FITZMAURICE GILL DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7404, 7 March 1903, Page 2

FITZMAURICE GILL DRAMATIC COMPANY.

"Sijjn of the Cross."

Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather there was a packed house, upstairs and downstairs, at the Masterton Town Hall, lust evening, to witness the production of tho famous tragic drama " Tho Sign of the Cross," by the Fitz- ■ iiaurice Gill Company. The play is, without doubt, a splendid pourtrayal of customs and characters of old Homo in the days when tho smoke of the Emperor Nero's victims covered the city, and barbarism reigned supreme. The story, brielly, is that Marcus Superbus, the Prefect of Rome, after rescuing Mercia, the Christian, from maltreatment by an infuriated mob falls in love with her. Shortly after, an order is issued by Emperor Nero to destroy all men, women and children who are Christians; and Marcus has to sec this order carried out. The latter endeavours to save Mercia, but iv a jealous fit Berenis prompts Nero's wife Poppma to prevail upon the Emperor to resist the efforts made by Marcus to save Mercia's life. Nero does this but on tho condition that Mercia shall live if she renounces her religion. Marcus pleads with Mercia in the dungeon to renounce her God. This Mercia refuses to do. Marcus, for the love he bears Mercia, embraces Christianity, and finally dies with her.

" The Sign of the Cross" gives plenty of scope for powerful acting, and, in the hands of such a capable Company, tho strong points in the various characters wero brought out to perfection. The scenery was splendid, and the Company have to bo congratulated on the staging of tho pieco. Tho scene in the last act, of tho dungeon of the amphitheatre, was a splendid one. Here the Christians wero seen gathered together awaiting their death at the stake. Fearlessly they walked to their death singing a hymn. In this scene the strong points in both the acting of Mercia and Marcus

are shown. Marcus pleads with Mercia to renounce her faith aud marry him, but this she" refuses to do, and so Marcus decides to die with her. MissD.Cooper'sacting of the part of the boy Stephanus, in this act, too, was also good.

As Mercia, Miss Fitzmaurice Gill gave a magnificent rendering of a very difficult character. The part of Mercia is apt to be over-acted, but this was not the case with Miss Gill, who gave a pourtrayal that would be difficult to excel. The excellence of her acting was shown in the love scene between her and Marcus, in which all the strong points in the part of Mercia were brought out to perfection. Mr Charles Blake had a part in Marcus, the Prefect of Rome, which called for powerful acting, and he well sustained his previous reputation.

When Mr Blake visited Masterton before

he showed his capabilities as an excellent actor; but, last evening, he fairly excelled himself, and the audience were most demonstrative in their applause. Mr W. Power, in the character of "Nero," the Emperor of Rome, quite upheld his previous reputation in this character. Mill. Dv Chateau, in the character of Glabrio, the drunken wit. kept tho audience in continual laughter while he occupied the stage. Miss K. Gair, it tbe character of " Dacia," had a part that

suited her nicely, and she carried in out

in a very capable manner. Miss N. MyJrae as " Berenis," and Miss Millar as " Pappiea," both sustained their parts well. Miss D. Cooper gave a very effective rendering of the character of the boy " Stephanos." " Tigellinius," "Licinius," " Strabo," " Favitis " (Mr G. Neville,! and a number of other characters were very creditably sustained. The audience signified their complete

satisfaction with the performance in a

most unmistakable manner by frequent and enthusiastic applause, auguring well for the complete success of the company for the remainder of their Masterton season.