The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-22
THE PASSION PLAY.
The Last Lecture Given In the stod-
dard Course.

City Hall never held larger or more in
tellectual audience than the one gathered
there last evening to listen TO Mr.. Stoddard's
mastery description of the Passion Play at
Ober-Ammergrau, accompanied by the su-
perb Illustrations that were thrown upon the
canvass. 1t would be impossible to give
such an exhaustive report of the lecture as il
deserves owing to the conditions under
which the lecture is necessarily given. But
Mr.. Stoddard has already, in his Red Let
ter Days." given an account Of the perform
ance of 1880 with elegant illustrations, and
of course the general characteristics of the
play in 1890 do not differ materially from
those Of decade ago. But the Passion
Play of 1890 has received from the lecturer
much broader and more significant treat
ment than on former occasions made posi-
Bile by his more intimate Acquaintance with
the performers and their character, more
intelligent understanding of the situation
and the circumstances under which 1t Is pro-
duced and something like conviction that
the productions of the present year will
prove the last with which the public will be
favored at Ober-Ammergan.
A fairly minute description of the German
village and the journey thither occupies the
opening passages of the lecture, exceedingly
interesting of itself, and, as it proves, quite
necessary to thorough comprehension and
appreciation of what is to follow. This de-
scription includes an outline of the personal
ity and social position of the principal per-
formers in the sacred tradgedy, and consti-
tutes very important ''key" to the whole
presentation. Many interesting facts are
told about the quaint village and its inhabi-
tants. The goodness and piety at once i'm
presses the visitors, and at no time does 1t
appear that any one OF the hundreds Of pee
pie who take part in the Passion Play do SO
for the money to be thereby gained. The
principal performers consider 1t a high hon
or to be called to the positions and sacred
duty to accept the CALL
Then follows a vivid exposition of the
| play, its characters and incidents, the most
| complete illustrations constantly succeeding
upon the screen, which serve as texts to be
enlarged upon and applied in unity by the
lecturer, who conveys In every word and
tone something of the wonderful impressive
ness and significance of the scenes. The
Auo tucmo pcComtS mOSb fascinating, ana
Its presentation gains in interest with every
step of progress. Heis no travesty, or dis.
torted criticism or comment; but-by the
aid of the pictorial Illustrations wonder.
fully realistic reproduction of the spirit OF
the OberAmmergau performers. as they
give themselves to this undertaking.
So numerous and good are the illustrations
that the audience last night gathered clear
idea of the scenes to be witnessed once In 1C
years In the renowned little village. That
the views were by far the most impressive
ever exhibited by Mr.. Stoddard is almost un :
necessary. Several among them, notably
THE Last SUPPER" being faithful copies of
great paintings-although in this case the
characters seen are those of men now living
in Ober-Ammergrau. Among the realistic
scenes and tableaux sho wn were 1.-THE En-.
trance Into Jerusalem" "The Garden" the
Betrayal" "Christ Before Plate" "Chris,
Before Herod," "Jesus on the Cross" 1.-THE
Scurging," the "Crucifxion."