Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-26
The Play s the Thing g

The comic opera "Wang," which last season gained golden opinions here and elsewhere, comes again to O'Brien's to- night for one performance.
 The theater- going public is always in search of novelties, but in this day of so many stage novelties which disappoint the coming of an old and tried friend like "Wang'' is indeed welcome anticipation. There will be many new and pretty faces, many new, fresh and youthful voices, ne W scenery and costumes more costly than were lLyished upon it in the days when 1t was an experiment. These new features will, however, be but the settings for the same merry opera. Those who saw it be- fore will all the more anxiously desire to hear "The Man With An Elephant on His Hands,' IA Pretty Girl, Summer Night, p "You Must Ask of the Man in the Moon,o and all the other catchy songs that have become so popular, but, thank fortune, have not yet become part of the repertoire of the hand organ. The operas mirth- provoking story, with its complica- lions involving an oriental prince regent and Europoanized heir to the throne, French widows and maidens, Parislan dancing girls, Cam bodian and Burmese envoys, has never laid claim 10 depth, but it has given many person as delightful ap evening as he coald ask for.
 FANNY kICE AS NANCY" !"
 Dainty Fanny Rice will be at the opera house on tomorrow evening. This brightest of all comediennes we'll deserves her very great popularity. She never con- founds pertness or coaTSenesS With Nln5ome- ness or fun. Her methods are absolutely legitimate in everything. She has never had any notoriety of any sort; never has been followed by crazy lover; las never had any diamonds stolen; has never eaten supper after her work at the theater with any one outside of her own family. With all this she is not prude; it means simply that in addition 10 being good actress she is good woman. The company support ing her this season is the best ehe has ever had since she began "starrng.' Her piny is a new one, called "Nancy.o It Is an intensely funny comedy set to music. Different from most comedies, it teaches a distinctly moral lesson that will go home to every one who imagines that true happi- ness can be found anywhere outside of an honest home.
 The play in itself is as novel as it's title. It relates the story of young, pretty. ig- norant, discontented wife, who imagines that her humble and honest home is nothing compared with the homes of the wealthy. Her sgood- natured to see the inner life of wealthy homes by giving her three pairs Of shoes which he has made to deliver at so many houses. The experience of the keen- witted little woman WDlle on these 6TranQb constitute Lne acting of the play. Her own demeanor in con- trast with her surroundings and her purity of mind bring her safely through some rather hazardous situations ,and she is glad to return home well content to remain there. This faint outline of the plot, of course, conveys no idea of the numerous amusing complications. There is no end of fun throughout the play.
 GILMORE'S FAMOUS BAND.
 Gimore's famous old band and several famous artists are to appear in grand con cert at the opera house Thursday afternoon and evening. The band appears in full uniform-fifty men the highest rank iu- strumentalists that can be found in Amer ica and Europe.
 Accounts agree that the band has made wonderful development, hi nee it came under the conductorship of Victor Herbert, who is considered the most brilliant musician in America at this .ime., He has shown that be is not only great artist, both in this country and Europe, but also his loug experience with the Theodore Thomas or chestra, now with Giimore's, has shown beyond doubt that he is equally great leader as we'll. He was assistant conductor of Theodore Thomas' orchestra, and his leadership has brought Gi more's up to standard equal with that of the great or chestras. ln. fact, the classification of iu- struments is much the same as it Is in the great orchestras-the reeds, the wood winds and soft brasses, horns. trumpets, eto.--the single exception being the strings, but these the finer reeds supersede.