Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-05-29
THE eaEAr PASSION pLAr.
First Pubic Rehearsal at Ober-
aisinicrgau--'R'hc Theatre Crowded
and the Performance Successful.

First Pubic Rehearsal at Ober-
al,inicrgau--Thc IhcRtrc Crowded
and the Performance Successful.
A special cable dispatch from Oberam-
morgan to the New York World bear.
ing the date of May l9rh, says.
The first public rehearsal Of the passion
Play" began at 8 o'clock yesterday morn
ing, and, with an interval If half au
hour ut noon, continued until 6 in the
evening. The weather was perfect. The
theater was crowded. Masses Of people
arrived on Saturday, including peasants
from many miles round, clad in then
characteristic costumes. AT least 6,0Ut
people we're comfortably seated in tn,
theatre. There was almost as much Eng.
lish heard on the streets ut the noon 70
cess az German. II looks as IL the AZ
tendance of English aud Americans dur
ing the season will be enormous.
At s 80 yesterday morning the fra
boom OF the cannon was heard. Their
the band of musicians paraded the street,
to wake up the people, and at there
was crowded service in the village
church. The beginning of the play was
announced by the booming CT cannon for
the third time. The impression pro-
duoed by the scenic surroundings of the
theatre was as delightful in the new the
atre al in the old.
The sunlit mountains were seen on
every side, and the birds sang over the
heads of the audience. The orchestra is
sunk between the prosoenium and the
audience. The music might have been
better but tue singing Of the Chorus OF
Schutzzaister was admirable. This chorus
Of Guardian Spirits, as it is called, aud
which is q tradition from the Greek
chorus, appeared after each act to explain
the story Of the play. They wore oolored
NANTES over white robes.
After the Introductory tableaux from
the Old Testament, and prologue and
chorus had retired, the scene represent
ing Ohrist's entry into Jerusalem was
given. The enormous stage was crowded
with gorgeous costumes. At length
Christ, riding on an ass, appeared. The
interest tbenceforwsrd became intense,
ami never tagged through the long day.
Everything-musio, defamation, acting,
groupings-was artistic, and the entire
performance was one OF astounding
realism. The great interest was concen-
trated upon Josef Matters impersonation.
He represents figure OF much personal
beauty, OF majestic and gentle dignity,
and his impersouation gradually rose TO a
sublime climax in the scens of the
cfuclfixion.
In the first act, where Christ expsls the
meney-changers from the temple, two
doves dew from their cages. 10 the
second act the personages com prising the
Sanhedrim developed uniformly admir-
able acting. especially the representatives
OF Caiaphas and Annas (Burgomaster
Lang and Sebastian Rut). iha Old
Testament tableaux were arranged after
the pictures in the bore Bible, and were
wonderful pictures, credit for which is
| due to Drawing master Lang Of the viii
lage school. In the third act, the depsr-
ture from Bethany, the Virgin Mary ap-
! Peared. The character was we'll imper-
sonated by Rosa Lang, the 18-years- old
daughter of the Durgomaster, with a
pathos that increased with every act.
The scene of the farewell at Bethany was
exceedingly dramatic. The scene Of tine
LHd'H Supper closed the first half OF the
performance at noon.
The new impersonntor of Judas
lsoariot (wood-c4rver john Zwink) WAS
seen to advantage. Iu the betrayal scene
his voice was uncertain, but his acting
was very natural aud even dramatic IN
the great monologue before he hangs
himself az the curtain closes. The per-
sonatora of Peter (W0ol-csryer Heti) and
John peter RendD, the latter a very
young man, promise we'll. The acting Of
PLATE (rhomas RendD is perfect. In
the scene when Christ is brought before
him there were zoo people on the stage.
After the scene OF the scourging and
the great procession to Calvary, the oil
max of the play was reached in the Cru
citixion scene Maier's superb figure was
suspended upon the cross fully rs mi,. utes,
supported by invisible iron plates at bis
back amt feet. he pronounced the seven
words with Undesirable intensity. The
scene OF the desoen. from the cross, after
the painting by Duerer was made one OF
the best artistic groupings Of the piay.
In the resurrection scene Christ was Glad
10 robe Of white silk The ascension
was effective.
Then the chorus appeared for the last
time aud ranging themselves in front of
the scene sang the tinsl "Halleluiah 70
with great power. Most OF the visitors
except .he English aud Americans, left
at once. Quiet reigns in the village and
will continue Until next Saturday, when
the prince regent is expected. The dates
OF the performances are May 25th, 26lh;
June LIST, 9Th, 18th, 18th, 22d, 25th, 18th;
July 9th, 18th, Goth, 23d 9th; August
Sd, 9Th, 10th, l7th, Goth, gain, 3lst; Sep
TENDER Sd, 7th, 18th, 2lst and 2Sth,