The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-12-17
THE PASSION PLAY


have both protested against the pro
: duction of the play yet, their pro
tests seem to have only the. effect
, LOT exciting deeper interest in tht
, coming performance. A theatre
has been specially built, or rather
. reconstructed, for the purpose
$4,000 has been spent for costume:
and paraphernalia, and as much
more for the hire and instruction
| of the multitude of people
who are to take part in the play
No money has been spared where il
could be spent to advantage. and it
i. is predicted that those who are
| backing the enterprise with capital
will find their investment profitable.
The author, Salmi Morse, was at
lone time San Francisco journalist.
| His play was written in that city,
and performed there Two or three
years ago, but was a miserable
failure, financially and otherwise.
He tried to produce it in New Y ork
some time ago. but public sentiment
was so strong against it that he
abandoned the scheme Temporal
rily. Now, however, that he has
gained proper degree of notoriety
for himself and his play he will go
ahead and make money, defying
what is called popular prejudice
The idea was caught by Morse from
the realistic representation of the
Passion every ten years, at ODER
Ammergau. There the occasion is
In the nature of a religious festival,
the performances occurring daily
for two or three weeks, attracting
by thousands from the
surrounding country. The Scrip !
5ure text is preserved where
ever. possible, and the scenes
made to correspond with the Bible |
descriptions. Morse's play is said to
De a much superior production to
hat played at 0ber-Ammergau.
Everybody says it is revolving to
he Christian mind, and it does seem
acriligious to represent that most
GLENN of all solemn events upon
he mimic stage, but why it should
e revolving or sacreligious it is diff
cult to say. 1t is in no sense a
ravesty, any more than Shakes
cares plays are burIesques of the
istorical events they represent. It
possible that the effect of the rep
esentation will be bad upon the
ublic mind, but in just what /
7ay this will occur, we have :
ct to see explained. The J
9ligious newspapers have been es- t
ecially severe in the assaults upon I
II. Morse and his play, yet they |
ave not said why the representa- 6
on should not be made, beyond J
nat the subject is something that 7
ught not to be vulgarized into a +
leatrical performance. The argu- Z
lent may be good, and yet it is not J
ear. 1t ought not to lessen ones :
9yerence fol the Savior to witness
mock representation of the event :
lat opened the way for mans re- +
emption. The last performance of ,
le Passion Play in Ober-Ammer-I q
aa occurred over two years ago I
nd the Catholic World at the time t
1ntained long and entertaining
ccount of the solemn and interest
lg representation. Below We give
q extract from that account, which
Ill convey to the reader a,clear idea
T Mr.. Morse's coming performance
1 New York:
The soldiers stand as if on parade,never {
II moment losing sight of the fact that !
ley are on du'y. The mob is g verita- i
lie blood thirsty rabble, and it mocks it's g
leek and helpless victim with all the S
endish mallgniIy born OF ignorant and ]
rutal passion. The priest Joshua comes
orWard and reads, liking Of the Jews,
Bah', ne ironically cries, ''if thou art
ling Of Israel, come down now from the {
ross that we may Ees and believe,D
'siph is not behindhand. HE saved {
TIERS" be yells; "Himself be eannet
ave." Annas exclsimt: ''He trusted in {
tod let Him now deliver Him, il He
III have Him; for He said, i am the Son 5
God" And the words come from 4
ne Cross; "Father forgive them, for thew 4
now not Whist they do" And now the i
alef on the lett wags his head and
suntingly cries: "Yes, if Thou he
Jhrist, save Thyself and us;'' wheTeunon
40 other malefsctor humbly exelsinas- T
no We hang upon his words in q sort of 7
luie ecstsey-''Lord, remember me :,
hen Thou contest into Thy Kino 2
oms" The Rsdeemer casts e look f5iI =
tenderness upon this man. :
no repehts even at the seventh hour. 3
lis gress type of repentance for ever Z
lore, and says; amen, I say unto thee q
us day thou shalt be with me in Para y
se." As these words we're smoker
ID rose from the audience. we nevor
ove our eyes from the central fgnre. n
9 share his tOrturss. The proloneation p
his agony amounts to dumb psin. Z
lsWing, q yesrnirg for the end. Our &
ssrt lespa into flame as a soldier rudeIv .