Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-08
BIBLICAL PLAYS.

According TO an article IN the cur
rent number Of the Literary Digest, a
considerable list Of Biblical plays will
be presented during the coming dra-
matte season. The fact has caused
some comment IA the religious press ~
the country. and the experiment will be
watched with interest, Religious plays
were not unknown during the middle
ages when church influence permeated
every part Of society Painters and
soulptors have In all ages awaited
themselves 81 the grand themes pre-
scented in sacred literature. Musicians
have produced some OF the most soul
stirring harmonies on religious themes.
and even architecture has reared
some Of is most sublime and imposing
forms IN the service Of religion. Why
should not the dramatic art also re-
celve It's best inspiration from the
scriptures? There Is no reason why
there should not be dramatic writer's
capable Of doing for the dramatic art
what Handel, Bach. Mendtlssohn, Mo-
cart. and others. have done for music.
These are some Of the religious dra-
mas that are announced. Tyrone
Power win appear IN play which has
been made out Of Marie Corellrs novel
"Barrabas." "Mlzpah" which is the
Joint product OF Ella Wheeler Wilcox
and Luscombe soarelle. will be present
ed in Chicago. II is the scripturh
story Of Esther. the Jewish girl VINO
became the bride Of Ahasuerus. 'Pil-
grim's Progress is also definitely an
nounced tor the next season. Hen
rietta Crosman is TO play the role OF
Christian. And there are some others
ON the Est
/, is stated that the interest IN the
religious drama IL not confined TO this
country. In Germany a new religious
rlay. written by a clergyman, Robert
Fake. has made quite a hit II is
based on the life Of st. Paul and II tho
prediction Of critics can be- relied on
the play viii be a rival to the famous
Oberammergau Passion play.
The Literary Digest gives the follow
ing synopsis Of this drama;
'"The first act shows Saul Of Tarsus'
fierce. fanatical Pharisee. prosecuting
tho CHRISTIANS. His only weakness Is
his love FOR a Christian maiden, and II
early becomes clear that her influence
Tlll shane his future. In the second
act ne Il Paul. The miraculous con-
version on the way 10 Damascus IL not
portrayed. bui II IS made known that
the Christian girl has been praying LOT
him and that he has been smitten win
blindness IN answer 70 her lntereeu-
ing. ,a-.
"The third act the most magnificent
IN the play. laid In Athens eliminates
In a scene Of preaching. Two hundred
persons appear in this scene-Greek
priests. philosophers, worshipers OF
beauty--all affected by the new teach
ing OF the great apostle 20 the Gentiles.
The highest development Of the art
OF staging is said 20 have been en-
ployed in making this scene one Of the
most impressive. and az the same time
one OF the most beautiful OF the mod
ern stage
oThe fourth act shows Paul In the
barracks OF the Pretorian oohort at
Rome. while Nero is Caesar. II also
has a magnificent setting, and In the
speeches OF the apostle and the CEN
turion, the language Is eminently
classic IN It's dignity and elevation
Nero Is the center Of interest In the
last act. In which the family OF Rome
ls reproduced. This act has been
criticized because the terror and
grandeur Of the setting throw into the
shade Paurs martyr death.
II IS quite possible that this revival
Of interest 90 Biblical plays will have
good results. but not unless the plays
are written and interpreted in the same
shirt with which the great painters
and sculptors, and composers Of re-
Ileious works undertook their tasks
The great masses Of the people do not
study the Bible a. diligently as could
be desired The theaters might become
pfblloal schools. and the actors and
actresses the interpreters OF the most
lofty sentiments ever uttered. There
are vast possibilities in this direction
and II they are made use Of the thea
iers VIII be places OF instruction as
iii .s ,U,usrfnenf