The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-09-13

The Daring Departure Proposed 10 be
Taken ~ IiooIh's TheRter-A Piay Rep
reseniIng the Last Days of the Life Of
CbrIst.
NEw YonK, September O.-The Tribune
announced that the Passion Play, theat-
rical representation Of the last days Of
Christ on earth, will be produced at
Booths Theatre. on December Q, under
the management of Henry E. Abbey.
This will be the first production in New
York Of play bearing on this subject and
the second in America. The frst repre-.
seutation was given in San Francisco, CAL,
several months ago: It produced q pro.
found impression and was the cause OF
much heated discussion. The play ran
for five weeks and was taken off the stage
bY It's author, Salmon P. Morse. Thos,
Mcguire, the manager OF the California
Theatre, produced 1t three months alter
wards. The controversy then became so
bitter that the authorities, fearing breach
Of the peace, put stop TO the perform.
ance. This Is the same play which is
soon to be presented in New York.
A Tribune reporter called last night upon
Mr.. Abbey, who said: at bears the same
relation to ordinary drama as an oratorio
TO an operetta. The subject handled In
the every day drama and the effects sought
in it are entirely beneath those OF the Pas
sion PlAy. consider It the grandest thing
l ever listened 10, and shall Try to present
1t on grand scale. lneyer saw the 0ber.
ammergau representation, and took the
play. simply on its merits. ! am told that
there is more dialogue In It than Is con.
tanned in the Bavarian drama, the latter
being made up principally Of dumb show.
The Bavarian play presents the crucifxion
upon the stage, while this one omits 1t.
"Mr. Moses play is arranged in three
preliminary tableaux without dialogue,
followed by FIVE acts OF one scene each.
The first act represents the death OF st.
John the Baptist, introducing the offering
TO King Herod OF the head upon charger,
and Is the most dramatic scene, in the or.
dinary sense OF that word, in the play. The
last supper, the. garden Of Gelhsemsne,
and the arraignment before Pontius PLATE,
are leading scenes; ;.the final ole is tho As.
cension. lam convinced that the play will
I'll every spectator with feelings OF awe and
reverence, and I intend that the repre-
sentation shall be carried on in solemn
and profound manner. No applause will
be permitted in any part OF the house. No
return checks will be given ut the door, so
that there will be no confusion caused
during the beginning OF the acts by those
who have been out TO visit neig6boring
places Of Feireshment. There will be an
abundance Of music OF a sacred nature,
sung by large chorus. About $50 people
will be employed. Il
~ would not undertake this II I. weren't
sure that / sm right Being sure Of that /
shall 90 ahead. But 10 amount OF money
could tempt me to do anything that would
tend To bring ridicule on sacred subjects.
Money is not sll that live Tor, and be,
lieve that the play will do good. 1t is
claimed thatth rep, esentation shouldnot
be. given by professional actors. can't
see any reason in this. 1t Is certainly prob
able that experienced actors will be less
likely TO perform their parts ridiculously
than amateurs, however religious they
may be. Moreover, the performers in
this play will be selected with no little re.
gard to The respect they feel Tor the sacred.
ness Of the subject. There is no doubt
that shall meet with some opposition in
the production OF this play, but l believe
Il will be Witnessed everywhere with the
greatest respect. / intend, therefore, to
present II all through the United States
and the Canadas."