Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-12
AT O'BRlEN'S.

All of the Hoyt comedies have been
| presented in this city at one time or an
other, and none of them have been found
wanting in those qualities which go to
make up an entertainment in which the
various tastes among the play-going ele-
ment will find much to recompenSe them
for visiting the theaters. The best thing
about the Hoyt shows is that they are
all so different. He never writes plays
that bears the least resemblance to an
other, save in the fact that they are all
of satirical tinge, and thus 1t is that
when the announce ment of new play by
Hoyt is promulgated, the public pays It's
money with the most perfect assurance
that it will be given an opportunity of
witnessing something absolutely unique.
No American author has displayed such
wonderful versatility in securing a
ground work for his plays as Mr.. Hoyt.
He can turn aboh ia almost any section
of the country and discover material from
which he can draw the inspiration neces-
sary to the completion of comedy, and
once with the idea-well, everybody
knows what he can do with it, in the
way of establishment.
In his very latest comedy, called "A
Milk White Flag" which will be present
ed for the first time in this city al the
opera house this evening, he has turned
his attention to the national guard, and
he has treated it with such originality,
such broad, yet telling, humor and wit,
that it is said the fun becomes irresist-
able.
"a Milk White Flag" like all of Mr..
Hoyt's comedies, has no great plot or
story, but it Is different from all his other
plays in this respect, that 1t is more pre-
tentious, requiring cast of fifty people
and two car loads of scenery, properties
and costumes The piece is spectacular
in effect, and so full of music that it could
be justaably called an opera. The cast
is claimed to be the strongest Mr. Hoyt
has ever organized, and is the same which
presented the piece during its successful
run at Hoyt's theater, New York, for
more than 200 nights. All the scenery
used in the production which Is carried
by the company, and has been euthusi-
astically praised by critics everywhere, is
from the brush of the celebrated artist,
Arthur Voegtln.
Two excellent attractions are promised
the coming week at O'Briens opera
house, Lillian Russell and Lewis Nor
house. Lillian Russell and Lewis Nor
actresses on the American stage and
brings with her a large and unusually
strong company Mr.. Morrison, as Me-
phistophele in Faust" has no peer on
the American stage, and needs no recon-
incubation to Birmingham theater goers.
AS a man. Lewis Morrison is quiet and
almost retiring, modest in his dress and
thoroughly domestic in his habits. His
first thought is his home and how to
make it perfect and complete, his aim
being to have it an ideal one In every re-
spect. How different is Lewis Morrison
as a DEVIL Here he Is insinuating, cum
ming, crafty and enticing. Instead of
trying to make home, we see him using
his every endeavor to wreck one, and
instead of seeking to build up, he would
destroy. This, then, Is the art of the
actor, for 1t is not the inherent devlil we
see portrayed by Mr. Morrison-it Is an
assumed one, and how well portrayed In
action, word and gesture. An insinuat-
ing devil he, and yet MS ponshed per
sonage of smooth and fiattering tongue:
The story of Faust is always one of
interest. But to make 1T doubly accept
able in its dramatic version 1t must be
well told, and therein lies the strentgh
of Mr.. Morrison's production, for he gives
Ii beautiful and elaborate stage settings
and surrounds himself with carefully
chosen players, and when 1T Is seen In
this city Monday night,Nov 16. new seen
cry In both design and material Will be
displayed, together with entirely new CO.'S
tunes throughout. Tickets on sale Sat-
urday morning at $780,
The item of transportation is always
an important one with theatrical man.
ayers 1t Is especially heavy with an Or
ganization the size of the In Gay New
York" company, which requires the use
of a special train for the carrying of its
seventy members and its complete out
fit of scenery, properties and baggage.
Messrs. Klaw & Erlanger recently
made a notably large. railroad deal for
this company with the Northwestern rail-
way The company's travel on this line
for two weeks aggregated LIZA miles, and
for the seventy members they purchased
tickets covering 1880 miles of travel.
The box office for sale of tickets to per-
formances at the opera house Is opened
at $50 a. m instead of at a.. M, as
stated in yesterdays issue. Parties de-
string seats to tonight's performance
will do we'll to take note of this fact.
coal. AND LuMRER.