Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-06-21

of Joseph Mayer, who in 20, 80, and 90,
was the Christ and this year is the Pro
| logue. a more ma iestic, kingly creature
have never seen, and he is only IA peasant
wood-CarVer.
| The greatest artist who ever lived could
not have found more harmonious or ciIcc-
| tive Colorings, and when you think that
there are between six and seven hundred
people in the play and that all the cos
| TUNES, with thc exception of those that
have metal work on them are made by
the women of the village. and are abso-
! lutely correct in the least detail, you
thlnk wonders will never cease. The stage
! Is uncovered and in the distance you see
! the hills around the village. The scenery
| is very beautiful and has been painted ~
some Munich artist. Pilates house is on
one side. that of Annas at the other and
| in the center there is "a curtain behind
which the scenery is changed, as 1t would
| be in our own theatres while on either
! side of this are streets of Jprus- lem.
which with the green trees and the blue
SKY overhead are very effective. There Is
a chorus of twcnty-four, who as in the old
Greek plays give the substance Of what
the tableauX and scenes are going TO pre-
sent. They are dressed in heavy white
robes with mantles Of different beautiful
soft colors.
on the morning Of the play at six O'Clock
all of the peasants who take part, and as
mass and communion. We went over to
the church, but did not remain all through
the service. though We saw many of those
who were the chef ones l the play one
OF the men told me afterwards that as
Anton Lang came out Of tho door of the
church all the villagers who had been
waiting to see him drew back to let him
pass as though he was a king, and that
he did not look either to the right or The
left, but his face was beautiful in its rapt
expression. Every one In the village loves
him, but he is not any greater than the
Others in their minds
Before the play all Of the actors kneel
behind the stage in silent prayer ana then
Immediately the chorus appears and there
is no wait or intermsslon until the close
of the first part when there is an hours
intcrmission. To me the most realistic
and effective part of the whole play was
the first scene on which the curtain rises
after the tableau, The Entry Into Jeruea-
lem 1t seems as though all the iuhahi-
tants of the village were on the stage
from the tincst child to the oldest man.
All carrying the palm branches and "a
they move slowly across the stage. looking
back towards the king. the scene is 30
perfect in IFS setting and the singing Of
the Hosannas so sweet that you feel you
are seeing the actual occurrences and
when the Christ appears i'm the midst #
the crowd riding on the ass iod by John
1t as We did. The sun shining down on
the head Of the Christ Just touching into
gold his beautiful hair so that We almost
held our breath, 1t was 50 touching in us
erect. The curtain soon covers the mid
ole or the stage and the crowds come
down the side street and collect in tho
foreground. then the Christ appears again.
loSmounts and speaks few words 20 he
people then the curtain rises on tho
court of the Temple, with the money
changers, sellers of doves etc From there
on me play moves steadily on presenting
every recorded scene In the last week of
Chrlsts lie, using simply the biblical rem
derinFs whore that is possible. all through
the last supper ana washing the disciples
rect and when this is not possible the
CITY, particularly the parting between Jc-
SuS ana Mary, which is the most touching
moment OF the whole play
! haven't time or words to tell you more
ABOUT II put 1t really is not the play
IN tSeH mat makes one love this place ;
1t Is lts erect upon the people i'm their
lives and character and the way they look
upon l'-"hat IL means TO them. of course
thelr only salVatloh is having 1t but once
III ten years NO people could Withstand
the hattery and praise which they
"ouIo receive IT 1t came every
year. out II means absolutely
nothihC 10 them aside from giving
tnefh pleasure 10 know mat. as they think,
they are running mission and bringing
the lie of Jesus nearer to the people. one
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