FITZMAURICE GILL DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7401, 4 March 1903, Page 2

FITZMAURICE GILL DRAMATIC COMPANY.

On Friday next the Pit/maurice Gill Dramatic Company will open a three nights' season at the Masterton Town Hall, with Wilson Barrett's famous play, •' The Sign of the Cross." This piece has drawn packed houses wherever produced, and has proved itself to be a great favourite among the theatre-going public. It is, without doubt, the most powerful play of its kind, and has well earned the name of the " Play of the Century;" for that is how an eminent London critic has described it. li deals with the early days of I'ioine, and its historic power is as great as its thrilling incidents and pathetic hues. It is produced by special arrangement with Mr J. C. Williamson, and is to be staged on a most elaborate scale. Special scenery and costumes have been obiained, and the public of Masterton can look forward to a production surpassing any th>it has yet been produced here. The scenery for the " Sign cf the Cross" alone measures 20 tons.

Oa Saturday night, the great drama entitled '■ Man to Man," is to be staged. This was played by Miss Gill's Company at the Opera House, Auckland, for nine nights to packed houses, and was described by Auckland critics to bo the best drama produced there for many years. Its many thrilling incidents and marvellous stage effects are alone responsible fur keeping, the interest of tho audience from the rise to the fall of ihe curtain. It is produced by special arrangement with Sir George Rignold, who played this piece for sixty consecutive nights at the Lyceum Theatre, Sydney, to tremendous business.

On Monday, the last night of the Company, " The Christian," by Hall Came, is to bo on the boards. This piece has such a wide reputation, that its success is assured, and, as in other towns, the house will undoubtedly be packed to the doois.

All three productions are to 'be produced on a specially elaborate scale, in fact, in towns which the Company have visited they have the reputation of staging their pieces more elaborately than has ever been known before. The Company is an exceptionally strong one, numbering twenty-nine artists, and the public can look forward to something far above tho average. As the box plan at Mr J. P. Elliot's is fast filling up, patrons are advised to lose no time in reserving their seats.