'THE SIGN OF THE CROSS'

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2352, 7 January 1915, Page 7

'THE SIGN OF THE CROSS'

REVIVAL OP A POPULAR PLAY 5 "Tho Sign of the Cross," a drama by ■ Wilson Barrett. Cast: Marcus Julius knitfht r0 ,,. Jamcß Hughea Tigellinus Frank Harvey Licimiis Herbert J. Bentley ~ Glatrio Eardley Turner Glabrio liayinond Lawrence Servilius Henry Batcliffo btrabo HcR. Conrad • Vituriuf Martin Lewis L Metellius Arthur B]ienco ■ Berenice Irene Browne Dacia Ai ma Phillips I'oppaea Emma Templo Ancitria Dorothy Oumming I I'aviufl . George Chalmers Titua Lawrence Hardin? Jfelos Charles Morse . Stephanus Bertha Ballenger ' Uercia liizette Parliea When the late Mr. Wilson Barrett wrote "The Sign of the Cross" some twenty years ago he scored one of the • greatost financial successes iu the history of the drama, wiped off a load of I debt which he had accumulated during a of unfortunate years, ana I laid the foundation of a fortune. Suc- ■ cesses on a moderate scale havo been ' made with plays of the meretricious order, but wherever a big succese lias been achieved,- it is invariably the case that there aro included certain virtues that appeal strongly to the masses, and ; so it is with "Tho Sign of the Cross," with which the passage of' years has dealt ■ lightly. The story is coherent, i the structure sound, and the appeal which has at its basis the glorification of Christianity as opposed to the sensualism and paganism of Rome under Nero ■is always effective. The play is no stranger to local theatre-goers. It was introduced to Wellington some seventeen years ago by "a Williamson Company headed by Mr. Julius Knight and Miss Ada Ferrar, and the silvern glamour of that production still lingers in the memory. - With other plays suoh as' "The Prisoner of Zenda,' 'Under the Red Robe," and the perennial "Royal Divorce," it was the medium of establishing Mr. Knight firmly in the favour of the public, and that his skilful acting still retains its hold, no one could deny who was present at the revival of the Sign of the Cross" at-the Opera House last evening. It is hardly necessary to recall the story. It deals, with the love of Marcus Superbus/Prefect of Rome, and a handsome voluptuary, for the Christian girl Mercia, whose purity and innocence form', the completest foil to the gay ladies of Nero's Rome. Marcus is given orders to hunt down and exterminate the whole of the Christian brood, and is discovered by his rival ligellinus and his scorned lover Berenice to be l protecting Mercia. The Christians are duly rounded up, to be given to the lions, Mercia among them. Marcus begs her to renounce her faith • and bo his wife, but Mercia is adamant as rock on her confession of faith, and Marcus finally feels the spirit Bfithin him moving, and declaring himself a Christian, goes to his death in the arena hand-in-hand with Mercia. The performance was on the whole the test the company has given us. Mr. Knight was as picturesque and forceful as ever .as the Prefect, and domineered with an air of, natural authority, and wooed the chaste Christian as ardently as any pretty girl would wish to be wboed. The actor cuts a pretty figure in the toga; and moved gracefully always in.' the calcium halo. Ihe surprise of the performance was the Mercia of Miss' Lizette Parkes. Though a central and distinct; figure always, Mercia is not a simple role.. It is her part to represent the shining innocence and incorruptibility of truo Christianity without becoming maudlin and tiresome. I his Miss Parkes - succeeded in doing without apparent effort, whilst she lent the part .. that personal charm and youthful, grace which are peculiarly her own. It was only in the tensest dramatic' scenes - that' the clever actress wis a trifle overweighted, but where her emotional powers were called upon, as in the fiual scone with the boy Stephanas she was superb. Miss Irene Browne was exactly fitted as the' patrician beauty Berenice. Her languishing was lovely to look npon, and in those little scenes with Marcus, pacia, and Tigellinus, where she is given to fits of sudden temper alternating with shafts of humour,' Miss Browne was really admirable. , Mr. Frank Harvey made an excellent-Tigellinus, and Mr. James Hughes quavered, gasped, and roared very effectively as the palsied Nero. The Glabrio of Mr. Eardley Turner was an amusing character. He managed to extract all the humour from the bloated devotee of Bacchus, without, any suspicion of burlesque. Mr. Herbert Bentley was Licinius, Mr. Raymond Lawrence the Philodemus, Miss Emma Temple the Poppsea, and' Mr. Geo. Chalmers the': aged Christian Favius. A capital chorus "sang the hymn 'Shepherd of Soiils" in the Cestian grove scene, and Miss Elsie Parkes (sister of Miss Lizette Parkes) danced gracefully in the banquet scene. The drama was splendidly produoed, and the costuming was a rare feast for the eyes. The "Sign of the Cross" will be played to-night and to-morrow only. On Saturday night and the following Monday will be staged "The' Silver King." This favourite play is always welcome, and no matter how often it may have been seen it always retains its freshness and stirs the emotions. The Wilfred Denver of Mr. Julius Knight will be remembered as equal to the best that this fine actor has placed to his credit. Miss Irene Browno ia said to be surprisingly good as the devoted Nellie Denver. "The Silver King" will bo followed on Tuesday next by Booth Tarkington's brilliant comedy drama "Monsieur Beaucaire," a 'play which shows Mr. Knight at his best. Tho last seven nights are announced,. the soason finishing ori Thursday next. In response to numerous requests the steamer to Eastbourne will he delayed on Saturday and Wednesday next till after the performance.