The age-herald., 1898-09-04

scoundrels in an attempt to kill a young naval lieutenant whom they have knocked senseless, but this attempt is foiled by the brave young girl who is the heroine of the play. The famous pickaniny band will be heard here in the play, the boys not only rendering music, but also appearing as jolly plantation darkey boys. Down in Dixie, is play with many qualifications. It is in turn tender, romantic, exciting, laughable, and at all times 1t is true to the life of the localities represented.
 The theatrical season in the metropolitan cities is hardly under way, but from what the representative managers have to say, the prospects for better business and less disastrous failures are exceedingly and pleasingly bright. From announcements So far there is one marked feature with the beginning of this season, and that is man. agers are not very forward in producing new and untried ventures. Apart from a deluge of blood and thunder scenic preduc- tions touching upon the recent war. there are very few new pieces, compared with the past few seasons, booked for trial, the managers preferring to hold to tried and tested quantities rather than disturb the 
 managers is, of course, due to the results of fnnumerable financial disasters of the past season. In other words, managers are not taking long shots. There are a few pieces, however, that have been tried so far without a singe frost" and a few more are on the trial list, but the number is com- para atively small and the public in the main will have to be content with what to the managers and to the public are positively known quantities. Among the newly pro- duced successes are Yankee Doodle, Dandy" ''The Medler," "A Runaway Girf' and few others.
 Minstrelsy this season is greater, grander, more gorgeous and gigantic than for years past Among the recognized companies this season are Al G. Fields, Cleveland and Will son, Primrose and Dockstader, Wm. H. West, the famous Haverly, Richards and Pringles, and others of smaller calibre.
 Locally, there is promise of a better line of attractions and more of them than the present management has ever been able to offer A large per cent of the standard attractions and the recognized celebrities are coming south, and Birmingham will get her share.
 "A Boy Wanted" seems to be wanted very badly in certain sections, for every point touched by this successful farce this sea- son has resulted in an increase in the earn ings of Harry Clay Blaney.
 Al G. Fields, in his endeavor to lead the minstrel procession, is presenting to the public an entertainment never before equaled in the history of the stage. The features are the most sensational and the scenic part is said to eclipse everything else attempted in this line. While the hot wave has been playing havoc along the southern coast, the Clipper is authority for the state- ment that Al is turning people away at every performance In many instances houses have been sold out before the com pany reached town.
 ''Talk about dead-heads," said Ben Theiss the other day, "why you have no idea the number of people who make applications for paper on . million and 9he different grounds
 ''It's something awful. and as much as I would like to accommodate every person who has any grounds whatever, it's an im- possibility, for would have to make two- night stands with every show to get the passes in."
 "A Day and Night is the latest effort of Charles H. Hoyt, and with Otis Harlan 4z -.oi.a tho Gun rothipU vnore need ha said