Birmingham state herald., 1896-10-09
AT 0'BRIEN'S.

The engagement of MT. Frederick Warde at OBriens opera house tonight, tomorrow at matinee and tomorrow night will be the most notable dramatic event of the season in Birmingham. He will give three performances, and will pre- sent three practical novelties, King Lear" King Henry IV' and double bill. consisting of four acts of King Hen ny WHIP and GarrcS.s version of Shake speares comedy, "The Tanning of the Shrew."
 MT. Warde is acknowledged the ablest Shakespearean scholar in his profession, and one of the chief charms of his per formances is the sincerity and integrity with which they are given. His latest accomplishment of note has been the pro- duction of Shakespeare's tragedy, king Lear" This is the most difficult of all or Shakespeare's dramatic works to inter- pret, but from the comments of the critics MT. Warde seems to have thoroughly mastered the character, and it is now es- teemed as the best thing he does. The tragedian is making a special feature Of the scenic production, and it has been highly praised King Lear" will be pre- scented Friday night. For the Saturday matinee bill the famous actor will present four acts of Henry VIII," appearing as Cardinal Wolsey, and David Garrick's version of Shakespeare's Framing Of the Shrew." It will be a notable occasion to see him in both tragedy and comedy on the same afternoon.
 The engagement will terminate Satur- day night with an elaborate production of Henry "" MT. Warde appearing as F'alstaff. This play is one of the most at tractive in the great traged1an's roper toire, and is very elaborate scenic pro- duction.
 The sale of seats for the Warde engage ment commenced at the opera house box office on Thursday. Owing to MT. Warde's immense expense, the prices that will prevail will be $1.50 and $1 on the lower floor and regular prices for the dress cir cle in the evenings, and 75 cents on the lower floor and 50 cents in the balcony for the matinee.
 Louis James.
 MT. Louis James will appear at OBri- ems opera house on Monday, October IF, in a great scenic production of Dr. Birds tragedy "Spartacus, the Gladiator" Be- ing the foremost American representative of the school of robust tragedians, MT. James has no superior in point of repute or prospects among the actors of the na- tive stage. His exalted position has been attained through splendid gifts of per son, temperament and genius, and through one of the most exacting courses of training that ever developed talents.
 "Spartacus' is a play which has com manled the greatest efforts of some of Americas greatest tragedians.
 It was the favorite role of Edwin For rest and of John Mccullough, and was purchased by Messrs. Wagenhals & Kem- per especially for MT. James at @ large expense It will be produced with great display of new and historically correct scenery all of which is carried by the company.
 Tn addition to this completeness of stage production, MT. James managers have surrounded him with one of the strongest companies ever organized in support of a tragic star. Among the well known people in his support are Guy Lindsley, Collin Kemper Miss Alma Kru- ger, Aphe Hendricks and Florence Ever etr