The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-18
STORY OF PASSION PLAY.
1t Is Well Told by Harry Z. Fefcht at
Grand Opera House.

The capacity Of the Grand Opera House
was tested and found wanting by the
throngs Of people that came last night to
hear Harry Z. Feicht's lecture on "Ober-
smmergau-Its People and It's Passion
Play" The house was sold out some time
before the lecture was scheduled to begin
snr still the people came. The size Of the
audience was the subject OF Interested
comment in the foyer of the theater after
the lecture, several people remarking that
they had never seen so many assembled in
one auditorium in this city on a Sunday
evening before in years.
Although practically a stranger TO the
local public. Mr.. Feicht soon established
himself in the favor of his audience by his
pleasing delivery and by the interesting
prior to the showing of the colored stere-
opticon views, Mr.. Feicht talked delight
fully of his three weeks sojourn in the lit
tie village of Oberammergau. Bavaria at
the home of Anton Lang, who played the
part of Christus I'm the Passion Play OF 1880
and 1900. The speaker referred to the fact
that q the s Village with population Of only
Tor three times that many visitors to the
pay. He called attention to the unique and
effective method the Passion Play COM
mittee OF the village has devised TO prevent
speculation. This consists in requiring
every person who comes to the village to
witness the production to frst procure
beard and lodging and then ticket to the
performance. In this way no one is sub
Jected 10 the mischance of seeing the play
ana then finding himself without place to
sleep and eat 1t also, very naturally,
shCts on speculation. Answering the state
ment that the Passion Play has degener-
ated into a commercial enterprise, Mr..
teicht asked why Ii was given only once
IN ten years, IL this were true. He said
that Anton Lang, the Christus OF the
drama. Is paid only IS a performance.
wnich is his compensation also for attend
ing rehearsals. The receipts last wear
were only $1,000 which, il must be remem-
bered. will have TO run the committee for
Mr.. teicht gave brief account of the
plague OF 1888 and OF the solemn vow re-
corded Nov. IL, 1859. obligating the people
every tenth year thereafter in considera-
ton or the plague being stayed
Nearly two hundred delicately tinted
ficm stereopticon. OF these pictures. the
landscapes in and about the village and the
pertraits OF characters In the play were the
nom the drama, in which groups of peo-
pie appeared: were not so satisfactory. IL
eeing dift1cuit to distinguish individuals.
MI. Feicht has portraits of the various
villagers who take part in the production
and companion pictures OF them In their
respective characters. These were notably
fine. Three peculiar pieces of music said
TO have been obtained from Oberammer-
gau where they are used in the Passion
flay, were rendered by the orchestra at
appropriate times in the lecture. The most
Interesting of these We're THE Song of
solomon or the Lament of the Bride"
played while the tableau of that title was
on the screen, and the impressive dirge-
like number given when the crucifxion
was shown. Accompanying a handsome
picture of synagogue Did chant was
rendered by young woman brought here
from Dayton for the purpose A powerful
testimonial 10 the merit OF Mr.. Feicht's
lecture and of the accompanying pictures
was the fact that the audience sat I'm al
NEST deathlike silence throughout the two
hours the affair continued. AS some one
aLtly expressed IT, THE audience was too
deeply absorbed TO think OF applauding. =
The success OF last nights lecture In
cuced messrs. Myers and Zeigier TO engage
M. Feicht for another appearance at the
GRAND next Sunday night