The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-01-20
CATHOLIC RITUAL AND THE
STAGE.

Catholics who attend the theatre are
frequently amused and net infreqUeutIy
disguised at the ignorance manifested
concerning Catholic ritual whenever
occasion requires the use of the same
in dramatic representations,
Catholic piay-gOers will read with in
terest the following timely letter to the
New York Sun on this subject:
As an annual subscriber to the opera
Of many years standing, 1 wish to pro
test, through the columns of your VAL
ued journal against an abuse Of con-
slant occurrence in the stage manage
ment OF the Grau Opera company. L
refer to the p6rsistGntly contemptuouS
treatment of Catholic ritual whenever
this is represented in opera. 1t must
be source Of great offense to the
thousands of Catholics who patronize
Mr.. GTau's performances. and l think
this public protest should appropriate
ly appear in the Sun, which has I'M
d3ubtedly a larger circulation among
Catholics than any other daily news
paper
The latest occasion of offence was on
Monday in the performance of lie
Prophs1e' In the coronation scene
twelve women appeared as acolytes
bearing ceassIs. No attempt was made
even by the use of boys wigs, to dis
guise their sex; their long hair was
merely brought on top of the head.
upon which were COquettiShly pinned
REQ caps very much after the manner
of the familiar advertisements of the
FTancO-American soups. In the same
procession walked four Bishops in full
canonical bearings meaningless banners
in their hands instead of cTOziers,
while a Cardinal followed in robe 50
faded and dirty that no boarding house
cock surely would have accepted it as
a gift. Last year l saw NJ. SaleZa as
Romeo twice wear his cap throughout
the marriage scene while he was rep
rasanting the reception of Catholic
sacrament. 1t may be that NJ. Saleza,
although a Frenchman, is also a Jew,
and that his action was instructive: but
this fact cannot excuse so fragrant an
offence against religious respect, his
tTionic art ard historical accuracy on
the part of the stage mana cement.
Again, in the representation of 'L'Afri-
caine," last year the Council of Pre-
l3te5 composed not only of members
Of the MODEST and richest families. but
of the highest diguitaries of the Cath
Ole Church in Spain at that time,
were dressed in SO sioVenly and ludi-
crCUs manner, with dirty, ill-ftting
cassockS (reaching in many iEs5anceS),
only half way below their knees. that
their appearance was as dignitied as q
chorus of monkeys.
Let me call Mr.. Grau'S attention to a
few more Inaccuracies. A Bishops GRO
zier means a Shepherds crook and is g
sign OF his spiritual passionate He car
Tfes it in his right hand always. When
walking, in all solemn functions. He
does not held it either as a quarter
staff or a pike: he uses it naturally, to
assist his steps. And he does not carry
banners; he might as appropriately
carry Thanksgiving turkey. Another
instance of irTeverent handling and in
artistic feeling Isl the introduction of
N ephiatOpheleJ into a Catholic Church
If there is a spot on earth into which
the devil cannot enter it is a church
IL in an earlier scene in Faust" he is
driven off in agony merely By the sight
OF the CTCsS-hilt of a sword now alb
Gurdly inconsistent it is that he should
enter with perfect sang-froid into the
actual presence of God in His conse-
Grated temple. Calve alone has shown
combined artistic sense and religious
Instinct in presenting this scene ait the
porch Of the church.
Now, l maintain that though Mr..
Grau may take the liberty TO introduce
Catholic ritual into his performances.
he has no right to take liberties with
1t. In every instance the only effect
produced IS one Of contempt and rfGf-
Guile OF sacred subjects. 1t might be
pardOnable in a "barn-stOrming' com
pany. but it is inexcusabI at the Met
ropoiitan opera house. If Catholic rft-
Ual could only be studied like the an
Gent Egyptian. from stone inscriptions
and papyri. Mr.. Grau and his stage
manager might excite only our sym
pathy in their efforts. but, as a short
walk to the Cathedral on any great
feast day, or even few questions to
any Catholic ecclesiastic would suffice
10 brush away their ignorance, Catho-
lies can but feel that the undieniffed
and irrevereGt manner in which sub
jects and objects sacred to them are
represented is due merely to contemp-
tuous Indifference