PRINCESS- THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10997, 29 December 1897, Page 2

PRINCESS- THEATRE.

"THE SIGN OF THE CROSS."

The members of Messrs Williamson and Musgrove'a Bratnatic Company enjoyed the stimulus again last niglit of the presence of a large audience (including clergymen belonging to two denominations) to witness the second performance of Mr Wilson Barrett's drama "Xlie Sign, of the Cross." The production was received witlr almost as much enthusiasm as on the preceding evening, and, though it is to be doubted whether much real impression was created by the Scriptural lessons conveyed in the play, for it is questionable whether the stage can be made the vehicle for proclaiming truths of the Christian faith, unstinted admiration was bestowed on the manner in which the piece was staged. Nothing more gorgeous than the setting of the play has been seen in 'the Jocul theatre, the eye being gratified with a brilliant succession oE stage pictures, reproducing the barbaric splendour of Koine in the Nero'nic period. The scsnic artist and the costumier alike have contributed effeciively to thi3 result. While the pliiy is superbly mounted, it is also admirably acted. This remark, while it'applies with especial force to the exponents of the principal characters, is applicable right down the lengthy cast. There is hardly a gesture made by any of the characters throughout the piece that has not its special sisnificance which the attentive listener will -appreciate—and the play is emphatically oue that demands the most absolute' attention. Mr Julius Knight's impersonation of Marcus Superbus car.not fail to impress all his: audiences as a remarkably.able and artistic study. He looks the character completely, his dignified gesture is obviously just what it should,be, and bis sonorous 'die-lion—excepting an occasional tendency to lower his voice until it becomer barely audible—gives due effect to the importani speeches he has to deliver. : He acts with find. dramatic power in the scene .with Mercia in which the prefect pleads forthe Christian maiden's love, and the spiritual progression of Marcus from the time when b.s> bad the reputation that one woman more or less was : naught to him ilown to the time when, before Nero, he avows himself, like Agrippa,' almost persuaded to be a Christian ; and thence on to his complete conversion, aud his preparedness to suffer martyrdom with Mercia, was skilfully marked, lliss Ada Ferrer may almost be accepted as an ideal Mercia. However incongruous the delivery1' from the stage of tbe message she has to deliver may seem, her own representation of the.part is quite convincingly faithful. The foils to Mercia1 are supplied in the characters of the worldly Beienis and Dacia, which are admirably' portrayed by Misees Elliott Page and Linda. Kaymond respectively. Qf the character of Nero; the prematurely old Emperor, Mr Caleb Porter gives a representation of which it would be difficult to speak too highly ; while; Mr Gastbn Mervale, as the scheming Tigellinus, makes all his points very; capably. Mr W. F. Hawtrey's function, in the part of Glabrio, seems largely to be to show that; men in their cups were in the first century guilty of as great inanities as they are under similar- ciroumstances in the nineteenth; century, and.the performance of,this function is eagerly bailed by the audience as affording some measure of comic relief to the general sombreness of the draW. Miss Marie Neilson plays with earnestness in the part of Ktsphaiius, a young Christian, whose flesh is weaker than his spirit: and the character of the patriarchal Favins is represented with the requisite dignity by Mr Glassford. Mr Atholwood {rives a capital character sketch in the part of Serviliui, a spy; Miss Vaughau is effective as Ancaria; one of the toys that had amused Marcus before he fell under the influence of Mercia ; and Mr Carvill atfd Mr Hill give good impersonation* of the parts of an tedile and patrician respectively. Mis 3 Mortyne does adequately what little she has to do as the Kmpress, and Mr Griffiths, Mr Stewart, and. Miss Millie Young capably repres*nt less important personages. The musical portion of the performance is directed by Mr George Hall, who has under him a powerful orchestra and well trained chorus, the latter including some very serviceable voices. : - . There will be two performances of The Alga- ; of the Cl-oss" to-day, the first being at:2 p.m.:-.io this tie clergy of all denominations are specially invited.; : . ' . ■ :;,... .■; ■•■;•:. "■■■■: