Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-07-20

W Nv INV tHoN III hE ttII Vi li4,'
atric art a change Is rapidly working
In the direction OF h popular plays
or mysteries of the Middle Ages. The
public. they claim. want plays OF this
kind, and In meeting the demand the
theatrical folks have gone much
further back. In fact. to Biblical
times.
with the forthcoming Passion Play
at SelZach and a sacred opera called
"Christus" by the late Anton Rubin
stein now being produced at the
Bremen Opera House. the Europeans
should have a surfeit OF stage produc-
lion OF this kind.
Rubinstein's opera, after II has run
the gantlet of the European capitals,
will probably be brought to this coun-
try. but IL Is a question whether Its
production will be permitted. II will
be a question OF local option with the
cities. and even II IL is eventually
staged here II will only be after most
bitter fights with the opponents OF
plays of this kind. IL will also
be largely modified, as in Its present
shape 1t presents all OF the leading
events of Christ's life upon earth. with
the exception Of the crucifxion.
SUCCESS OF THE sELZACH PLAYS
The play TO be produced at Selzach
goes more into details than Rubin
STEMS opera. Two years ago the Pas
sion Play was given at SelZach. The
success achieved Mas very marked. as
the best critics of Europe agreed that
II far excelled the Oberammergau pro-
duction. The wealthy people OF Sell
zach. after the successes OF 1898. at
once began the creation Of "A fund for
the erection Of a Passion Play theatre.
The construction of this building Is
quite different from the ordinary play
house. being designed to meet the pc
culiar demands Of the plays to be pro-
duced.
The stage Is I'm the open air, where
all the spectacular effects can be fully
realized. The auditorium. however, Is
covered. and fashioned much after the
plan of the ordinary theatre. 1t Will
seat l.200 people. The parts designed
for the orchestra n choruses are
built after the plan OF the Wagner
Theatre, Of Bayreuth. They are be-
meath the stage surface. and entirely
out Of the sight Of the spectators.
This arrangement intensifies the spec
music seeming TO come up u OF the
ground.
1t will take six hours to produce tht
play. allowing for a h~alf-hour's inter
mission for luncheon. This necessi-
tates the beginning OF the performance
at IL a. m, and concluding at 5 p. m.
Next Sunday the frst presentation will
be made, and the play will be enacted
on every succeeding Sunday until Sep
TENDER. The only week day on which
II will be given Is Thursday. August
Is. the Festival Of the Assumption.
Two hundred musicians, singers and
actors take part In the performance.
The music Is by the German composer.
II. F. Mueller. and the play is divided
into two parts. one occupying the
morning session. and the second TAX
ing up the afternoon session.
The scenes Of the morning session are
largely taken from the Old Testament.
the FIRST ~picturing the life of Adam and
Eve in the Garden OF Eden. Their
flight from the Garden Is shown. The
murder Of Cain. Jacobs dream. Joseph
In Egypt. the finding Of Moses as a
babe and the giving OF the law OF
Moses or Mount Sinai are all presented
with truthful allegiance to h biblical
descriptions.
The birth of Christ Is beautifully pro-
duced. When the Three Wise Men enter
the hut a dazzling radiance OF light
shows the Infant Christ. with Mary
seated at the foot Of tie crib. STANDING
by is Joseph with folded hands and with
soft music rising from the sunken or
eneStT6 anu siu8cto.
Men. accompanied by h shepherds.
kneel while the music slowly increases
In vol Irne until 1t reaches a grand halle
lujah Of alteration. This scene Is one
Of Intense grandeur. and church digni-
taries who have witnessed II have had
nothing but praise to say OF IL.
The Journey of the Wise Men to the
birthplace OF Christ Is given. also o
vivid representation of the Holy Fam
ily. The Sermon on the Mount Is an
other striking feature Of the play. In
Guiding as II does the feeding OF the
5000 people and the rising up to life OF
the youth at Main.
In the Sermon scene the Saviour Is
shown standing in the shade OF a great
tree az He breaches TO the people His
doctrines. There IL wonderful dramatic
art In this scene. as the crowds are
slowly worked up to 4 WILD pltch OF en-
thusiasm for the Master n HIS teacn-
ings, and In this spirit they lead Him
to Jerusalem.
There Is q vast contrast between the
fret and second parts OF the play. The
former ~portrays all the glories ana VIC
tories OF Christ. while the latter deals
with His sorrows n death.
The selling Of Christ by Judas lsca-
riot for thirty pieces Of siiver n one OF
the finest seemed In the second part Of
the play: also the trial before Plate.
The march to Calvary y about the
most dramatic Of al the 9 Christ.
waIkins beneath the archways Of Jeru-
salem With the Cross upon HIS shout
ders. fc1lowed oy the rabble OF the city,
epEnlnLs yandsyfui -piet"ve