The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-25

For, while il is not in form or music the
style of the ballet, it's appeal to the sense
is far more direct, and its use OF the at
tractive charms of women to give stimula-
ton TO the scene is one of the most power
ful that has ever been put upon the stage
The scene is the garden of the magic
palace OF klnssor The wizard mas s SUM
queen of his bevy of damsels. and COM
mands her to cause the downfall OF Farsi
fall who is already seen approaching in the
distance. Then he calls his knights 10 de-
fend themselves. but Parsfal soon puts
them TO flight. The tower whence the ma
gician has issued his orders now sinks from
sight and In its place arises a magic flower
garden, where every color and every sight
is calculated 10 soothe the senses-and
steel them.
Parsifal leaps from a wall into the midst
of this, and as he does so a number or beau
tiful damsels in the lghtest attire rush on
the stage and bewail the loss of their play
mates. the aforesaid knights. Then they be-
hold Parsifal and determine TO try their
Establishments on him. They flirt with him.
they disappear in the arbor and return at
tired in flowers and seek TO tempt him. Far
sifal is at first childishly delighted
But Parsifal remains unyielding and is
about to depart about his business when the
voice of Kundry is heard calling, Parsifal,
remain The girls depart with backward
fling at the guileless fool and leave him at
Kundry's mercy.
TEMPTATION RESISTED.
Kundry is an artist. She begins by seek
ing to secure Parsifars confidence. She tells
him of his mother, of his childhood, and at
last when the man sinks at her feet in grief
she bends over him to give him the last kiss
of a mother and the first kiss of love. This
kiss makes Parsifal clairvoyant. He under
stands the temptation TO which Amfortas
fell. he becomes 'by pity enlightened He
pushes Kundry angrily away. Her cries
bring Klingsor the scene and from the
castle wall he hurls the sacred spear ar
Parsifal The weapon flies, but remains
suspended above the knights head Parsi-
fal grasps it, makes the sign of the cross
and Kundry, flower girls, Klingsor and
castle disappear before the holy sign. In
their places appear blooming. health giving
ism is complete, the magic power of dark
ness has been quelled Parsifals work is
half done and the curtain falls on the sec
ond act.
When the curtain rises on the third act
it is again a scene IN front of the Grails-
burg. Parisfal approaches clad In full armor
and GurnemanZ, now an old man, re-
Friday. Kundry, too, appears, not as the
enchantress, but As the faithful servant of
the knights of the Grail. who has been
rescued from magic power.
When Parsifal disarms Gurnemanz recog-
nizes him, as well as the holy spear, knows
that the time for the release of Amfortas
from his sin and wound approaches. hundry
washes Parsifal's feet as Mary of Magdala
did those of Christ, and dries them in the
same manner, with her hair. Then Grune-
MANI pours the holy oil upon Parsifars
head and anoints him king, and Parsifal
fulfills his first duty as head of the knights
of the Grail by baptizing Kundry. He now
desires to be led to Amfortas, and Gurne
MANI tells him that the Grail is to be un-
yelled once more that day.
The scene again changes TO the hall, and
the procession of the knights is again seen.
Amfortas is borne into the hall, but when
the time comes for him to unveil the Grail
he refuses to prolong his life by gazing
on ii again He tears open the bandage
on his wound and asks for death. feeling
that in reality he is the brink of it.
Parsifal approaches and touches the wound
with the spear point, which glows blood
red. The wound closes and is healed.
He then takes the Grail from its resting
place, and as it CLOVIS in purple splendor,
he elevates it above the knights. A dove
descends and hovers over his head. Kundry
sinks slowly at his feet, lifeless. Amfortas
and Gurnemanz do homage on thier kness
to the new king and the voices of the choir
in the dome almost inaudibly chant the
miracle of redemption.