Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-03
THE PASSION PLAY
Given Before a Very Large aud Repre-.
sentative Audience Who Receive II
With Enthusiasm.
Salmi Morse Called Out at the Close of
the First Act and Greeted with
Generous Applause.

NEW YORK, April 1.-The Times says
that an eager. well-dressed tbropg bssieged
The doors Of Saint Molse's theater, in West /
street, last evening, to attend |
a "prIvate entertsiDment" OF the Fusion
Play, and by S o'clock the house was packed.
Entrance was by ticket, aod men and women
struggled with difficulty through the narrow
doorway. Clothes were torn, and watches |
stolen, and one woman tainted. Hundreds |
we're turned away, snd, fearing the couse-
queuces of too great crowd, ] ustice Gedney, |
a. the suggestion OF Capt. WilE:ms advised |
many persons to go home. One stout fellow |
who insisted on entering when the doors were |
being closed tried conclusions with the just |
ice and measured his length on the sidewalk. |
The audience was representative IN char |
acter. Fully third we're women In fashion |
able attire, and politicians, especially city |
officers, theatrical folk, lawyers, journalists,
doctors, and gentlemen OF clerical aspect |
were seen in the orchestra and balcony |
chairs. There was large gathering OF the
Hebrew element and 8 startling array OF
bald heads. Among those who accepted
Salmi's invitation were Commissioner OF
Charities and Correction Hess, Max Strak- |
ORCH Assistant istrici-Attorney OByrne,
Frederick Taylor, Samuel Colville, james
Barton, Albert Weber, Julius Hamburger,
grand master OF the Independent Order OF
the Free Sons of Isrsel; Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel Steifel, Assistant istrict-At-
torney Brady, and Judge Steckler.
The hum OF voices ceased soon alter
o'clock, when strains Of music soft and low
came from the hidden orchestra. The quaint
melody sounded like a dirge, and the audi
ence was perfectly silent when the curtain
rose on the first act. The scene was the
Temple, in which the Jewish mothers were
assembled to present their babes to
THE "HIGH PRIEST"
In yariegated dress, they were ranged on the
right by the massive pillars and the great
"molten sea- that rested on twelve golden
lions. Opposite were the 14evites in long
white robes and high, tapering hats, and
white-haired Simeon" Roman soldiers,
Egyptians and Armenians, in picturesque
dress, filled out the background. The High
Priest" in monotone, chanted "Thus Saith
the Lord, while another priest proceeded
across the stage holding aloft the sacred
scroll. One by one the mothers advanced
with their babes, and the "High Priest"
bowed his head and raised his hands in bene-
dic,ion. In turn the "Virgin Mary" with
the infant "Christ," sought his blessing for
her child, but the High Priests" hands did
not rise and his eyes were averted. The
"Virgin" shrank back in alarm and gath
cred her babe more closely to her breast,
when "Simeor" cried in imprisoned speech
that this was He, born Of an immaculate
virgin, who would sit On David's throne.
"'Herod shall instantly know this" e1-
claims the "High Priest" and leaves the
Temple precipiLately. There was a good
swing to the SD allelujah" chorus, sung by the
mothers in praise of Him who would be
Savior of man depraved." There was a
| brief silence before "Anns," the witch,
rushed in with her gray hair streaming over
her yellow ochre dress and her long crook
| lifted high in air, and wildly prophesied the
| desolation awaiting
THE "vIRGIN MOTHER" AND CHILD.
| She cried out 10 The mothers Of Israel to
fee with the inuoceuts from the danger to
| come and not trust TO the honeyed words of
| "King Herod" Her dramatic speech ex-
cited the first applause Of the evening. The
"Virgin" gsz.d lovingly on the face Of her
| "Child," and the mothers sang an invocation
Of safety for the babe, following the Levites.
