Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-09
wAGNERs wEsrEaE RIVAL.
saImi Morse's Preparations for
the Passion Play.
Dresses and Properties or ORR
entail BplendOr.
A synopsis or the Remarkable
Play.
Nov York stnr.

- A1& HHH&
duction Of the Passion Play" draws
near, a visit to Passion Hall enables
the observer to form some idea Of the
magnitude Of the undertaking, and the
earnestness with which MIR. Sslmi
Morse and his assistants has thrown
themselves into ths work, with 9 Ter
vent hope Of bringing everything to a
successful contamination. Ga mount
ing the stairs of 100 Twenty fourth
street, where all the business arrange
ments are carried out, on the second
floor, Mr.. Morse is to DO found located
in spacious and comfortably furnished
rooms, where he rot only carries on his
business, but also lives, in order that
he may be always on the spot and thus
able to control every thing. On Star
reporter introducing himself to the
author of the Passion Play" he was
most c~ourteously received, aRd despite
the numerous Interruptions from
musicians, carpenters, singers, gas
men and contractors, all of whom
wanted advice from the energetic en-
trepeneur, the following interesting
facts were CLEANED: Passion Hall is
we'll situated at Nos l28, l3l and l33
West Twenty fourth street. When
finished according to the plans, it will
resemble a hall or chapel, rather than
a theater. The decorations will be
plain, the gallery having panels IN
alto relieve, depicting scenes in the
life Of our Savior, the ceiling being
also psneled with stained glass, throw
ing a colored radiance over the audi
ence below. The lighting will be ar
ranged by seven branched candelsbra,
lac SMILES Of those in tho tabernacle.
The seating capabilities Of the house
will be about 1900 people. Excellent
arrangements are made in case OF FIRE,
there beisg twelve broad exits opening
from the sides Of the auditorium as
we'll as those on Twenty. third and
Twaaty- fourth streets.
The stage will be arranged as little
like a theater as possible. There will
be no proscsnium, but merely a sort
Of frame in which to set the scenes,
as ia a picture. The principal stage
is fifty six feet wide by thirty feet
deep, and there is a supplementary
stage at the back 100 feet deep by
twenty feet wide, which will be used
70 give greater distance to the street
slenes and the Palace of Herod,
The orchestra win be sunk under the
stage, so that the musicians will not
DO in sigh; this is after the
manner adopted by Wagner at Bay
reuth. The method is also in use at
Munich and Dresden; at the latter
place it car be used as visible if re-
luired. The scenery will be specially
arranged on a new principle, doing
away as much as possible with grooves
and flies. The various scenes will be
built on the stage 10 che most massive
manner, and will be enthusiastically
correct, with no effort at stage effect.
Messrs. Maeder and Hoytare instruct
ed to produce three scenS-ths in
terror Of the temple, the Gabbatha, or
trial before Pontius plato, and the
entry into Jerusalem. In the latter
scene the full depth of the stage will be
shown, and 600 people will represent
the populace The Garden of Geth-
semane will be painted by Mr.. Harley
Merry and assistants, as will be Beth
lehem the Massacre Of the I~nnocents),
and the Brook of Kedron. The Palace
Of Herod has been designed from
details accurately laid down by Mr..
Voegtlin, who will also paint the drop
curtain specially invented BY Mr..
Morse.
The music has been composed and
arranged by Mr.. Oscar We'll, a student
of the C~onservatoire at Leipsio, and
brother prize winner with Mr.. Arthur
The character Of the COM
position is Semitic up to the event Of
Christ, from hal time gradually
developing into ths Christian oratorio
In the danes before Herod,
Silome will dance to an ancient syria.
cair, brought by Mr.. Morse from one
Of the old monssteries in Syria, and
lsed to this day by the monks in eele.
bration Of st. John. The orchestra
will comprise sixty pieces, increased
by an organ of immense power. The
musical director is Mr.. Fred Lyster.
There will be a chorus of sixty voices.
Messrs. Eaves 4 Son will provide all
the dresses and properties under the
personal supervision Of Nj. Morse.
they will be unlike those at 0beram.
mersau, which we're gotten up for
effect; every detail has been studied
rom pictures and books. They will
DC historically correct in form and
color, and will be instructive to the
public. The properties now in FRO.
cess OF construction are to be Eost
gorgeous, the entire ritual Of tho Ten
pie in all its ancient splendor will be
reproduced t. Talmudie precision
Here will be shown the great Molten
Sea, bulls of gold; the ark Of the GOV.
enant, with its marvellous seraphims.
the rams horn accompaniment Of the
Levites, aud the sacri6cial altar
Within the famous Convent Of the
Herodian Temple, the Herodiau dis
dem and sceptre will DO presented
With accurate correctness.
Mr.. SAlmi Morse, the autho-. saw
that it will be substantially the same
as that produced in San Francisco,
With slight alterations and improve.
menls, 80 as to bring it within q rea-
sonable tins for production. II il
totally different from the Oberam.
mergau version, being strictly histori-
cal, and an endeavor TO depict Incl
dents in the life Of Christ, reverently.
correctly, and in a true religious
spirit. Nothing will be done. he saws
to excite horror or to shock the sensi-
tive nerves Of the most feryent "a.
ligiouist. II will deal with the human
attributes and the mission of Christ,
he Redeemer-not the Judge. The
Dhe,anmergau play dealt with the
villsinlv Of Judas, and was melodra.
matte; thisis essentially didactie.
Il tfied " write it in epic STYLE
Mr., Morse added, like Milton,
Paradise Lost but the description
vas so brilliant that il d~etraoted fran