The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-13
TOY OF A MAD RULER.
King Ludwig, Of Bavaria, and His Court
Theater at Munich.

A letter from Carl Lautenschlaeger, the
machinery master IN the Royal theater in
Munich, whO has the reputation of being
the best in his profession, and who is a so
known 70 Americans for his ingenious
construction Of the stage at the Passion
play IN Oberanmergau, reached me with
the last European mail.
He writes: "And so we intend giving
a successive representation, once more, of
ali the PLAYS that figured in the repertoire
Of the special performances of Louis III.
al Of which you are acquainted with. Il
viii, in al probability, be the last time, as
the scenery and costumes are TO be used
for other plays"
This letter recalled wildly to memory
my experiences during the theatrical sea-
son Of 1875, when / served an appren-
ticeship as volunteer in the Munich court
theater-that immense building with its
two stages, one for opera and tragedy, the
other, in Rococo style. for comedy and so
ciety dramas; its wardrobe Of 40. 90 ready
costumes, it's ballet schools, the little
colony Of tradesnen. nearly every trade
being represented, its stOrehouse of seem
cry and property, 80 large in number that
two men were employed 70 keep an ac-
count Of them!
Two weeks Of special performances had
been ordered by the king and the theaters
were closed while making the necessary
preparations. From the head Of the insti-
tuition Baron Won Perfaii, the superintend-
ent, to the supers, all were busy from
morning till night. And what company
il wasi There was the director, Ernst Pos
sart, who made quite sensation with his
Ebylock in New York, about sixty actors
and singers, five 10 six stage managers,
the machinery master, Professor Glueggen,
the costume historian, the head barber,
the taiIors with their stats, the chorus.
the supers, the ballet girls and the scene
shifters. In some spectacular PLAYS there
were as many as 80 to 80 stage hands
employed, who executed even the most
difficult changes Of scenery in a few min
utes.
The announced repertoire was as fol-
| lows: One performance OF "Sakuntala.n
an Indian drama; "Voltaire," different
scenes from the philosophers life; "Nar-
| cisse." known in America through Band
mann's Interpretation, and Schiler's will
/ liam Tell;" two performances of Wagner's
"Rhinegold" and "Parsifal," and "Uro-
ash" another Indian drama, and three
! performances of Sardou's "Theodora;"
! also various panoramic scenes with but
| little dialogue, but rather a gorgeous and
| spectacular display, suggested by the poet
| laureate, Carl Won Heigel.
In one OF these the blue grotto of Capri
was represented; it was a perfect imita-
ton OF that curiosity of nature. But what
labor 1t had cost TO produce the desired ef-
fectl The whole scenery had been re-
| painted several times; the portions of the
rocks rejecting the mysterious lights were
first painted blue, then gray, and after
wards made to appear transparent; all
| shades OF blue calcium light and differ.
| ent retieCtors were used before they had
fully succeeded. And the handsornest ballet
| girls, disguised as nymphs, were bathing
and gamboling in the waters, making the
! scene appear like fairy tale come to life.
In another perfect image OF the castle
I OF Hohenschwangau, with its beautiful
surrounding scenery, was represented.
( There was the horizon in its constantly
/ changing wealth of color. The wind mur-
INJURED in the leaves of the live trees in
| the foreground. and one even saw butter.
! flies fitting from flower tn flower.
Thanks to letters Of introduction. en-
| joyed certain privileges, and 50 it han
| pened that | was allowed to witness the
special performances, thing forbidden
| even 10 the employees Of the theater not en-
| gagged in the performance in question.
/ Many reporters Of weil-known papers tried
/ to gain admit;ance. but, rs far as know
! no outsider has witnessed a single one of
these performances. The porter watched
| the entrance OF the stage door with eagle
eyes, the front was closed, the king came
| IN by secret walk leading directly from
/ MS castle into the royal box.
Everything had To he furnished accord
/ ing to special orders from the king. The
/ scene painters rackei their brains in their
/ efforts To devise harmonious effects of col
orlns, the machinery maker planned
novel representation of the swimming
Kline daughters Professor FIueEcen had
/ costly garments fabricated. of which
single one would have paid the expenses
/ OF a poor student Tor I whole year.
We had all reached a high state of ex-
clteinent and expectancy on the evening
OF the urst Performance.
Not 10 be seen YETI" asked Mr. Iau-
/ tenschaeEer.
'NoJ the slightest trace az vet" I an
swered, looking out through one OF the
/ peep-hUles III the curtain, into the pitch
/ dark auditorium.
The noble gentleman keeps rs waiting
as he always did"
1T Is past u O'Clock Already"
Really. II IS scAndalous"
Suddenly al electric bell was rung, a.