The Cosmic Illusion at the Seattle Theatre

A small but more than delighted audience witnessed at the Seattle theatre last night what is undoubtedly the most magnificent scenic production ever placed on the American stage, in the first of the 'Urania' entertainments. The 'Urania' spectacles are a revelation of what may be accomplished in stage illusions. Last night the audience was given 'A Trip to the Moon,' and a delightfully realistic voyage it was. Garrett P. Serviss, a man of sterling accomplishments as a scholar, writer, orator, and traveler, acts as conductor for the party and gives the explanatory discourse in a popular manner, and J. C. Mayrhofer, a celebrated electrician, is behind the scenes, creator of the wonderful effects which illustrate the mysteries of the moon, the evolutions of the earth and the other enchanting spectacles of the lunar and terrestrial worlds. In 'Urania' the house is entirely dark. The first act portrays the entire history of a total eclipse of the sun. Stronger and stronger grows the red light until a speck of dazzling gold lifts up, representing the sun. The scene changes, the eclipse proceeds, and the strange series of scenic effects brings the spectator away up through the realms of space to the surface of the moon. One of the most striking scenes is the view of our earth as seen from the moon's desolate surface. People hold their breath when they watch this scene; its realism is amazing. And yet, like every other picture in that moving gallery of nature, it is but a subtle delusion of the stage.