The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-11

ASPANoOheutAOhs Lho obdSO COuSiSbS Ol u
broad, open space, eighty feet wide aud
twenty deep, which is in front of the drop
curtain, and occupied by the chorus. Imme-
diately behind this V0rder5Ubhe or front
stage is another, with all the usual appoint
ments of theatre, having on either side
balcony, street running back, and pillars at
the extreme end. The auditorium is oblong,
and furnished only with wooden benches,
and will seat 5000 to 6O00 people The slope
of the floor is considerable, SO that every one
sees the whole stage. There are three boxes
at the back of the house, in the middle,
capable of seating 200 people, and intended.
as my peasant guide remarked, for 'royalty,
counts, Americans, and other high person
ages"
The corps of actors reaches the number of
400, all of whom reside in the village itself.
so that every third person takes part in the
play. The theatrical wardrobe is made more
elegant for each decennial representation, and
the additions this year, together with the
scenery, ETC., have cost over $4,000. The
receipts in 1850 amounted to that sum. In
1860 the figure was still higher and this
season even q greater number OF visitors is
expected.
The lowest priced seats are % cents, and
the seats in the princely boxes ruin man to
the amount of $1'25. The same play is re-
peated every Sunday during the summer
months
The parts are assigned to the actors in
January, and the piece is rehearsed once
week until its first representation, which
comes usually on the last Sunday in May
The chief roles are assigned with great care.
The part of the Saviour is given to the man
who best combines talent for acting and
suitable age with personal resemblance
to the accepted ideal of Christ's face. 1t
was rendered in 1850 by Joseph Flunger;
in 1860 by Schauer, and this year by Jo-
seph Meyer, carver in wood, and thirty-six
years of age. 1 saw him this morning
conversing in a very friendly manner with
the Apostle Peter. The likeness of Meyer
to the pictures of Christ is really very
striking, and the resemblance is heightened
by the accessories of the play. The part of
Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been given
this year to the daughter of Flunger. The
decennial recurrence of the play naturally
prevents the same man from acting the same
part more than twice, for otherwise twenty
years would have elapsed between the first
and last times, and he would have changed
too much, for these honest peasants are un-
willing to make old men young by the kindly
assistance of rouge and powder.
The following is a description of the per-
formance by the same writer under date of
May 23-
1t would be impossible tor any one to believe,
without seeing it, that body of peasants could
render drama with SO much taste, accuracy,
and magnifcence as the peasants of Oberam-
mergau showed in giving he Passion Play. But
have seen and seeing is believing.
At o'clock we were all safely ensconced in
our seats. Over five thousand people were pre-.
sent, mostly peasants. Two or three hundred
Germans of the better class, and a mere sprink-
ling of English filled up the boxes. There was
a gravity in every face that bespoke an earnest,
pious frame of mind. There was that quiet
manner of going to their seats so peculiarly
fitted for the house of prayer rather than for the
theatre. The report of cannon announced
o'clock, and the whole house was hushed into
silence before the echoes from the mountain
sides had ceased. That multitude had come in
q true spirit of devotion.
The play is entitled
''THE GREAT OFFERING OF PROPITIATIoN UPON COL
GOTTA;
According TO the -Four Eyangelists, with edifying
tabeauX from the Old Testament,
and consists of prologue, and eighteen "VOr-
StetLungen." Each W fStelLtLaq is made up thus:
The chorus of twenty come upon the prosce-
MUM from either side arrange themselves in q
line and sing two or more verses descriptive of
the tableau thai follows. The singers then
divide in the centre, and draw back little, the
curtain rises and discovers a tableau-yivant
upon the stage proper-the chorus leader sings
another explanatory verse, which occupies
usually two or three minutes, the curtain falls
the chorus comes forward again, sings Two or
three more verses, and leaves the stage, The
regular action of the play is then given, CON
tinues about fifteen minutes, and ends the Vor-
StetLung.
This came routine is followed in each subdi-
vision, and the Old Testament tableau is always
typical of the action that follows. Sometimes
there are two or three tableaux and the singing
is varied by solos, Duets, and antiphons. The
music was written by Rochus Dedler, native
of AmmeTgau, whe died in 1922.
The subjects of the tableauX and the actions
of which they are typical are as follows:-
IableGu-Adam and Eve driven from the Gar
den of Eden.
ACtiOn-Prologue spoken by the leader of the
chorus.-Christ enters Jerusalem amid the
acclamations of the people, drives the buyers
and sellers from the Temple, and returns to
Bethany.
Tableau-The sons of Jacob determine to put
their brother Joseph out of the way.
Aotton-The High Priests and Scribes take
counsel how they may bring Jesus into their
power.
Tdbledu-(a) Tobias takes leave of his parents
(d) The bride bewails the loss of her bride
Action-Christ anonted by Mary; Judas muir
murs at this.-Christ bids farewell to
Bethany.
~.
Tdbledu-Kipg Ahasuerus puts away Vashti and
raises Esther.
ActiOn-Christ goes with his disciples to Jeru-
salem. Weeps at the view of the sinful city
and sends two disciples to prepare the
Easter Lamb Judas forms the design of
betIaying his Master.
V.
IdJledU-God gives mama to the people, and
grapes from Canaan.
ActtOH-Christ celebrates the Paschal Meal and
institutes the Lords Supper.