The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-05

unique historical drama, 1.-THE Sign OF
the Cross" will be the attraction at the
Academy on Thursday and Friday. Inc
action of the play occurs in Rome IN
the year 66 A. D., when Nero was En-
peror. Its main story concerns Marcus
Surperbus, project of the Imperial CITY,
who. by a mandate from Nero, is COM
manded to exterminate the Christians.
He falls in love with Mercia beautilut
Christian girl, and rescues her from the
general slaughter. Nero consents 70
spare her life on condition that she pup
!iclv renounce her faith. She chooses the
martyrs death in the Roman arena
however. instead of the worldly honors
that would be hers as the wife OF ths
paran prefect. This sublime conduct so
moves Marcus that he, too, embraces the
despised faith and goes to his doom IN
the amphitheatre hand in hand with the
woman he loves The essential NOBILITY
of the theme-martyrdom for ones re-
ieion-is one of the chief reasons for the
Success that has followed the play from
the beginning of its career. Stili 1t mas
noints of interest and value independent
Of its theme. and among them are me-
torical names and facts, pictorial charm
an abundance of powerful scenes ana IN
cidan+s and a quantity of sympathy anu
self remuneration whose effect on the
VIVID and emotions cannot be otherwise
thap; wholesome and ennobling. UnlSe
many great theatrical successes, ne
Sign of the Cross has never been play e. 8,
Ivy what is known as nutlper ~
COMPANY The piece has 4heeh toui,iis
This country for the last five years pu'
presented by one company onlS;
comnany comes from the Lyric Iheatre'
RNrTptt
-,ace- for over two years. and 1t IS salu
=, h. composed of er'arnaEiy strong
,eon,e who have been chosen with es'
.ao;a, regard to their fitness for the
rt1es they interpret.
AT til. Biiou.
There las been q cry Tor a Dill oi
vaudeville at the BiJou, ana laiiasei
Wells will answer the request TINS "eek
with a selected programme OF hoseies !,
ccmedv and music that will quite equal
40 hest he has offered here. The best
h;ts of the combination attractions re-
cfntly PLAYED at the theatre have peea
the snecialties. or what the theatre soers
,.row is real vaudeville. and In making
mr. this bill Mr.. Wells accepted acts that
have not been seen too often in Rich
mond. and a majority that have not been
seen here at all. The novelty NUMBERS
will be those that have national Tepu-
tation. those that have something to them
that Is out of the ordinary, and those
that will prove to be hits to theatre
ecers who have seen the very best that
vaudeville affords. The comedy numbers
Will contain that blend of comedy and
music that is so acceptable, and the other
features will be quite UP to what Is to
be expected when the Bijou of1srs vaucc-
VILE.
The bill Is to be made up Of the usual
number OF acts The educated vaudeville
patron may read the bill. commencing
at the top, or the bottom, or in the mid
die, and read up and down. The best
may to consider the offering Is to coll
slider each act, and then there will be no
mistake.
One of the numbers that will possibly
create more talk than anything recent
~ seen at the Bijou will be the contribu-
ton of the Onllaw Troupe. This act is
composed of very handsome woman
and two acrobatic men, They will per-
form number of sensational fents and
the climax wifi be startling. The men
will occupy positions opposite each other
on the side of the stage. They will
mount pedestals. and. fixing the end of
a wire rope in their mouths, and making
an elevation of slack wire, over which
the woman will ride on bicycle. Tho