The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-05-19

TheRemarkabIe Performance Opened fol
the eseasou-LRrge Attendance rum al
Parts Of the World.
oBEA-AMMKRoAU, May 1.-THE frs
performance Of the passion Play" wa,
given to-day before an audience number
ing upwards of eight thousand persons
So great was the rush to see 1t that the ac
commodations were entirety insufficient
and large number were unable to obtain
admission. Another performance will be
given tomorrow.
The weather was fine, but slightly
cloudy. Visitors from nearly all parts Of
the world are present There are between
four and five hundred Americans alone,
while England IS, OF course, largely rep.
resented. There Is very large delegation
Of newspaper correspondents.
Last evening the most exciting struggle
took place around the various ticket booths
in the effort TO secure seats.
The scene in the little village was ex.
ceedingly animated, the inhabitants hay-
ing done all in their power to make 1t as
attractive as possible. What with the
firing OF cannon, and the parading Of
bands OF music through the streets, the
picture presented was fairly brilliant one.
There Is only one blot, namely, the dis.
graceful Disagreement OF the chiet house
10 the place by the colossal placards OF an
English firm OF tourist agents. Their un.
seemly display, so out OF harmony with
all the surroundings, has given a good
deal OF otfepse to visitors,
The behavior oil the audience during the
performance was admirable. From first 10
last, as the different tableaux were pre-.
sented, the most intense feelings OF devo-
ton and reverence were exhibited. The
scenery is perfect, but the costumes are
poor. The part OF the Savior WAS ex.
ceptionally well played. Very little can be
said In praise oil the women'a dresses, their
parts being given in the most. indifferent
manner. Two attempts at applause we're
made, but the demonstration was prompt-
ly suppressed. Geistlicher Rath DOisen-
berger, the priestdramatist, sat in the
front row, nearest the stage.
The performance commenced at s
o'clock in the morning, and was finished
at 5 in the afternoon. Shortly after the
commencement OF the second part in the
afternoon, q terrific thunder storm burst
over the village. Rain fell at intervals,
but the actors bravely held out. and there
was no interruption except for brief PEE
riOd OF ten minutes. In the scene where
the Savior is represented carrying the
cross, the spectacular effect was very fine.
The procession was specially magnificent,
owing to the Roman soldiers. In the
part Of Judas Iscariot the acting was very
fine. Some laughter was caused by the
accidental breaking Of limo when he
was about to hang himself.
The most impressive and terribly real.
istic scene OF all, however, was the cruel.
tixion, which caused most painful and
profound impression throughout the en-
audience.
The interest in the play was maintained
to the very end, scarcely one OF the vast
number present having moved away from
his seat until the performance closed. AL.
together the performance is far more per.
feet, and the play Is infinitely better
mounted. than at any time in the past.
The villagers are, however, becoming
spoiled by the commercial spirit, and have
lost good deal OF their old-ime sim
plicity.