The "High Priest" re-enters and holds a
council with the Messenger of Herod," a
splendid looking fellow in blue velvet, deco
rated with gold 6gure-work, and after the
story Of the course of the star of Bethlehem
| is told, the procession of women march again
on the stsge, and the messenger scans the
faces Of the babes 10 End the young "Christ. y
As he meets the "Virgin" he raises dagger
TO stab the child, but is suddenly transit Ied
with awe and drops the weapon, falls on his
knees and passionstely declares that "His
kingdom shall be without end" Then the
"Hallelujsh" chorus is sung again in capital
style, and when the curtain fell it had 10 be
rung up in response to the enthusiastic APP
plause, and ELECTED an encore. Cries oil
"Morse Morse!" filled the house, and Salmi,
pushing the curtain aside, came out before
the foot-lightr, and, laying his hand
on his heart, thanked the audience for their
large attendance. They made him very
proud, he said, and he was happy. He
thought he could not say more if he talked
an hour, and bowed himself off the stage
There was a buzz of lively conversation be
tween the acts. II don't see anything wrong
about that" and at that's all they made a
row about they made mistake" were typical
remarks. Commissioner Hess said he did
not see anything in the play 10 which the
mcst fsstidious could object. The subject Of
the second act was the
THE MASSACRE OF THE INNoCENTs,"
and the curtain rose on the Virgin" with
Ter child and Joseph" fleeing down the
mountaifi-side from the soldier. She be-
means her condition az at once most blessed
and most disconsolaie. Suddenly the jewish
mothers rush in, screaming wildly, as the
| Roman soldiers come upon them with shield
and sword uplifted 10 massacre the iuno'
cents. The curtain fell on an effect
i've tsbleau- The next set intro
duces "Salome," a pretty black hair
maiden with crimson boota, aud her dance,
the "Almeh," accompanied by the curious
stripged instruments of gsyly dressed women
Its movements suggest both the Nautch
dance and the stately minuet, and at times
the fair dancer swsyed her 1.-THE body like
ICatberina Lewis in the fdrdndote OF Olivtde
Eight other dancers vent through pleasing
{ movements, circling, advancing and retreat.
ing, and the delighted "Herod" gratifes her
wish for the head Of John the Baptist
The music Of this dance is very pretty, and
it had TO be repeated. There was a dram ATTIC
scene when "Herod" heard the girls wish
and, kneeling, he begs her TO release him
from his promise, while the excited Rom an
soldiers shout "Long live 'Salome,'" and cry
out for John tue BsptisI's" head. "Herod'
Yields to the Joy of the soldiers, who shou
his praises, and the head is brought in on
charger and placed near the jeweled throne
Then courier brings the fatal news of iht
discontinue of "Herod's" forces and fall
dead. The brook Of Kedron, az represented
in the fourth scene, is softly tinted land
scape, aud makes charming stage picture
CHRIST TALKS IN PARALLELS TO his DIsCI
PILES,
who are ranged on either side Of the stage
in somber garb. He is q handsome man
with blonde hair and beard, and the actor
makeup strongly suggested well-knowu pic
lures of Christ. He was dressed in whit
robe with a blue sash, and in a we'll modu
lated voice babe his Disciples farewell. Th'
6fth act Was the "Gabatha,n the scene be
fore "Pouitus Pilste,n when Christ is LEI
away. The sixth and last act, entitled "lt
Finished,n is very ehert and little NOR
than isblesu. Golgotha is represented
high mountains reaching up on each side
while In front lies the city of Jerusalem
When the curtain rises darkness prevail
and the women are chanting woes 10 1srael
Afterward the cross becomes illuminated
and all bow in dorztion, and the chorus !
supg. at the end of which the curtain fall
, The music in the last act was not 30 good q
in previous acts nor so we'll sung, especial
, in the concerted parts. After the curtsi
fell there was much applause, and the Az
dience left the thester quickly. The repre-
sentation wac finished at II 40 o'clock. A
the audience passed cut, programmes wtr
circuIsted stating that performan ces begiI
ming next Tuesday would be given IN al
Of The Sails D'Asile Frsncaise, an instItu
ton whose object is to provide home ic
children during the day while their parent
are at work. The Home is situated at No.
! South Fifth avenue, Mr.. Eugene l.. Ber
! being the president Of the associ alton. U
the programme il is also stated that no al