Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-26
.sDORCAS.o

Pauline Hall and her excellent company come to the opera house on Saturday for an engagement afternoon and evening.
 The entertainment which Miss Hall will provide on this occasion, which marks her second appearance in this city, is a new operatic comedy, entitled "Dorcas,' ,'' from the pen of Harry Paulton, already so well known as the author of "Erminie,' ' "Niobe,'' '' etc.
 The present production will, in a meas ure, be a departure from Miss Halls here tofore style of work, inasmuch as all her efforts for some time past have been con fined solely to comic opera roles. In "Dorcas, ,o which is an operatic comedy taken from an old German source by Harry Paulton, who, in writing 1t, transferred the scenes to England, the action of which takes place during the latter part of the seventee nth century, Miss Hall has much better chance to display her ability than were she confined to the limited roles of comic opera prima donna.
 During the course of the story told in "Dorcas' Miss Hall will be seen in three different characters, one in each act, all of which allow her many opportunities for splendid dramatic power and musical ability.
 While s'Dorcas'' is not really an opera still it must not be forgotten that it is re- plete with much music, which is de- scribed as being delightful, tuneful and light.
 For her supporting company Miss Hall has engaged the most competent and com plete one, realizing the fact that one weak ness might hurt the production. With that end in view she has engaged such ar- lists for her support as Jeanette St. Henry, Kate Davis, James Aldrich Libbey, Will liam Broderick, Charles Bradshaw, etc. "ALABAMA" FOR NEW YEARS DAY.
 For New Years Day and night Birming- ham theater- goers will enjoy rare treat in the beautiful drama of southern life by MT. Thomas, entitled "Alabama. This play has been seen here twice and has created the greatest enthusiasm.
 The scene Is an old plantation in Ala bama, near the town of Talladega. The central figure Is an old planter, southern gentleman of the old school, a type of the noble chivalry of the old south. The war swept away many of his possessions and separated him from his son, who felt it his duty to fight for the north.
 The most interesting and conspicuous scenic feature of the play, as it is seen from different points of view, under all the changing light effects of a May day and night in 0 semi-tropical country, is the ruined stone gateway of Colonel Preston's s dooryard. Here one of the last attempts was made to repulse Sherman's march to the sea. cannon was planted behind the masonry of the gate, but the federal artil- lery soon silenced it and reduced the strong posts to ruin. Among the ruins the can non still lies, covered with creeping vines, anu Ill llS ilOutu uSdQOW ldTh DdS Dullb it's nest.
 Into the peaceful life dominated by the strong will of old Colonel Preston, who represents in the new generation the sur- vival of the old prejudices, and who thinks he hates the nor tn as bitterly as ever, and fights against the encroachment of modern Improvements, come the engineers from the north to lay out the route of new railroad, and the principal engineer is the old planters son, long separated from him.
 The play reveals the diverse traits of many interesting personages. It involves young love, charmingty expressed, and the reunion of hearts long separated, and the re-establ bli shment of family ties broken up by the war.
 Although dealing with ite past, ,.s we'll as the present, 1t involrts au intricate story of family relations, which is so well toldlthat the spectator is scarcely aware that he is listening to narration.
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