Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-06
THINGS DRAMATIC.

'tJoshua Simpkins," story of New England farm life, will be seen at O'Brien,s opera house tonight. It is said 10 abound in novel features, wonderful mechanical effects, excellent singing and dancing and plenty of refined, wholesome fun, and brings to light in the third act real saw mill in operation, which is claimed to be the greatest reaist ic stage effect ever produced. Between the acts a high class orchestra renders some excellent music, and also aids in the introduction of many pleasing singing and dancing specalties during the progress of the play. The or- ebestra companies the company and adds no little to the performance. The play is highly recommended as being clean and void of the much quoted "horse play"
 1.-THE ENSIGN"
 ''The Ensign' will be the attraction at O'Brien's tomorrow night, Saturday at matinea and Saturday night. It is one of the few successful American plays, and cones to this city with a very strong in- dorsenent. It Is nautical play with plot that hinges upon the Mason and Slidell affair of 1861; aud around which is woven love story with some vigorous dashes of patriotism, little villainy and good deal of healthfu sentiment aud pathos. One of the main features of the production IS the scenery, which is said 10 be unusually fine. There are five scenes, two of which r are said to be as true represen tation 6 it Is possible to obtain upon the stage. One set shows the interior of a war vessel with the gun and main decks just as they are on a real man. of-War.
 The time ofthe action i5 coincident with that episode of the rebellion known as the Trent affair, aud tee plot grows out of the attempt of renegade American serving as a lieutenant in the British navy to prevent the arrest. of Messrs. Mason and Sldell, fba (1nnfadarafa ssionprs. The first act occurs in Havana, and Blythe, the renegade, who has been instructed by his superiors to detain the San Jacinto in port long enough to allow the Trent to get away with the commissioners, insults an Amerl- can officer, hoping thus to involve him and his crew iu an inlracton Of the Cuban laws, thus causing their arrest and tue consequent delay of the United States frigate.
 The American officer has been fore warned, however, and for his country's sake submits to the aspersion of his sweet- hearts character, although with difficulty expressing his indignation. He keeps his temper until the renegade turns sudden ly and tears down and tramples upop the American flag, tutoring, as he does so, a curse upon tue "damned rag,' as he calls it. The swords of the two men ara out instantly, an old coxswein bounds in, and realizing the nature of the quarrel and the danger his officer is in, cuts down the chandelier with one slash of his cutlass. There is combat, and as the lights are turned on the insulter of the flag is seen falling over the balcony rail-
 The Cuban police rush in and are defied by the old coxswain, who has called to his aid his crew of blue jackets, who have been waiting close by in cutter to convey their officer to his ship. The ensign is court martiaJed for the murder of the English of- fcer in what is proved by the evidence to have been personal quarrel. The cox swain unwittingly gives criminating testi- mony, and, discovering his error, says that he killed the renegade. At this the ensign springs to his feet, unable to re- strain himself longer, and admits that he and not tho coxswain killed the insulter of his country's flag. He is sentenced to be hanged at the yard-arm of his ship, but is finally pardoned by the president through the ingenious efforts of little girl.
 The play is said to possess unusual dra- matic strength, and a great deal is prom ised in the way of proper and correct stage settings. The situations are admirably worked up into fitting climaxes, and the play is said to be free from objectionable sensationalism. The company is a remark ably evenly balanced one. -