Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-23
AMUSEM ENTS.
"THE SIGN OF TIIIE GROSS,

ADJUSTMENTS.
"rHE SIGN OF THE CROSS"
The reign OF Nero and his persccu-
ton of the Christians has furnished ma
terial for many thrilling stories which
have richly rewarded their authors.
because, however revolving the theme
1t has proven q most intensely interest
ing one to millions of readers who
have seen in the hundreds of Christian
marayrs who yielded their life's blood
for their faith one of the strongest ex-
empliications of the reality of the
Christ and the Christian religion. None
or these stories have more wildly de-
scribed this era of cruelty than Wilson
Rarretts great drama, 1.-THE Sign OF
the Cross, which was presented for
the first time at the Academy of Music
last night. In addition to the graphic
pen picture of the events embodied in
the lines. spoken by people who look
and act the characters, every accessory,
including ten gorgeous scenes, give to
1T a realism which appeal to the eye,
the mind and the heart. The contrast
which is strongly drawn between the
debaucheries of Nero and the Patricans
of Rome during his reign, and the self
sacrificing life and heroic death of the
Christians he prosecuted. is strongly
drawn. The development OF well-con-
cides to die q martyr rather than give
up her faith and become the wife of
the Roman Project, and the conversion
of the Project. who, dies with her, af-
fords ample opportunity for the display
OF rare dramatic ability, and MI.
Charles Dalton, as the Project and
Miss Lillian Thurlow, as Mercia, proved
themselves to be fully competent ex-
ponents of these important roles. This
is. however, not a dual role play. 1t re-
qrires q large cast of competent peo
pie; also a good chorus. and every re-
Quirement was met to the entire salts
faction of the audience.
We feel safe in saying that rarely has
Norfolk been favored with a dramatic
event which would even compare ia
vorably with the performance last
night.
1.-THE Sign of the Cross" will be re-
peated to-day. at matinee and night,
and no one should lose the opportunity
of witnessing it. Matinee prices-fifty
cents; at night. Is cents to S1.50.
WIN. II. VESTS NIINSTRELS.
The box office at the Academy of
Music will be- open tomorrow morning
for the sale of seats for the engage
ment of Mr.. VIM. H. West and his COM
pany Of merry minstrels. who give one
performance in this city next Friday
evening. Prices. will range from 25c.
to 81.
BLATCHFORD NAVANAGH.
Has passed the crucial test of his first
appearance us u baritone and with re-
markable success. The famous choir
boy, with the angelic voice and an in
ternational reputation, who from
modest fee at beginning finally COM
manded s., 900 q night when II years of
age, retired from the concert stage in
1880. Natures ineXorable law brought
to him the Change of voice" and OBJ
liged him to cease singing, with hun
dreds OF applications untitled. After
over eight years of retirement during
the change and settlement OF his voice,
spent in acquiring an education, he
began his career as a baritone singer in
January, 1899, and has already appear
ed in over two hundred concerts in
twelve States.
The most extraordinary interest was
attached to Mr.. ISavanagh's reappear-
ance> Some expected to hear again the
same thrilling soprano tones, unmind-
full of the fact that the princely boy
had grown to manhood. Others wildly
recalled the furore of enthusiasm of
his boyhood singing, and looked for its
exact repetition. Expectation was
wrought up to n high pitch that SEEM
ingly nothing could satisfy. This was
the situation the young baritone was
called to face-an ordeal such as never
before fell to the lot OF q singer
Under such circumstances. even an
ordinary success might be considered
cause for congratulation. but it was
no ordinary success which attended
Blatchford KavanaEh's return to the
concert stage. His tour thus far has
been one long continued ovation, and
an unequivocal success Its story Is
told in the accompanying extracts from
the press. which in their directness and
unqualified strength OF statement are
Wholly eYCcprtOnat.
The discovery of Blatchford Ilavan-
aghs wonderful voice when n choir boy
in 1883 by Mr.. Henry b. Roney. and
its subsequent training by him, to-
gcther with the boy PATHS" meteoric
career as a boy singer, are generally
known. AS for the past dozen years,
MIR. Roncy still remains his only
teacher and manager.
The Calena News Democrat says:
"Blatchford Kavanagh and 'Roney's
Boys are n musical combination whose
equal was never seen in Galcna- The
Opera House was taxed to its utmost