The Sign of the Cross.

Te Aroha News, 10 March 1898, Page 2

The Sign of the Cross .

If Mr Wilson Barnett is not a great actor, he is a smart business mam The way he worked the oracle, for the ‘ Sign of the Cross ’ affords ample evidence of that. Casting about for a religious subject to further his designs he picked up this work of a nameless author, and on its production, on a truly magnificent scale, sent out free passes to every clergyman in London, knowing well if the parson went his congregation was bound to follow. A polite and pressing invitation from the actormanager to attend the opening performance of the new religious play at a swell West End theatre proved in nearly every case an irriaistible bait to the poor hard-worked London suburban clergyman. The theatre was packed with black coats on the opening night. And in return these simple gentleman made much of actor-manager Marcus Superbus, and watched him go into the amphi theatre, hand in hand with Mercia, with tears in their eyes. Aud doubtless their hearts were filled with exaltation when the haughty Fagan, with upward glance, declared in ringing tones “ Christus has triumphed.” It seeined good to these simple minded gentlemen that the Master they served so faithfully should be so glorified among the habitations of the wealthy and luxurious of the Modern Babylon. Thousands who shrank in horror from the idea of visiting a play house, with the sanction and approval of their minister, flocked to,*ths "West End house of entertainment and glutted their eyes on the glories of the superbly mounted spectacle. We observe the management pursued j similar tactics in Auckland from the following cutting from a Thames paper? * One of Auckland’s most popular suburban parsons, on receiving a free pass for the performance of 4 The Sign of the Cross,’ immediately reciprocated the compliment with a general invitation to the company to attend his service *on the following Sunday ®v@aißg. But did they go ?