Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-03-05
THE PASSION PLAY.
An Imitation of the Oberammergau Play.
Anthony Sshmitt Represented Christ and
Mary Kelly the blessed virgin-The Per-
formance In Aid of q Catholic Church.

Anthony Sshmitt Represented Christ and
Mary Kelly the blessed virgin-The Per-
formance In Aid of a Catholic Church.
WINFIELD, n. Y, March ga repre-
pantation of the passion, crucifixion, death,
burial and resurrection Of Christ was given
In pantomime in St. Mary's hall here last
night. About 800 spectators, mostly wom-
en- and young girls, witnessed the produc-
ton Father T. A. Schumack of College
Point and a number of other clergymen
occupied front seats. The entertainment
was intended as a benefit for Father Peter
Dauffenbach, who has charge of that par
sh. He is expected home from the Holy
Land shortly, and his parishioners, by way
of a surprise, intend redecorating the
church and parsonage out of the proceeds.
Anthony Schnlitt, who unprecedented
Christ, had charge of the production. He
was assisted to some extent by the Sisters
of St. Mary connected with the parish.
The remainder of the cast was made up of
young women from the choir and members
of the church.
Miss Mary Kelly impersonated the Nir-
gin Mary, Miss Nellie Downing took the
part of Mary Magdalen, Miss Katie Muir
ply that of Veronica, Miss Annie Roch
was St. John the Evangelist, and Miss Bar
para Becker was one Ol lle dIlSelS GudI
watched at the tomb.
Scenes of the Play.
Every seat in the hall was occupied, and
when the curtain rose on the first scene of
Christ in the garden deep hush pervaded
the place. But the solemnity of the scenes
soon wore off, and spectators, anxious to
obtain good views, stood on seats and look
ed over the beads of the gathering. A cal
lifyht IN ho of hh hal II SpI
to throw colored lights on the different
scenes.
The garden scene depicted Christ in the
agonies of prayer, while asleep near him
lay his disciples-Peter, Judas and John.
1t concluded with the presence of an angel,
who hands a chalice to Christ.
The betrayal of Christ by Judas is pre-
sented in the same scene Christ is march
ed away between soldiers, while Peter
vainly tries to assist his master. Then fol-
lowed the scene before PLATE and the
scourging and browning of Christ with
thorns.
Christ's condemnation came next, and
he was led forth by the throng. In the
cross bearing scene as he sinks under his
burden third time Simon of Cyrene came
to his assistance.
On the way Christ meets his mother,
and Veronica hands Jesus her veil, on
which tradition says he left the imprint
of his countenance.
The awful scene of the crucifixion was
then produced. Schmitt, as Christ, was
led in and Invested of his garments down
to the almost flesh tight suit of gauze he
wore next to his skin.
The cross was lying prone, and he was
bound to it in that position. The curtain
fell and rose again in few moments. In
the interval the cross had been raised to
an upright position with its clinging vic
tim, who writhed in the throes of death.
The Death of Christ.
At the foot of the cross in costume stood
the mother of Jesus, Roman soldiers and
others representing characters in the divine
tragedy. Miniature earthquakes and peals
of thunder were produced in the rear of the
stage as Christ died
The scenes that then followed close on
each other were the taking of Christ down
from the cross, the embalming of his body
and the amounting of his wounds by Mary
Magdalen, who, with her hair down her
shoulders and silver urn and napkin, re-
produced that scene. The burial followed,
with Nicodemus and Joseph among the
throng that bore the body to the sepulcher.
With the exception of those in the rear
of the hall the audience was orderly
throughout the entertainment. Twenty
five cents admission was charged, and al
though no attempt had been made to ad
vertise the production persons living at
considerable distances went to see it. There
were spectators present from Astoria, New
town, Long Island City, Jamaica and other
places 1t appears that the entertainment
was conceived by Schmitt, who has seen
the Passion Play" performed in Europe.
Those who took part in the performance
had been rehearsing for about two weeks.
1t is not known whether an attempt will
be made to repeat the play.