The morning call., 1891-09-14
THE WORLDS STAGE.
The Unique Exhibition to Be
Held at Vienna.
Five Months of Great Acting-There Will Be
an Assembly of the Most Famous
Actors and Virtuosos.

A great theatrical exhibition. 1t Is to be
international in character, persons all over
the world being asked to contribute at
least something toward the success of the
venture. The exact title of this exhibition
has not yet been determined upon. but it is
likely it will be known as the International
Exhibition of the Theater. and will be held
in Vienna, Austria, beginning May 8, 1892.
Its home will be in the Pfater, that mag
niicent pleasure ground of the Austrian
capital, which every city in Europe pays
her the compliment to envy.
The Princess Won Metternch has always
taken a great deal of pride in making
Vienna attractive to the hundreds of thou
sands of yearly visitors to the Continent 1t
was she who conceived the idea not very
long ago Of setting apart a day when
admission to the Prater should be charged
for, and those admitted should be required
10 take their part in an elaborate flower
feast for the benefit of charity. The out
growth of this idea has made this Flower
day in Vienna one of the most beautiful
fetes that Europe knows OF. The great
drive is crowded all day long with hundreds
of carriages. bearing all sorts of floral deco
ratons, whose occ upants toss flowers to one
another after the fashion of the Italian
carnlYalS OF nifty years ago.
But the Princess Won Metternich is by no
means conteut to allow her name to be con-
nectrd ouly with this beautiful custom.
Early this year in conversation with Son.
nenthal the great Austrian actor, she sug-
gested that an exhibition which should be
peculiar to the theater, would enable the visi-
tors to hear the greatest music, TO see the
most elaborate stage setting to listen to the
most renowned actors amid surroundings
which had been prepared for them under
the most advantageous circumstances, and
by persons who are Ill absolute sympathy
with their ambition. OF course, Sonnen-
thai appreciated the greatness Of the idea,
and the suggestion of the Princess rapidly
grew until this summer, when she devoted
her entire time to the elaboration and per-
fectiOn Of its details.
1t was necessary to have the exhibition
on site that was not alone historical but
beautiful, aud because of this the portion OF
the Prater, which WAS devoted to the inter-
national exhibition of 1888, was selected for
this new exposition of 1892. One of the
most conspicuous buildiags in Vienna is the
great Palace of Industry, which was used
as the main building Of the exposition of
1873. This will be the nucleus Of the ex-
hibitiOn of next year.
In it will he placed all the exhibits which
pertain 10 the history of the stage or to the
stage of to-day. In this will be included
also that portion of the exhibition which
may be properly classed as the museum.
There will be shown such relics of the
Greek and Roman stage as still exist old
manuscript plays, old cOstumea. ancient
musical instruments, masks, models Of
scenery, jswelry and the thousand and one
things which go to make uD theater nova
days.
The most interesting thing connected with
the entire scheme will be the theater. This
will be a little more than 300 yards
from the Palace of Industry. 1t will
be built entirely of wood and iron. and
its methods Of construction will be original
with the architects. 1t will be, so far
as the ground 1t covers is concerned, the
largest structure of its kind in the world. 1t
will seat 25O0 persons and will have no gal
lery or boxes. 1t will be an immense audi
torium built almost in circle, the sepera-