New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-22

PLAY despe its bepc given In the open air. ia the very
strong array OF secondary characters which the village
can produce cannot style them "supers" In current
stage parlanoe for they much In earnest, ana
oftos artistic in their way, the principal actors
From the roundabout chubby little urchins who stood
immovable in the t1bleatz ricanis. TO the stat
wart men who depicted the Roman soldier with suoh
brutal simplicity and truulness, all ala their parts
with good effect The Romans were riGidly drilled
There comparing the followers o. the lgh lroS
with them for moment. These last had helmets ana
spears and somewhat military look, but the villagers
brought out very clearly the fact that the Roman dc
pine was far superior It was the bright strong legion
aries nevertheless who re.shown in the midst or
their odous task OF prosecuting Christ They were tho
blind instruments OF the sin OF Others and their eomo-
nation Of personal indifference with erocious roadry
was very VOL realized
THE CROWN THORNs
We we're shown a good tableau of the murder OF Abel
to introduce us the Of the rcmose and suicide
of Judas The appearance Of the treacherous disciple
before the Sanhedrm and his passionate appeal to the
elders to undo his work. and his 1nging back OF the
Rood money amid their sarcastic laughter. was most
wildly rendered There was the same difficulty about
its being ght ne when the moment Of the suicide APP
preached as there was with the the Mount or
olives But though this difficulty puts the out
door play at disadvantage, yet by shading
the middle stage from the sun rather more
than was previously shaded, an effect OF gloom was
certainly produced. The actual suicide was not shoWn
for the curtain fell just Judas had attached his
rde to the branch Of tree. II was not intended 10
lessen the force Of the final sacrifice by allowing other
Of too painful nature to be witnessed before
hand Thus, though little later on, Jesus was dis
covered when the curtain boundto pillar where
he had been scourged by the eoldewe did not aetu-
ally watch tho scourging. The most shock
ing thing which was seen before the cruel
fiction the pressing on to tho
head of Lord of the of thorns This done
with grim appearance Of reality by two soldiers, who
crossed their spears the crown TO press it down.
But it done in moment, and the spectators had
but time TO give gasp Of horror when the meek head,
which had sunk under the pressure, was raised again
with patient dignity We were coming TO the end Of tho
Playcomng slowly but surely, with fixed and sorrow
full interest which seemed more and more TO take hold OF
every one present PLATE had brought out Christ and Bar
abba and had set them before the people and the people
had camored for the release OF the murderer The Ro-
had washed his hand OF the innocent blood which
to be shod and officer Of his household had read
aloud from tho balcony the warrant for the execution.
Then had the sad procession winding across the outer
stage on the way to Calvary, and most pathetic inter
ude when the Virgin Mary, entering the extreme left
heard the nurmur OF the advancing crowd, and half
feared, half wondered what it might be. She
caught sight of Jesus, and fell back into
the OF those who with her, sob
bling out, "My soni my sonw 1t was. not
until the procession had moved out OF sight, after
Simon of Cyrene had been compelled TO take up tho
cross, which Jesus could longer support that the
spectators could breathe freely for moment The cho-
came upon the outer stage ROBBED in black. There
tableau shown, but the tapping of hammers
could be heard behind the curtain of the inner theaer
Jesus nailed upon tho cross. The 1der Of tho
chorus sang rather rectcd in deep melancholy tones
q description of the sacrifice which to he offered
and all the singers joined in sOlemny at the end with
the words
bringct diescr Liebe