The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-08-28

The theater, like the theaters of
Greece, is open to the sky-an inclosure
with seats capable of holding five thous-
and persons. The little village over
flowed with people-curious spectators
from all parts of the world, and devout
throngs Of peasants from the neighbor-
ing country. At FIVE in the morning
the cannon and the hands of music an
nounced that the great day had dawned.
The town was all astir, and crowds of
wprshipers pressed to the parish church,
where high mass was celebrated. At
eight o'clock the theater was packed
with people. Three cannon-shots echoed
among the mountains that overhang the
town, announcing that the play was to
begin. The country people reverentially
uncovered to them the play is q re-
ligious festival-and the performance
began.
An orchestra Of thirty performers
preluded with soft and solemn music.
The blue sky shone overhead. The
odors of the mountains perfumed the
fresh morning air. The bells of browsing
cattle tinkled from thedistant pastures.
The swallows twittered and fitted
among the scenery upon the stage,
while chorus of nineteen-ten women
and nine men-came from either side,
and standing in line before the audi
ence, chanting fitting prologue. 1t is
the correspondent Of the London Times
through whose eyes we look, but even
he does not attempt to give complete
account of play which, beginning at
eight in the morning, continues until
five in the afternoon, with an hours in
Permission. It is . series of symbolic
tableaux from the Old Testament, fol-
lowed by spoken scenes from the New.
The play is in two parasitic first open
ing with Christ's triumphal entry into
Jerusalem, and ending with His be-
trayal and imprisonment; the second
beginning with His trial, and ending
with the resurrection
The tableaux are symbolical and GU
riously illustrate the ingenuity of the
playwright. Judas's bride of thirty
pieces Of silver, for instance, is repre-
sented as typifed by the sale of Joseph
by his brethren to the Midianites fol
twenty pieces and the scene of the en-.
try into Jerusalem is preceded by two
tableaux, of the expulsion of Adam and
Eve from Paradise, and the sacrifice Of
Isaac. They are all perfect Of theil
kind. There Is no looking askance al
the audience to study the effect; but the
statuesque immortality of the rustic
performers and the felicity and complete
ness Of the design and the execution
suggest the connection between Jewish
history and what il believed to be iii
Interpretation and fulfillment, in man
ner which leaves very profound and
solemn impression.
The scenes in the life of Christ which
are portrayed are the Sanhedrim taking
council against Christ, the parting q
Bethany; the Last Supper, which Is .
perfect copy Of Leonsrdo's great pict
ure; the appearance Of Christ before
His judges; the bearing Of the cross
from Paul Veronese; the descent from
the cross. after Rubens; and the en-
tombment, from Raphael. The cruel
fixion, which Is the elimination of thu
sublime and awful tragedy, is repre-
sented, according to our guide, with 4
pathos and power which the Creates
actors could not surpass. The art il
intensely realistic. The mailing to the
cross, indeed, 10 not seen, but is heard
behind the scenes; but when the cross
is raised, the strongest glass could moi
show that the nailstid not pierce hands
and feet; and there was q murmur Of