‘THE SIGN OF THE CROSS.’

Evening Star, Issue 10850, 7 February 1899, Page 2

‘THE SIGN OF THE CROSS.’

Wilson Barrett’s great play ‘ The Sign of the Cross ’ will be the opening production of Williamson and Musgrove’s dramatic company, who .commence their short reason on Monday next at the Princess’s Theatre. A unique interest will attach to this performance as being the three hundredth representation of this play in the colonies by this company, as well •as being their second anniversary since the company’s inception on February 13, 1897. That the career of ‘ The Sign of the Cross ’ has been one of triumph is now a matter < history. It has made the fortune of its author, and has been the most profitable source of income to every manager fortunate enough to secure its acting rights in every part of the Christian world. Its revivals in the Australian cities, as well, as more recently in Wellington and Christchurch, have attracted even larger and more enthusiastic audiences than on the play’s first production, and such has been the demand for its performance-that for the first time in Australian history it has been found necessary to form a second company, which can visit towns of smaller size, and which even now is playing this remarkable drama in Hobart. As to ,the intrinsic interest: of the play inhere cata be no doubt. It has attracted critical and intelligent' audiences in .almost every "art of the civilised world during past two or three y«*yra, and still retains the highest place in .popular favor. This is, of course, mainly .due to the author’s unique conception, and to the admirable manner in which it has been interpreted by the company now once more, and, we understand, for the last time, touring New Zealand. “ The Firm ” have gone to no end of trouble and expense placing it before their audiences in a befitting manner. That their trust in the public was hot misplaced the enormously successful career of the play has fully demonstrated. Its two nights’ revival here has been fixed for an opportune Hme. The'box plans for the thirteen nights’ s<gson will he opened at Begg and Co/s OB Thursday njomjng.