The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-30
THE WITCH OF ENDOR
NOTABLE PRODUCTION THIS WEEK
AT ENGLIsHs OPERA HOUSE.
Six Tons of Scenery Have Arrived, the
Canvas Covering 10000 Square
Yards, with q Cast of $50.

The interest that is being daily mani
tested in the production of THE Witch
of Endor," at Englsh's Opera House. by
the ladies of the German Aid Society, and
whose initial performance Is Monday even
ing, has assumed large proportions. For
three weeks the rehearsals have been go
ing steadily on, and on Friday the scenery
and effects arrived, and they are without
doubt the most elaborate of the kind of
any that have ever been brought to this
city. There are over six tons of scenery.
covering $4,000 square yards Of canvas,
which embodies the work of seven artists
for over a year, and some idea may be
formed of the magnitude OF the scenic
part of the production.
The entire presentation is based on the
visit Of King Saul to the cave OF the
Witch of Endor for the purpose of learning
who his successor to the throne will be.
He is fully aware that it is against the
law, both of his people and the GODS and
he risks his souls salvation by so doing
The witch warns him of that. This witch,
instead of being the hideous person so
commonly imagined, is most beautiful
woman outwardly. His visit to he9 is
during a terrible storm, and the locality
where she lives, in a cave, Is the abode
of spirits and demons. The scene wherein
she shows him the master whom she serves
Is weird beyond description, and from every
root Of tree and rock, and hidden crevice,
at her command, spring forth the attendant
spirits who do her will. while a mammoth
figue Of Apollyon stands out in bold re-
lief Finally she conducts him to the In
terror Of her cave and bids him lie on
couch. She then causes him to fall into
deep slumber. and during his sleep the his
tory of the world, from the creation to the
ascension, passes in rapid succession. pre-
sented in the most gorgeous manner.
In the scene of Solomon's Palace the fes-
tfvities include marches by beautiful wom-
en-, grand chorus, dancing girls, maneu-
vers by his guards and exercises by lovely
children. The ensemble is gorgeous in the
extreme. Among the noted scenes which
have received the greatest praise are those
representing the creation, the deluge Sol
omon's Palace. the nativity, the betrayal,
the crucifixion, the earthquake and the as
censon.
The incidental music embraces the
Heavens Are Telling" from THE Crea-
tom Unfold Ye Portals" from THE
Redemption" Solomon's chorus and the
chorus Of the prodigal sons return. These
VIII De TeuQeIeu W . miAcu CiiOf uS VI
fifty voices. under the direction OF Mr..
vonnegut and composed Of the best sing
ers selected from the Maennerchor So
ciety and the different choirs of the city.
The mechanical and scenic effects Of
this production are novel and never before
seen in the city. Most prominent is the
steam curtain by which, when each scene
is ended. cloud Of steam Is sent up which
completely hides 1t, enabling the changes
10 be made without lowering the curtain.
thereby preventing any waiting. The cos
TUNES in this play are historically correct
and are taken from the paintings OF Gus
tave Dore and other eminent authorities.
over $50 Of the most prominent men nud
women singers OF this city will appear on
the stage In the different choruses. exer-
cises and drills. The cast OF characters
includes the following:
Witch Of Endor-Miss Rum Hauck.
King Saul--Mr. George w. Lick.
Three Attendants to Witch-The Misses
NJ. shulmeyer. q. Wacker and A. Ernest
inoff.
SPIRITS ~ rarkness-Messrx. Hook. yune-