The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-04-06
THE PASSION PLAY.
Press and Public Opinion Expressed After
Full Dress Rehearsal.


| Press and Public Opinion Expressed After
Full Dress Rehearsal.
NEW YORK, March So full-dress re-
hearsal Of the Passion Play was given to-
night. The theatre was jammed; SO great
was the crush the doors had to be closed
and hundreds were turned away. The play
was given in full without police interior
ence, and received much applause. Salmi
Morse was called before the curtain and
made speech. He said he was "happy and
full of thankfulness." Quite q sensation
was caused by the drop curtain almost TAX
ing tire from the foot lights. A large police
force was present.
NEW YORK, March 3l.-The Tribune says
salmi Morse's wish has been at last gratified.
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 Passion" in New York.
Last evening his house was crow ded with
friends whom he had invited to witness the
amid oft-repeated remarks of approval the
six acts were presented without q hitch.
Loud applause followed the lowering of the
curtain, aud there were calls for "Morse,"
which would admit of no denial. When the
author appeared aud the cheers which greet
ed him had subsidized, he said:
| "LadIes and Gentlemen: have much on
my mind; but my heart is full, and will
say, therefore, only few words to you.
After all my trouble, happiness has at last
come home, and thank you for the kind
uess with which you have greeted the "Pas.
sion.'
The five following acts were equally we'll
received, the scenery In each being tasteful
and faithful, it is said to history. Christ ap.
peared first in the fourth act at the Brook of
Kedron, with his twelve disciples, aud again
10 the fifth act, before Pontius PIlate, which
is perhaps the strongest act in the play
These are the only two acts in which the
Savior appears. The Tribune adds: "The
performance last night was free; when II
comes to paying for plain blasphemy, 1t was
another matter"
Herald: In the gallery at the Passion Play
performance last night sat Senator Jones Of
Nevada.
"Whst have you to say about its" asked g
reporter.
"Well, there has been great deal Of mis-
representation of the play. In San Francis
CO 1t was not objected to by the best class o.
people. 1t was only the bigotec, strictly
fault-inding Christians who were against it
they would not accept anything, good or bad
am here tonight to see what this play is.
don't understand how 1t can be interesting
without being sacrilegious, and If 1t be made
proper it will be stupid. am confident tha
1t will never shock anyone who stays away
"What do you think of the two or thre,
acts you have seen"
"Well, the play is here, and am here;
was let in for nothing, and / don't feel that
and Morse are mere than even. l dom
think IL will run on its sacrilegous merits
Ii it is an interesting play II will succeed
II dull, 1t wont run. 1 don't think 1t viii
last forever, by present appearances. The!
made great mistake by having amateurs
in San Francisco, best actors were employed
lfyou have man to represent the Savior
he must give ain exalted type Of character in
stead Of this sAminidab Sleek fellow WHIT
out In the mines we would call forty par.
son-power thief The Herod is good, bu
fha
The same paper says editsrislly: 1t mus
be admitted the work is not what fancy ha
painted 1t. The scenes at which religion
persons were expected to hold up their hand
There was no last supper, no agony In TIT
garden, no betrayal, no beating, buffeting, o
crowning with thorns; no bearing of tn
cross to Calvary; no crucifxion. The stor,
as presented Is entirely without offensive
features; neither does it appear to promis
to exert great moral influence, which tn
acthor has claimed for it,, for the text Is ia
too verbose to be impressive, and the acting
too little and feeble to excite any one for o
against any character. Among theatre. goer
1t may be nine days wonder, no more"
The Times and other papers bestow mod
crate praise. The audience was representa-
tive in character; fully one third wer
women In fashionable attire and politicians
especially city officers. Theatrical folk.
lawyers, journalists, doctors, and gentlemen
Of clerical aspect were seen In the orchestr'
and balcony chairs. There was a larg
gathering of the Hebrew element, and
startling array of bald heads. The entranc
. was by ticket, and men and women strug
gled with difficulty through the narrow door
! way; clothes were torn and watches stolen
! aud one woman tainted.
Morse said he should give four or five per
J formances for church and charitable institu
tions. The scale of prices, although not full
ly agreed on yet, will probably be 81 70
: orchestra chairs and the first three rows il
the balcony, the remainder sl.50; adms
sion tickets, 81.
NEW YoRK, April John Swinton say
In the Sun: Now, then, / must tell Salr
Morse that much of the text of his tragedy
is too stilted for toleration; that If when ]
Is available at all he would take the Ian
gaage of the gospels for his gospel charac
tiers his drama would be infinitely bette
than 1t Is; that the climax of the TRACED.
should be made more elevated; that ther,
are meritorious features and qualities of tn,
plsy which ought to be changed that hi
apostles and his dolls are not ft to be shown
that he must look out for several things tina
might be turned ints ridicule and damn hi
drama; that he must see TO the business o
the stage.
The Theodore Thomas Concert.
NEW York, March 31.-The Theodore