Birmingham age-herald., 1894-10-02
THINGS DRAMATIC.

Nearly all of the farce comedies that have been here this season have been poorly presented, and as a result the audiences went away unpleased, but such was not the case last night, for the audience left highly elated over the performance of the evening. The attraction was jolly Nellie McHenry and a strong company, in "A Night at the Circus.'
 The play is three act farce comedy. which opens in a law office and winds up 1n the dressing room of the Great Imperial circus. It has more plot than the average farce comedy, and relates the incidents of circus life, making it laugh provoking.
 Miss Nellie McHenry was at her best last night, although the house that greeted her was small, and in the dual role of Mlle Electra, the queen of the arena, and the governess she was very good; Her support. all told, was splendid. The speclaltes were far above the average and all received round upon round of applause.
 KEENE AS ''LOUIs xI.n
 Mir. Thomas Keene comes to the opera house this evening and will be seen in one of his greatest assumptions, stLouis Xl." MT. keens's interpretation of the willy, merciless, intriguing monarch is as orig lnal as It Is powerful, aud stands justly by the side of the greatest stage presentations this age has seen. It is remarkable pic- ture of the monarch as he lived and died.
 Miss Lillian Lawrence, MT. Keene's leading lady, possesses the requisites of an actress, beauty of face and form, a musical, resonant voice, and graceful movement. marked individuality, touching the feel ings in the more powerful passages, win- ming her hearers with her bright girlish- ness in the lighter scenes.
 HoYT's "BLACK sEEEP.u
 It is meat and drink to see real come dian, and when you can feast your eyes on one in Hoyt comedy your fare is excep- tional. you are getting luxuries.
 "A Black Sheep.'' the latest from the sented for the first time in this city tomor- row night.
 In IA Black Sheep' the principal char acter is the black sheep, known as Hot Stuff, who is black shesp of a blooded Massachusetts family, who forsakes social standing, riches and family title for life on the wild plains of Arizona. Thls char acter was especially written for Otis Har- lan, a wonderfully clever and versatile comedian, who will be remembered for his funny antics and musical voic, in the Raz- gle Dszzie trio in IA Brass Monky,' also by the catchy expression, 'sAre you happy?' which was original with him in Thatcaer's s.Tuxedo, and later by the tremendous hit he scored in the operetta ''Tobnsco, '' when he played the opposite role to Thomas Seabrook.
 In IA Black Sheep'' MT. Hoyt has writ ten character that is said to fit MT. Har- lan's abilities to perfection. He will have ample opportunity to display his versatility as comedian, and his rich, mellow bari tone voice will be an important factor, as music abounds in every nook and corner of the pic ce, now breaking forth in the shape of song or concerted number.
 CHARLES DICKSON IN "INCoG."
 For an evening of continuous laughter there is nothing, it is said, to compare with Mrs. R. Pacheco's roaring comedy, ''Incog," which MT. Charles Dickson will present at the opera house on Friday night. This now famous comedy has for the past two years toured the entire United States, meeting everywhere with popular success; in fact, its triumphs have been remarka- ble, being the recipient of unanimous praise from the entire press of the country, running 100 nights in New York and fifty each in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco.
 sketch of the play and plot shows how all sorts of funny situations are caused by gentleman making up to resemble an- other gentleman who had twin brother looking exactly like him. Three men look ing alike, one married and two making love, are calculated to make good deal of trouble for one another when they all visit the same house. The play is full of action. A large audience will doubtless be present the night of it's performance.