Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-24
THINGS DRAMATIC.

The post week at O' Br1en'5 has been Vas
 ried as to attractions, and the theater going
 pnblic can fad no just cause Tor complaint
 as to variety in the bills offered. Monday
 night and the night following the public
 were treated to a genuine Yankee per-
 formance and it was duly appreciated.
 Wednesday night the celebrated lecturer,
 Robert Ingersoll, was the treat.
 Thursday night local celebrities held the
 boards and gave a delightful represen tation
 of the times of Napoleon, ''The Man of
 Destiny.p
 Friday night James O'Neill, than whom
 there is no better on the American stage
 today, appeared for the first time at the
 opera house in Sheridan Knowles great
 production, hVirginius. Of this graad
 and beautiful play the press of the entire
 country has had much to say, and one aud
 all has attested to the gorgeousness and
 grandeur Of it's every scene and situation. MT. O'Neill, in the title role, is simply grand, and the audience waich greeted
 him on his advent here in the role was crit
 ical In the extreme, and 1t can be truth
 fully said that he nerited the great ap-
 plause be received.
 o'NEILL IN "MONrE CRIsro."
 There is only one Count of Monte
 Cristo, and that one is James O'Neill.
 That is the verdict oi almost every one who
 has seen this great actor in Dumas mas
 terpece.
 James O' Neill has appeared before Bir-
 mingham audiences a number of times
 in 'The Count of Monte Cristo," but
 never did he please better than
 last night. O'Brien's opera houss was
 filled almost to it's capacity with an audi
 enre drawn tbither to see one of the best
 actors on the stage in a magnificent play.
 And they were not diappointed.
 Edmond Dantes, Aor the Count of Monte
 Crsto, was poor sailor boy, who won the
 love Of hia anlniOypr,S danulEPr. On tla
 return from cruise the shipowner pro-
 noted him to the captaincy of
 the vessel. Dantes iucnrs the hatred
 of Fernando, who later became
 ence the young sailor is sent to the Cha
 teau d'If, where he remains in lonely
 dungeon for eighteen years. In the mean
 time his father dies of starvation, and Mer-
 cedes, his affianced, weds Count Morcerf. While in the prison Dantes cuts a hole
 through the stone wall to a fellow prisoner.
 This prisoner dies, but before his death
 contides to Dantes the secret place on the
 isle of Monte Cristo, where millions Of
 wealth is buried. It was the custom
 when prisoner died in the Chateau d If 10
 sew the body up in a sack and cast it into the sea Dantes changed places with the dead man and was thrown in the sea. Swimming ashore he set about to find the isle of Monte Cristo. There Dantes dies, and the Count of Monte Cristo IS born. Revenge is henceforth to be the sole object of his existence, to revenge his enemies and reward his faithful friends. He repairs to the home of his childhood, and there learns the story of his father's star vation. Through the successive stages of the play he deals vengeance to his bitter enemies, Count de Morcerf. Danglars and Vilefot.
 MT. O'Neill is an ideal Count of Monte Cristo as portrayed by Dumas. No other actor can touch him in this great play which he has made so popular. The support is all that could be desired. Ballett Thompson as Nortier is splendid, and sydney Booth plays the part of the Count de Morcerf capitally. Robert T. Haines is good as Dan lars. Miss Florence Rockwell makes splendid Mercedes. The whole company is good and deserve the splendid patronage they received In Birmingh ham last night.
 WILL HE COME? John l.. Sullivan, the ex- x-champion pu- gilist of the world, is advertised for to- morrow night at the opera house. Much speculation exists as 10 whether he will get here or not. His acts of the past few weeks have been such as to lead one to expect al- most anything from this ne-time giant of the tistic arena. The latest antic of this genius was printed in yesterdays AGE HERALD, and Is but repetition of what has teen done by him on many former oc- casions.
 In the event, however, he comes the pub- JIG may eAp6ct p6rlOTmauce Wulcu VIII prove pleasing disappointment, as he is classed as a good performer, having im- proved vastly from what he was on his hIst appearance in this city. Then, too, he has surrounding him Q strong SUD- porting company of players, who will add much to the production of "A True Amer ican, play written expressly for the ex- champion. The press has been very kind to MT. Sullivan, and has invariably given favorable reports of his performances. 
 "LATER ON." On Thursday evening next Hallen and Hart, who are frequently quoted as standard for the best in musical comedy, will appear at the opera house in "Later On. ]" This skit has brought fame and money to these artists, and will be pro- duced on this occasion with a strong sup porting company. It Is reported that this will be the last season of this interesting production, and as it is replete with bright, catchy musical numbers and up.to date songs, new specialties and other features, it is safe to assert that those who witness it on this occasion will be highly enter tained.
 STAGE CUES. The grand ovations which are greeting the great Saivini are something wonderful. This able young romantic actor seems to have captured every one wherever he has appeared this season. His repertoire is varied and each particular play is accom- panied with special scenery and costumes, aop,athiu0 onfiraIv ouf of fha ordjn rv