Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-13
A Thrilling Sensation.

 drama that has created comment where ever presented, comes to O'Brien's opera house tomorrow and Tuesday nights. The story of the play is laid in EngIand and Africa, but begins on the coast of Devonshire, and briefly is that of the persecution of young woman and her lover by the woman's cousin, who de- ,sres to become possessed of her for rune. and to obtain which he stoops to all sorts of villainy.
 The action opens with unsuccessful att tempts to bring about the ruin of the hero, Richard Blunt, followed with un- successful attempts on his life. From England the scene shifts to Africa, where, after seven years, the hero and his. wife are found with a party of friends Blunt having located a diamond belt Dunstan Leech, the villain, appears in the role of a slave dealer at the head of band of Arabs and succeeds in cap turing Blunt's wife and child. Through a piece of strategy they are released. but are pursued by Arabs. Finding that a bridge over a gorge has been removed with no other means of escape open. they are preparing to kill themselves when their friends from the opposite side throw themselves across the gorge and form a human bridge. It is from this scene that the play takes its name.
 A wild and rocky gorge in the heart of Africa is pictured. and the breadth of
 
 any but the most daring athlete. Sepa- rated from his followers the hero calls for a time in vain, but just as his enemies close in upon him his men appear on the other side. Even then rescue seems inn possible, but at the last moment a hu- man pyramid is reared on the further side by three men who have been circus performers. Close to the brink it stands a moment with arms and legs entwined, and then 1t wavers and falls forward, apparently only to drop in the stream. But mol Securely held on the other side a living bridge is made, over which the heroine and her child pass in safety. The feat seems almost dangerous. Certainly 1t Is a thrilling one, and a decided nov city, even in an age in which everything is sought to bring about thrilling sem sation It brings out tremendous ap- plause, above which could be heard the shrill whistle the gallery god finds alone equal to the unbOunded expression of his feelings. Everything at last ends happi- ly the hero escapes from the Arabs and returns to England to confound his en- emy and rescue his wife from persecu- ton.
 The play is handsomely staged. The Span of Life" scene is the crowning one, but excellent in its way is the scene out side the light house, where Blunt, with one arm useless, climbs up the side to ring the fog bell just as a big steamer looms up through the mist and small boat comes with help from shore to light the hitherto unlighted lamps
 Phe scenes are from the brush of Frank Rafter and are highly artistic examples of fine stage pictures
 "Peck's Bad Boy"
 Atkinsons Comedy company will ap. pear here Wednesday night and at spe- cial matinee Wednesday afternoon in the musical comedy, the New Peck's Bad Boy" a dramatization of the famous bad boy sketches of George w. Peck editor of the Milwaukee Sun The en- tertainment Is in three acts or scenes the grocery store, the policeman's home and the picnic grounds. The leading characters are the bad boy, his chilm his girl and his pa, the servant girl and | the doctor AS MT Peck says: "The coun- terpart of this boy is located in every village in the land" He is wide-awake full of vinegar, and is ready to crawl under the canvass of a circus or repeat 100 verses of the Testament in Sunday school" An exchange says that he is | only mischevous and has a good heart and is really one of the best boys ir Milwaukee. If every boy was as good as Pecks Bad Boy" of the stage. there would be no bad men in the world. The to produce a good influence. The press generally acknowledge that the dramat ist has admirably illustrated Peck's stories, sustaining a wonderful ideality to the scenes and language of the orig. inal sketches, and the company is pro. nounced every way competent for the rat. | ting fun, and the grocery store set. 6 marvel of realistic effect.
 National Perils