Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-02

the Temple on the opening night in all the
glory Of accurate Hebrew attire, but which
lst night seemed to consist of n lot Of ladies
cal in scll>kn sacqucs and walking dresses
# ih period, and gentlemen in "gum.drop"
hats and gooshes. In the distance was the
dinly lighted auditorium, from which pro-
ceedcd the tinking strains of piano siniully
out Of tune. Nothing could be seen OF what
was & ing on on the stage, so this was OBJ
viously the wrong place Tor acquiring inform
alton. a prompt flank movement on the
Twenty-third street entrance brought the
Herdlds representative into the auditorium,
where the splendors of the Temple scene
burst suddenly upon him. There wire signs
OF incomplete work, for off on one side was
a scaifolding, and almost in the middle of
the house II ladder ran from the footlgh,s to
the flies. But the drop scenes and the mass
i've spiral pillars Of the Temple were set,
while the Ark Of the Covencnt and the mas
sive reading desk were in their places. In
spite Of lis inconpleteness-for here and
there its bare walls showed through the pill
lars-lhe scene was unquestionabIy a very
handsome one Aniiquarians must decide
upon the accuracy of the architecture, which
Mr. Morse declares to be unmpeachable,
but to the eye of lnyman the scene is alto.
gcther satisfying. The scenery is excellent
| ~ painted, tic proportions of the stage are
ample aud digriiied, and the supplementary
stage, which runs through to Twenty fourth
street, gives opportunity for admirable effects
of peispt ctivc. There should be room in
| the other ac's for scenes no less striking than
that If last night
The material of Mr.. Morse's company ap.
pear TO be very good. The part of the Virgin
Mary is played by handsome young Jewess,
who seems to be perfectly suited TO it. The
Salome dances gracefully and with entire
simplicity. The High Priest has good
baritone voice and has the unusual merit of
distinct enuncation. Joseph and one of the
Magi were well enough DONE and though
they, like the rest of the solo singers, seemed
TO be amateurs, they showed evidence of
careful drill and natural ability.-many of
the principal Characteristic Saviour, llerod
and Herodius and Pontius Plate, for in
stance were not employed in the act given
| last night so their merit remains doubtful.
The chorus especially in the female voices,
is well trained and will no doubt render
efficient service. The orchestra, which num-
bers about thirty, was not present.
Cndress rchearsals arc proverbially de.
| structvc Of stage illusions, and where the
subject is religious this is peculiarly the case.
Visitors to the famous Oberammergau "Pas-
sion Play when they have stayed in the
village for even few days and have come
in contact with the performers Off the stage
have felt this, and it was no wonder that ii
WAS the case last evening, no matter what
the quality Of Mr.. Morse's work. The in
tc>sant calls of the stage manager, the fire.
| qu mt rcpetitlons of imperfectly mastered
passages, the inadequate piano accompani-
mcnt-such things as these make it impossi-
bic to tel what will he the effect of the play
when given u its perfect form. There was
nothing repulsive in what was done last
night, but that was only small portion of
the work, and that which was likely to be
least Objectionable. Even Salomc's dance
before llerod, which is said to be faithful
copy of dance still in use in certain Orient
al converts was perfectly dieniiicd and free
from the characteristics of the modern ballet.
But the average Anglo-SaXon has an intense
distsste for treating religious subjects upon
the stage, and for many Americans and En-
glish this was the fatal defect in Wagner's
"Puisifal' last summer.