The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-08-17
DURATION OF THE PERFORMANCE.

DURATION OF THE PERFORMANCE
The time taken to play this remarkable
play was eight hours, the hour for opening
was eight O'Clock. and first part closed at
twelve. and ended with the BETRAYAL of Jesus
by the traitor, Judas The second mart
commenced at one o'cock precisely. and
continued with unhagging interest till FIVE
O'Clock; when we, having our carriages ready
drove at once away for Weilheim.
This letter has already been drawn ont
far beyond the limits of an ordinary one
and may appear in SONS places disi0inted
because most OF 1t was written in the theatre
during the time the chanters were explain-
Ing the tabieaux and scene to come, which
being in German, | could not understand
and consequently did my writing while it
was going on.
We travelled five hundred miles out of our
route, and spent and will spend a week
from our party, and have been put to some
trouble and expense in order to have an
opportunity to this wonderful perforn-
ance. And though | don't want to see it
again, having seen 1t, would not have
missed it for anything. l cannot give you
any ineligible account of it.
OUR CORRESPONDENTS IMPRESSIONS.
L cannot find words to fully express nv
i00IinSS Va "ouuer at tne correctness of the
representations. The fidelity in which the
costumes, down to the smallest degree, are
followed out, and the exact manner in which
all play their parts. each one from ,Joseph
Malr down TO the little child who takes the
part OF an angel, seems to know that the
success OF the play depends alone on his ex-
ertlons, and all are so Identified with their
characters as to be hardly able to sererate
themselves from it,
THE PART OF JUDAS
taken by Gregory Lechner, was performed il
a mastery manner. The man who took
the part displayed a wonderful genius, and
would make his mark on the stage: in fact.
so would they i'll if the play could be per>
formed in New York. With all the charac,
tiers taken by the individuals whom we have
to>day seen, it would be pronounced the
most perfect by all critics
have given you the tableaux and scenes
ID the order in which l saw them. Some
are the most perfect copies of pictures left by
the old masters. For instance: 1.-The Last
supper was correct Representation of
Leonardo d; Vinci's celebrated picture. The
annolntlng by the Magdalon was truly car
rled out The Agony in the Garden -
another scene very touching, "Christ's Trial
before Annas, and the Jewish Priests" and
before Plate, who actually does wash his
hands OF "the blood of this Just person. in
this scene. which is on a balcony, with the
rabble on the streets below Christ and
Barrabas are brought on to the balcony of
the Roman Governor. and the people de-
mand that "Barrabas be set Free" and
Cruelty Jesus, cruelty him, cruelty him !"
From this part, till the tragedy ends it goes
on deepening In solemnity, and yet all of us
are prepared for the denouement. We all
hopeG for some divine interpostion TO save
poor, meek Jesus, who bore his troubles
with patience, fortitude, and a resigna-
tlon that only Jesus could. We saw the
soldiers buffet him, and smack him on the
cheeks till the blows resouuded through the
theatre; and no sound, no murmer came
from him. We saw him scourged, and the
blows fall on his back with such a horrid
sounc that we involuntariy drew oar shoul-
ders together. We saw the rude soldiers in
guard house sit him on a stool, and in
derision, crown him with crown Of thorns,
and the soldier who put it on his head had
to put on his gauntlet to lift the crown from
its position to place it on Jesus head. We
saw him push down that crown, that he
dared not lift with Lis naked hand, upon
Jesus devoted head. We saw the inyoluus
tary spasm of pain cross his face, and the
blood. which the thorns brought, slowly
trickling down on to his garments. They
then clothed him in purple robe. and, put
a reed in his hands, and hailed him king
of the Jews" I can understand now the
cause of those terrible outbreaks that for
merly occurred against the Jews. If you
would look at the countenances of the poor, :,
ignorant peasantry, who witnessed the
scenes, you would see that there would be no
place for Jew. And then we saw the
procession to Calvary Hill, and '.Christ bear
ing bis Cross" after Paul Veronese, where
Christ is seen struggling, worn out and ex
hausted. up that steep hill, bearing the
great heavy cross, with the two thieves on
each side and Simon of Cyrene, who stands
by spectator wondering at the scene, until
he sees poor Jesus suffering under his load,
xpbaD toI.cI.a1 -a,;tb nifty he rlIshos flr ward