The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-18

reer Of the Rugged Young Herald OF the
Messlah, Will be 20 Shown In New York
How the Skeleton of Biblical Tale ID
Clothed With Warm Human Life =
Herodias and Her Daughter.
New York, Sept. 1.-THE Herald says;
After a period of fourteen years 1t Is
again proposed to introduce the story OF
the Nazarene upon the stage. The er-
forts of Salmi Morse TO present the Pas
sion Play in New Yoak as theatrical
spectacle. and the refusal Of two Mayors
of this city TO grant him a license fol
that purpose because of the widespread
adverse public sentiment which the pro-
position aroused, will be a. once recalled
Readers of the Herald have alread beer
apprised OF the completion Of a new ORA
ma by the German novelist and play
wright. Suderman, entitled Johannes,
and OF the refusal of the Berlin police
authorities to permit its production IN
that CITY. because its dramatis perSonae
are chiefly Biblical characters and the
plot is based on the career OF John Inc
Baptist. The original manuscript in
cludes the episode of the triumphal en-
Try into Jerusalem Of Christ riding on the
ass. but this the author excised when re-
hearsals were begun.
Mr.. Heinrich Conried, Of the Irving
Place Theatre, has secured the Amer
can rights for Johannes" and he an
nounces that it is his intention to give
the piece it's rst public presentation a
his play house, not excepting the scene
in which the founder Of Christianity ap'
pears. This news will no doubt starue
if not shock, the sensibiliues OF many
persons Of reverential mind, but Mr.
Conried thinks that he can 50 modify
the representation of that portion Of the
drama, concerning which Sundermanr
himself seems to have had his misgivings
as not to offend religious sensibility. 1t
howeve, remains to be seen whether OF
not, which Germany has prescribed. he
will encounter the same storm or oppo'
sition before which Salmi Morse wa:
compelled to bow. A number Of fresh
facts concerning Johannes" and its
author, which will be found interesting
in view of Mr.. Conried's plans, are giver
herewith.
'Johannes'-"John the Baptist''-s
Biblical drama by Herman Sudermann
author Of ''Magda" which Duse has made
famous, denied performance by the pc.
lice censor of Berlin, and to have il:
first production in New York-that ID
the latest theatrical anomaly.
Forbidden, why? Because an old Ger.
man law declares that no NBiblical per.
sonage shall be enacted on the stage
Then how about the Queen Of Sheba,
Goldmark's opera, one Of the stock piece:
Of German opera houses. introducing not
only the Bible character but also Solo
mon, who is surely something OF Bibli'
cal character? Why, says the censor
that's opera, and nobody understand:
what is sung.
|. What a queer version Of where ig
norance is bliss. 'tis folly to be wise"
But in this instance the bliss" seem:
all on the side of censor. For there are
also Otto Ludwig's "Maccabaer" and
Hebers Judith" both stock ploys Their
why not johannes" The censor shrug:
his shoulders and looks wise. Berlir
theatrical circles shrug their shoulders
too. but also fume.
Nor is Sudermann idle. He has gath.
cred eighteen OF the elect, including Scr.
ma, Reicher and KainZi, into the Deut
scher Theatre at Berlin, and has giver
an authors reading Of Johannes
which has made a prowound impression
He has also appealed to the Reichsger
icht, or Supreme Court.
And now a scret! Sudermann intend
ed that the last scene Of johannes
should show Christ entering Jerusalem
But the author knew il would be hope
less to expect the Berlin police censor t
pass that episode. and hence suppressed
il. At the Irving Theatre. however
where Manager Conried will produce th'
play shortly, Christ's entry into Jerusa
lem will be shown, not enactly as des
cribed in the Bible, for Mr. Conried wish
es to avoid shocking religious sensitive
ness. Therefore, the Savior will not en-
| ter riding upon an ass. as Sudermanl
| intended. since something might occur
such as the unruliness OF the animal, 4
| mar a scene the effect Of which Is in
| tended to be solemn and relgiously up
lifting.
THE IMPERSONATION OF CHRIST
In Johannes" Christ appears in VIVA
may be called a moving stage picture
though, OF course actually impersonatet
| by an actor; and il this, afterall, such
great step in advance Of the illuminate
reproduction OF Guido RENTS head o
Christ which Mr.. Yatman recently use'
so effectively in his night songs at Gee
| an Grove? Moreover. Christ has Of lat
| years become, through Ben Hur" an
other novels, a familiar figure to IN
public fictiodn, and from the novel 10 III
stage is but brief span.
| Sudermann. who, though originally
| novelist, c'Frau Sorge'D handles stag
material more deity than any OF IN
German dramatists OF the so-called de
. cadent school. mas, since 1889, when hi
! first play. Die Ehre." was produced a
| the Leasing Theatre. in Berlin. been pre-
/ pairing himself for Johannes. He him
self says that ne has been undergoing
an "erlauterungs process"-a process o
! Qualification, and that he did not writ
Johannes until ne had made hinsei
/ ripe for the work.
| In Johannes" this Hebrew has wri:
ten play that fairly glows with Seniu
passion. No drama that failed 70 do TIL
would adequately portray the character
| OF Herodias and Salome. WHO has IN
! Baptist beheaded because ne repelie,
her insinuating advances, and who's
| dance before Herod, the price Of which
the Baptist's head. ve-ges closely On n
! ianSe dli yen--e though on the stage