The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-18

1.-THE Sign of the Cross Wilson Bar
retts beautiful and impressive story of
the persecution of the early Christians,
will return tomorrow night to the Metro
rolitan for one week, with matinees on
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
This remarkable play, contrasting, as II
does. the vital truths Of Christianity
with Roman paganism in the time OF
Nero, has more absorbing theme than
is commonly given to drama, and hence
an interest outside Its strong dramatic
action 1t lifts the drama out OF the
realms of the sensational and into the
realms of the intellectual, where ideas,
not effects, are dominant That the play
has lasting powers is proved conclusively
by the fact that this year, which is the
fourth in this country the business Is
far In advance of other seasons. Appeal
ing as II does to the regular theatergoers
by its dramatic strength, powerful eli
makes and gorgeous stage settings. as
well as to a large class of people who do
not attend ordinary theatrical perform
anees, it is not surprising that such
should be the case. The play has been
revised in many religious journals that
dc not, as a rule, devote space to the do
ings of the playhouse The lurid glimpses
of pagan sovereignty, the pathetic pic
lures of Christian martyrdom and the
cruel jeers TO which brave men and ten
der women were alike subjected, thrill
the spectator much as does a powerful
sermon The company thai will be seen
during the coming engagement is much
the same that has been presenting the
play for the last three years. 1t comes
from the Lyric theater, London, and is
under the American management of
Charles Frohman and Frank w. Sanger.
Charles Dalton, the eminent young he
roic actor, Who has been compared to
John Mccullough as powerful and con-
Vincng player, viii be seen as Marcus
Superbus. the Roman project. Lille
Thurlow, the leading woman of the or
ganization, is said to be avery beautiful
young English actress whose spirituelle
face and charming personality fit her
splendidly for the role of the Christian
martyr that she interprets Gertrude
Boswell, young American actress, who
has been member of Mr. Barrett's COM
pany in England for the last year, is this
season again in this country playing her
original role of Stephanus, the boy mar
tyr Florence Leclercq, member of the
celebrated family by that name: w e.
Bonney formerly of Richard Mansfield 8
company Frank H. Westerton, who, for
three years, was at the head of an Eng
lish company playing The Sign of the
Cross Winnie Cassell and many other
prominent London players are in the COM
pany. The cast is:
Pagans-
Marcus Superbus, Project of Rome
Mr. Charles Dalton
Mr. w E. Bonney
Tfgellinus Counsel to Nero
Mr. Frank II. WestertOn
Licinius Oedile. Mr.. George Flood
GIabino-Patrician Mr.. Henry N. Wenman
Observation-Disclosures
Mr.. Edgar c. Winsthorpe
Servillius-Spy Mr.. Harry Child
Strabo-Spy ................M Mr.. II. I. Harris
Virturius captain of the guard TO
Marcus. ..................M Mr.. e. DE CorSla
Poppea, Empress of Rome
Miss Florence Leclercq
Berenis-Patrician. Miss Agnes Scott
Dacia-Patrician.. ..... Miss Winnie Casseil
Ancaria. MISS rita Irekelle
DaoneS. ..........,......... Miss May Ration
Julia. Miss Helen De Corsis
Cyrene. ................:-... MISS Dalsy Hud0
Edoni ...........M Miss Geneveve Vernon
Mytelene. Miss Madde Beech