New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-11
FRENCH " PASSION PLAY"
Finest Religious Open dir Perform
ance Yet GiUen IN France.
Nancy. June 3

Nancy. June Is.
The first performance of the French Passion
Play" took place Sunday in the vast court
yard near st. Josaph's Church in this strong
hold Of advanced republicanism, in the presence
OF 1880 enthusiastic spectators. II was de-
cided success. The French Passion Play IS
constructed the lines as that OF the
famous miracle tragedy of Oberammergau, but
the dramatic effect is heightened by the greater
concentration and nervous intensity of the
French temperament and by the more artistic
arrangement Of costumes and scenery. The per-
Torrance begins at $50 IN the morning and lasts
until o'clock in the afternoon, with recess or
two hours at noon for luncheon and repose- II Is
the finest religious open air drama yet given IN
France. 1t Will be repeated every Sunday untN
October. The final representation is announced
for Sunday, September %. Five hundred actors,
actresses. singers. figurantes and musicians. all
of whom with one solitary exception, are re-
cruited from the devout Catholic parishioners Of
ST. Joseph's Church. Of Nancy, take part in the
performances, and are drilled and directed by
leading artists from the Opera and the Opera
Comique, of Paris
Owing to the present conflict between the
Combes Cabinet and the Vatican. this Catholic
revival in the midst of the population of East
ern France, which comprises the most radical
republican voters of the nation, has great time
of ST Joseph's Church, Of Nancy, who organ
lied the French Passion Play" with the object
of raising the $4,000 needed to complete the
sum Of 100000 expended on the reconstruction
of the parish church, disclaims any idea Of max
ing a political propaganda The able has care
fully avoided any illusions to the present anti
clerical campaign. and the text OF the play con-
tains nothing that can be construed as offensive
to the Jews. The able says: Instead of ac-
centuating the treason OF Judas. I have pre-
scented many eXtenuating circumstances in his
favor, and 1 have preseE ed him so sincerely re-
pentant Of his duphcity and so tortured by re-
morse that the public regard him as subject
for genuine compassion"
The French Passion Play" at Nancy Is GER
tainly we'll worth seeing. 1t lacks the media
val religious fervoC Of the "Passionspiel' OF
Oberammergau. but as an artistic presentation
of the drama of Golgotha It IS OF greater in
terest. The authorities of Oberammergau gave
Able Petit permission to use the general the
atrical directions OF their famous mystery play.
and to reproduce six Of its principal scenes.
namely THE Last Supper" The Betrayal"
The Despair of Judas" THE Dispute Between
the High Priest Caiaphas and Pontius PLATE"
and The Terrors of the Pharisees at the Foot
Of the Cross" Two additional scenes. those of
the "Crucifxion" and of Mary Magdalen," are
taken from the mystery play Of Abb6 Jouin,
and the others written by Abba Petit
himself who. nevertheless. follows in all his
presentations and scenic effects the inspirations
and traditions of Oberammergau.
The Saviour IS admirably impersonated by q
citizen of Luneville-the only one OF the actors
who does not belong TO the parish Of st. Joseph.
1t is an artistic, realistic effort. equal 10 the
finest performances to be seen at the decenniaI
plays in Bavaria The nann-s OF the actors
kept secret, in Difference to thei9 swn wishes and
to those OF the religious community TO which
they belong. The play is excellently mounted.
The costumes were selected in Paris, under the
direction Of the opera ComiQue. and upon the
models the women OF Nancy worked during the
winter months. Rehearsals have taken place
| almost daily since March 10. and the actors
know their parts perfectly. and the performance
runs smoothly as II It given Mt one Of
the great subsidized nations theatres Of the
capital.
The play is given in a vast courtyard, capable
of seating $500 spectators. An enormous can
vas awning covers the auditorium. protecting
! the spectators from sun rain The stage IS
| 20 feet by 30 feet, and is framed In "A sort Of
Greek temple, with Doric columns. The scenery
was made in Paris by the artisans of the Opera.
Among the most effective scenes are those Of the
tribune Of Poutius PLATE. the olive grove
| Golgotha and the house Of Simon. The chorus
ways the stage and. as in the tragedies OF
ancient Greece, accompanies the performance
! with chants of explanation or OF comment.
A pleasing feature OF the Nancy Passion
| Play Is the graceful and realistic manner In
which the living pictures of the Old Testament
are produced, and which, at Oberammergau
give in the prologue forecast Of the events of
the Saviours life and crucifxion- The entrance
Of Christ into Jerusalem, riding upon the she
ass and followed by the populace, is very i'm
posing The cruCiflxion is given even more re-
astically than at Oberammergau. and a con-
| cealed pocket Of red liquor Stimulating blood is
! pierced by the spear Of the Roman centurion
and trckles down from the Saviour's left breast
as is depicted IN Albert Dtrer's famous painting
| That the French are born actors has never been
more forciby eXemplifed than in this impressive
| solemnity of the Passion Play" which during
| the summer months will attract thousands Of
! visitors to Nancy. Hotel accommodations are
| good here the table is choice and abundant
| tickets for the performance vary from 10 cents
| to 50 apiece. according to situation, and Nancy
| affords convenient halfway station for Amer
| lean tourists proceeding to Paris from Germany
! or Switzerland or in the opposite direction
C. L B.