The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-10
an <soxrrABLr PnoJror
The rinn 60 Produce the F.ssio. may
In Chicago.

Tho people OF Chicago are crazy for IT,"
said Charles NJ. Rosenthal OF Vienna, on tho
dock ofthe City OF Berlin Just before she sailed
on Wednesday. He referred to the famous
Passion Play OF Oberammercau which he pro-
poses to exhibit In Chicago during tho Fair
You had no trouble. then. in making ar
rangements2" asked the reporter.
"Trouble!' exclaime cd Mr.. Rosonthal. smiling
why. they received mo with open arms.
only reached this country q fortnight ago with
the proposition. and here am going back with
every arrangement mnde. That shows what
the Chicago people think OF II. I've got tho
best site In the city. half way between the
Exhibition grounds and the centre OF town.
Tho stock is placed too"
Tho stockp"
"Yes. the stock. While most OF It Is held In
Europe, we we're willing to let Chicago make
some Of tho profits"
you are going to run It for q money making
show, OF courso?
Now. SOC here" said Mr.. Rosonthal. that's
q mistake. Tho Passion Play OF Oboram-
mergau Is no nero theatrical enterprise. Tho
people OF tho little Bavarian town vowed that
play to God $50 years ago for their deliver
ance from tho plague. and they act 1t every
ten years as n religious ceremony. This is no
show. It's religious rite. elevating In It's
tone and helpful to the cause OF good. Wa
propose to bring over the whole town Of
OberammerCau. IL necessary. and tho simple.
God-fearing peasants who performed tho play
among the Bavarinn hills In 1890 will
perform 1t again in Chicago In 1893.
They will do 1t IN tho Same spirit.
too Their object will not be gain. for
they will get very little out OF It them selves
to spread tho Gospel We have persuaded
them thatto show their play IN Chicago will
be to DO an immense good to the cause OF re-
ligIon. 80 there is no doubt that our Obcr-
ammergau peasants will think 1t q matter Of
duty to come over with u.s."
How much will It all cost ?" We asked.
About $S00.00O as closely as we can figure
It." said Mr.. Rosenthal You see. there are
700 actors to bring over and take caro- Of.
Then there's the ground and the buildings.
the stages. advertising. and 40 on. You can
figure on it's costing quite that muoh."
But the profits will be satisfying" suggest
ed the reporter.
"satistylng2" Mr.. Rosenthal made sweep
Ing gesture expressive Of his expectations At
the same time he smiled. Then he exclaimed:
"Immensep'
But how about It's reception In this Chris
tian land?"
why. the whole purpose OF tho play Is
Christian. tell YOU" said Mr.. Rosenthal.
1T isn't play. in fact. but a religious cere-
monial. Why. then. should any Christian
object to it2 I repeat that the actors will not
perform it for profit. They won't get any
profit. That fact will best attest their motives.
They are coming over entirely in the cause OF
religion. So why should not religious people
patronze the thing? I tell you there Is moth
ing Objectionable In the play. and after we
bring 1t over here and set 1t up am willing to
49, al h,tl
go homo again."
ITO the clergy OF the country7"
We'll. to tho clergy Of Chicago" replied Mr..
Rosenthal. Then he added: And to the
press Of Chicago. Say half and half to each.
will give the press and the clergy q private
view at the start. and abide by their decision
whether we 20 on or not That is fair enough.
isn't it?"
Have you tested tho feeling among Chicago
mnisters?"
"Yes-well. no. not among the ministers
particularly. But the proposition was well
received generally. The newspapers gave us
tho best OF notices. and it was the general
opinion among business men that there was a
mint Of money in it, provided We could get the
original OberammerGauans to come over.
They didn't seem to think that any religious
scruple would stand in tho way OF its success.
II Christian people went to see the Passion
Play at Oberammorgnu why should they not
go to see it at Chicago2 The Chicagoans who
have money in it are satisfied that it will meet
n paying reception"
Arc YOU already sure that these POOR peas-
ants can he persuaded that it Is their duty to
come over here and perform for Chicago's
N oral bc;terment q
"Oh. yes. that is about fixed. Herr Schnit-
yer OF Vienna has Il great deal OF influence
with them and no is practically ut the head of
this enterprise. He is director Of one of the
Vienna theatres and has much fame as a poet
II WAS as poet that he won the confidence Of
the folks OF Oberammergau. lie remodeled
The Passion Play for ,Iem. It used to be
and did it SO cleverly that nothing essential or
drsm1e ies,v lett out wss
would do anything for him. Hes fixed it with
ihsm ,n a THe
e tho Imperial Theatre at yep2pa. and now
Dramatic EXPOSITION In progress In tho Aus
triap capital. and Tanker Never Of Frankfort
1onr the e" HeetTr Aoa tno
am iIcfr sehni,zers agent at present; i OK
peet to be ark in 3ctoner to start work"
Springfield. H.. under the name of The
Original oheramme!rGan Passion Play ,ASso-
f can a%ed At f Snn stpsk h4s
named are Charles NJ. Roscnthul. Bernard
Hoffman. and Sigmund Zcisler Mr.. Xeisler Is
n Chicago lawyer. An interview with him.
recently published in Chicago newspaper. is
worth reproducing. as 1t throws more light
upon the methods by which the simp mind
ed and God-foaring Bavarian peasants have
been deceived into prostituting their sacred
corcmonial to Ch!cagos greed. MIR. Zesler is
quoted rs saying:
1t was not necessary to secure articles OF
incorporation, but as the promote might de-
sire Ia place u limited amount of stock in this
country. advised that IL BIO done. | also had
another reason. There i, mighty army of
religious iG"ts in this. country America is
the most intensely religious country in the
world. From certain class at re L.; ous en-
thusiasts We must expect unta.unisni. The
ignorant are sure TO DO unable to discriminate
between company Of actors and II NUM-
hcr OF peasants who have consented To
produce the play Of their forefathers
In this country purely through the belief
that in enacting the scenes SO long witnessed
in their native village thcy are adding to
Gods glory. l wanted to test the strength Of
this antagonism. Unless biGotry is success full
in opposing tho production Of tho play. tho
original cast 81 1920 will he seen n Chicago
one year from now. II is our hope that during
the Worlds Fair. zen tho rcop!e OF the earth
shall visit U.S. 1t shall not h" said that prcJu-
dco, inspired by bigotry, prevented us from
assuming international characteristics,
Are you assured tA"i tne enterprise is
honest -thnt the hrOmotsrS carry out thpir