Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-27
AT O'BRlEN'S.

Lindsay's comedians in "The Sham rock" with Edwin and Bella Hanford in the leading roles was the attraction at o'Brfen's last night. While the audi ence Was not as large as was expected, owing to the fact that W. o. Lindsey, the proprietor of tine show is an old Bir- mir1ilamer, yet those present were more f than pleased at the performance. There f wele numbers of excellent hits made, and the audience was not slow in showing their appreciation of them. There were two or three in the cast who were slightly weak in tihetr parts, but, like wine, they will improve with age.
 MT. Edwin Hanford as Shiel O'Moore and Miss Bella Hanferd as his sister, Sheelah, are finished actors and were per fectly at home in their parts. Their sev- eral sengs were well rendered and SD highly enjoyed as to win repeated ap- p1uuse. They readily won their way into the good graces of those present
 William F. Cain as Sir Gerald Buck ley sport who would stoop to anything to carry point and an all around vil- lain, showed a full conception of the part and carried it out as well as could be de- sired.
 MT. Harry English, though laborng un- der a disadvantage in being deprived of the use of one arm, owing to an acci- dent made a capital Hebrew and mer- ited the appreciation of all.
 Miss Jessie Burnett as Shiels aunt, a typical Irish woman, was clever, to say the least of 1t.
 The others in the cast were well placed, except Gas stated) in two or three places, and as whole the performance was sat isfactory
 MT. Lindsey may feel proud of the sue cess of his performance, as all went away satisfied.
 There will be a special matinee this afternoon.
 One of the most popular of southern plays is Scott Marbles Down in Dixie. v which will be presented by it's managers, Davis & Keogh. in this city at OBrien s tomorrow night It aims to be stirring drama, hearty comedy and an active picture of southern life. all in one. More over, it has an adjunct which in itself is a very strong attraction. This is the celebrated pckaninny band. These cieV- CT darkey boys not only play their musi- cal instruments but also do a very effec- tive Zouave drill and appear in charac- teristic boyish sports in the plantation scenes. Whether in their Zouave regi- mentals, their band uniforms or the rag ged clothes of the plantation pickanln- nies, they are picturesque and interest ing But the pickaninny band like the cotton field quartette, is merely an access sory, although an immensely popular one The main thing is the play itself with it's thrilling story of love, plots, dangers and rescues: it's merry comedy and US inter- esting characters. The production excels in both scenic and mechanical acceSSo- ries. Of the latter. the most important IS the big cotton compress. by means Of which the overseer and the blackmailer attempt to crush the life out of the young naval officer whom they have knocked senseless. This horrible deed Is prevent ed in the nick of time by the dauntless heroine The suspense of the audience, while the officer lies powerless between the closing jaws of the compress, is some- thing to be experienced, perhaps imag- ined, but certainly not to be described.
 "The Shamrock" at matl- nRA.