‘THE SIGN OF THE CROSS.'

Evening Star, Issue 10852, 9 February 1899, Page 4

‘THE SIGN OF THE CROSS. '

On Monday evening next Wilson Barrett’s remarkable play 1 The Sign of the Cross ’ will receive its 300 th representation in the colonies at the hands of Mr Julius Knight, Miss Ada Ferrar, and the other artists of Williamson and Musgrove’s Dramatic Company, who, by the way, on that evening also commemorate the second anniversary of their first appearance in Australasia. ‘ The Sign of the Cross ’on its initial production here elicited the opinion that it is a play to admire and to seriously ponder over. Its excellence as a piece of dravatic literature and the splendid character of the mounting—for The Firm ” are never niggardly in this respect—compel admiration, while the story of Christian fortitude triumphing over hideous paganism conveys its own lesson. The pjay appeals, too, to a wide constituency on account of its combination of elements. There is dramatic food for everybody, for their entertainment and for reflection, and if it teaches nothing more than we already know its author at least deserves thanks for inter-, esting sections of the public who, until they saw this play, probably never saw the inside of a theatre before. 1 The Sign of the Cross ’ will be revived for two nights only. It will be succeeded on Wednesday next by a threenights’ representation of Stanley Weymen’s famous romance ‘Under the Red Robe.' On Saturday, February 18. Bulwer Lytton’s everpopular work ‘The Lady of Lyons’ will be staged for one night. Monday, the 20th inst., an elaborate production of ‘ The Harbor Lights ’ will be presented for three nights, followed on Thursday and Friday, 23rd and 24th inst., by a revival of ‘A Royal Divorce.’ On Saturday. 25th, ‘ The Prisoner of Zenda ’ will be staged. Monday, the 27th concludes the season with a production of W. S. Gilbert’s famous comedy ‘ Pygmalion and Galatea.' This programme will be strictly adhered to, so that patrons can make their arrangements a good while ahead. The box plans for the whole season are now on view at Begg and'Co.’s.