New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-31
THE PASSION PLAY PRODUCED.

THE "TEMPLE" CROWED TO ITS DOORS.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE UNABLE TO GAIN ADMISSION
-pREsENTED WITH REPEATED MARKS OF AP-
PRovAL.
Salmi Morse's wish has been at last gratled. The
obstacles thrown in his way have been surmounted
and for once at least, he has had
the satisfaction of presenting his much
talked-of play, The Passon,"in New-York Last
evening his house was crowded with friends. whom
he had invited to witness a private performance
Fortune favored him. and amid Oft-Tepeated marks
of approval the six acts were presented without a
hitch.
Long before the doors were opened those who pos
sessed invitations began to appear. and by fifteen
minutes of every seat i'll the house was occupied.
After that there fresh arrivals in
such numbers that Captain Williams who
was present, directed the doors to
be closed. The lobby was sooa filled with
excited and indignant persons, who protested
against their exclusion In vain they hourlshed
their invitations in the face of the Captain Ill VAN
they threatened, pleaded. begged; the house was
already full to a dangerous limit. he said, and he
could not be moved. BY eight o'clock the
sidewalk in front. was packed with people and still
every stage and car that passed continued to pour
out additions to the already great crowd. Again
persons would be admitted, and large numbers
went regretfully away but others continued to press
closely around the doors until Captain Williams
used force TO make them dispense. At the stage
door in Twenty -fourth-st a smaller crowd had col
lected and with difficulty the doOrkeeper restrained
people from forcing m entrance.
The aSsembage inside was made mp of re-
spectacle people, among them being large sprnk-
ling of Hebrews. The house is small and plain.
with seating capacity, 1t Is said, OF l,ZOo, whe
the stage is wide and rOomy. The orchestra Is
placed under the stage, aud there are no private
boxes. AT ten minutes past the unornamented
red curtain, at winch the audience had been gazing
for so long, was raised, and the Temple, WIN ltS
peculiar twisted columns, was disclosed to ylcw
The High Priest stood III the centre before inc
Altar, with ,he Lcvites on one side and a number
of women on the other In the rear was the AIR.
and the Molten Sea supported by the golden mons
The women had assembled with Their chill
dren forty days after the circumcision to
have them blessed. After the opening chorus
Of the priests, the Virgin comes forward
with her chlld. and then witch appears who pre-
diets trouble and misfortune. mess niger from
Herod then arrives and insists npoI seeing
the child. Jesus. whom he attempts to stab ljut
his arm is paralyZcd, and the knife drops from MS
hand. The act closes with the HalleuIah chorus.
Loud applause followed the lowering Of the eur;
tam and there were calls for " Mors'. which would
admit OF no denial. When tho author appeared
and the cheers which greeted him bad sIbsided' he
said
LADIES AND GEyrLruEy: hare much my mind,
fore, only f,w words to YOU After al
and thank yOU for the knCLess WIN Whch you nave
greeted " The Passion
The five following acts were equally well re-
ceIved, the scenery IN each beng tasteful, AM
faithful. il is ,a'i to history Christ appears hfSt
of Kcdron with his twelve disciples,
and again IN the fifth act, before Pontins P!ate.
These are the only two acts in which the Saviour
appears.