreted by A. II. Van
BuTen and his co-workers, / will con-
Tess. surprised me most agreeab bly,. In
the careful attention to detail in the
stage settings. and thoughtful con-
sideTaeion OF artistic urities, the pro-
duction Is worthy the highest praise.
and congratulate Director George
Lask for the effect that has been OBJ
tained in the scene. which depicts
throughout the three acts a Blooms
bury lodging house
The Passing of the Third Floor
Back Is one of the most impressive
plays have ever seen. one of the most
impressive. / imagine, that has ever
been presented on the English speak,
ing stage: 1t is a play that brings with
Il a feeling of reverent awe. a pro-
round realization of ones own short
comtngs. sermon. delightfully."- told.
and thoroughly convincing. In all of
the plays written l do not believe that
which the benign Stranger enters the
sordid. cheap Bloomsbury lodging house.
crowded with cheats, gamblers, liars
scolding. pickering, unhappy creatures
and. by appealing to the good that is in
each of them, reforms them, one and
ALL. Accepting the play as allegoricaI.
il typifies the Christ spirit. which exists
In every one.
Very effectively. through the art OF
a. III. Van Buren,. a wonderful moral
in all OF the years he has PLAYED as
leading man in various Washington
stock companies. has never had a part
in which he has been more happily cast
The supreme quality of dignity benevo-
lence and transcendent psychic power
of the character of The Passerby is
most effectively brought out in Mr. Van
Buren's acting. and he leaves in the
minds Of those who have been so for
tunate as to see him this week an i'm
preston that is wholesome. pleasing
and lasting. His voice is modulated to
a tone that is sonorous, his movements
are dignifed. and he plays with the
repression that the character demands.
His makeup, that of a man past mid
die age. Is an artistic triumph. When
he enters the cheap boarding house
room, clad in an all-enveloping cape,
which seems. somehow. like an ecclesi-
astical garment, with bowed head. and
quiet compelling ma0ner. 1t seems al
most as though one were in the pres
ence Of something holy and mysterious.
The way he transforms the people of
the boarding house. through his quiet
goodness. bringing out the better ma
ture OF each one of the poor. miserable,
soul-tired people who go to make up
that household. is lesson In itself. and
in the hands Of Mr.. Van Buren, Is a
lesson that one Is glad 10 receive. Some |
how, after he has withdrawn his pres |,
ence from the room, We Suddenly realize