New-York tribune., 1895-10-01
THE DRAMA.
THE scHLrERsEE COMPANY.

The experiment OF placing the Schliersee come
,anv I'm the Metropolitan Opera House had from
the first much appearance Of danger. AT he hrs,
pcrformance last night some marked excellences
were TO be observed In the company, but they were
not enough TO remove all apprehension as TO the
rosult The house is too big for anything but
musical entertainment or spectacle OF large pro-
nortons and II Is difficult for speaking voices 20 I'll
IT, The fact that the company plays In German
sets rigid limits to the public to which 1t has TO
look for support. and the additional fact that hs
language is the upper Bavarian dialect makes II
difficult OF understanding TO many who are expert
I'm German and compl.oates the trouble arising
from the size Of the house. ana tnc consequent hH-
distinctness Of voice In II.
The company consists. as has been already abun.
dantly announced, OF pcasants VINO are supposed 10
be for the most part amateurs at acting. some OF
them, however were peasants at iirst ana then De-
came trained actors. having now become peasants
again for the purposes Of this organization The
most II not all. Of its members have had by this
time considerable stage experience. This u not
said In disparagement OF their worth: there would
not be much pleasure in seeing the hrst efforts AT
stage-playIng of large number OF people VINO were
actually nothing but peasants. Yet 1t IL by their
representation Of peasant life that they must win
favor IL they win It at all. The TyroIese at home
are as picturesque people as any on the TACO
OF the earth They TO be a part Of their wild
and beautiful mountains The atmosphere Of their
valleys seems to be one Of simple and natural art
Every man Of them is a picture. Every man wears
curiously cut garments OF distinct but harmonious
colors and a soft. broad -brimmed hat, which has
a feather or a flower in II. and smokes pipe with
a painted bowl. The houses arc pictures, TOO, ana
are covered with other pictures and notices and
endless scrollworh Much of this plcturcsqueness
Is transferred to the stage and II forms the most
attractive part, by far. Of the entertainment Of
fered.
The play chosen for the opening was the Cruc'-
fix Carver Of Ammergau," which was exceUentIy
done here a few seasons ago by he company from
Munich. which appeared at the Amberg Theatre.
1t is. perhaps, characteristic and therefore "s
suitable for the purpose any tina; could be CHOSEN,
though the actors from Schlersee have several
plays in reserve on which there has "a yet Deeh
chance to pass judgment. What delighted the
audience mos, last night the dancing. AZ lar
a. can be learned from their dramatic efforts IN
this country. there seems to be on.y one prnclpaI
TyTOlese dance. But this IS curious ana las
clnating. After few turns by couples the, pdr.-
ners separate. and the men leap ABOUT ana sap
their knees and their thighs IN apparent ecstasy,
while the women sOemniy spin arOunl Hke tops
till the ready to join them again. ana t9sh
sounds the audience wanted more OF It than 1t was
allowed 10 have. The acting OF the company was
generay competent and interesting from Ns 'A-
usual character This character was. or course, tndt
of the actors themselves. and this and their aDlty
10 express il forcbiy formed their whole charrn IN
a small theatre there could be little doubt OF their
success. and II may be hoped for even ia the Met