Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-09-13

great chorus bursts forth into song,
| accompanied by concealed orchestra.
The singers now move back so as TO
reveal the tableau, the curtain falls as
they resume their places in the front
of the stage and the singing continues,
and as they finish half of them with
draw to the right, half to the left, and
the play begins.
Costumes
The most brilliant Oriental colors
are displayed in the costumes of the
chorus. AS described by another;
From the choragus, in bright scarlet,
all wear coronets, with the cross in the
center, and are dressed in white under
tunics, with golden edging, in leather
sandals and stockings of the same
color as the robes which fall from their
shoulders. These robes, held in place
by gold-decorated cords and tassels
round the breast and around the waist,
are arranged very artistically and pro-
duce brilliant effect, especially when
the wearers are leaving the stage"
Immediately before and after the
erucifixion the brilliant robes are ex-
changed for black, and the bright dress
is resumed when the play closes with
the resurrection and ascension.
The play consists of is acts, not in
Guiding the tab,eauX, which are pre-
sented in the following order: The
entry of Christ into Jerusalem; the
Sanhedrim; the leave-taking at Beth
any; the last journey to Jerusalem; the
last supper; Judas the traitor; in
Gethsemane; Jesus before Annas;
Jesus before Caiphas; the despair Of
Judas; Christ before PLATE; Christ
before Herod; Christ scourged and
crowned with thorns; Christ con-
demned to death; the way of the cross;
the crucifixion; the resurrection, and
the ascension.
Six hundred and eighty-five persons
are engaged in the performance, of
whom so are women and 200 children.
but only 125 take prominent parts.
Chief Characters
A young man by the name of Anton
Lang, a potter by trade, took the part
of Christ, and Anna Flunger posi-
mans daughter, represented the
character of Mary. The portrayal OF
these characters was generally true 10
the biblical RECORD, with the exception
of Mary, the sister OF Martha aAc
Lazarus, who was presented as Mary
MGgdalene,
L ne most brilliant and effective tab
leauX Were the expulsion from Para
disc, the sacrifice of Isaac, Joseph sold
by his brethren, the bTazen So pent,
Samson avenging himself on the
| Philistines, the rejection of Vashti, the
lament of the bride, the departure OF
| Tobias and the alteration OF the Cross.
A deep solemnity, rising sometimes
to intensity of interest that is painful,
pervades the vast audience from the
! beginning to the close OF the play
The singing is good and the acting is
at times thrillingly realistic.
Johann Twink, in the character OF
Judas, shows marvellous artistic talent
and | think that there can be no doubt
| of the fact that ne is the most gifted
| actor in the play. The despair OF
Judas is acted with consummate skill;
the frenzy of the traitor becomes pitt
full, and when the bitter remorse of the
conscience-stricken man drives him to
self-destruction the scene reaches a
striking climax.
A Striking Finale.
A storm in the afternoon added to
the impressiveness of the closing acts.
The sun was overshadowed by a dark
cloud, the rain fell in torrents, the hail
beat down upon the stage, the thunder
rolled and crashed above us, and as the
quick flashes Of lightning lit the sky
the curtain was drawn, and there was
pictured before us the redemptive
sacrifice of the hottest OF the holy and
the mightiest among the mighty, who
died that man might live.
Before me is strong man, who
wipes from his cheek burning tear
and no one in the great congregation
is unmoved.
Elsewhere the Passion play would
be sacrilesious; here at Oberammergua
it is an inspiration.