The sun., 1919-12-07
Biblical Spectacle
to Be Presented at
Madison Squ are
Calls for Cast,
Chorus and En-
semble of 5000
Persons
TT is q refreshing thought these
| days to find that the church, to

days to find that the church, to
which Greenwich Village and the
Latin Quarter, our modern art CEN
tres (so-called) are anathema, is pre-
senting art in its highest form.
"The Wayfarer" will be presented at
Madison Square Garden for q five
weeks engagement beginning Decem-
ber' 15. This Biblical superspectacle is
sponsored by the Interchurch World
Movement, an organization which in
cludes all the denominations of the
Protestant Church. .
To appreciate the motive of the
Church in undertaking such radical
departure from its usual practices one
must know little about the history
Of "The Wayfarer"
Last June the Methodists held CEN
tenary out in Columbus, Ohio, and it
was deemed that pageant drama de-
plotting the Triumph OF the Cross
would be an appropriate feature. 1t
was decided that Laurence II. Rich,
young man who had been active during
his four years at Oberlin in produc-
ing college plays and pageants, and
who. to be able to travel and study
the drama as il Is presented in the
various countries on the face of the
earth, became a photographer in con-
nection with the Methodist Missionary
Movement, should undertake the work
Of producing 1t,
In his capacity of art student-pho-
tographer Mr.. Rich visited not only
latter country being especially i'm
pressed by the works OF Reinhardt, but
China, India, Japan and the Holy
Land.
Changed Before Presentation.
The original book of THE Way
farer'' was written by the Rev. DR..
]. r. Crowther at Los Angeles but
was materially changed before its pres
entation by Mr.. Rich. It was also
Mr.. Rich and DR.. Crowther who Sc
lected the best there was in sacred
music to interpret the lyric story of
"The Wayfarer." Among the selec-
tions, which have been welded together
In such a way as to make a complete
opera score, following with artistic
appropriateness the story of the Life
of Christ, include such masterpieces as
Handels GLORY to God" Faure's "The
Palms" Rossinis "Inflamatus ct ac-
census" Macfarlane's "Ho, Every One
That Thirsteth" and Handel's Halle
lujah Chorus"
With this accomplished came the
overwhelming task of designing and
painting the scenery, which was
planned to be an appropriate back
ground for the 5000 and more who
were scheduled to participate in this
giant pageant. For let it be known
that from the Very start Mr.. Rich,
with the vision of a true artist and
the enthusiasm and ambition Of the
Young, had planned to make his pro-
duction on a scale with the grandeur
and scope OF his theme. The scenery,
painted by professionals. was designed
and assembled by Mr.. Rich himself.
And what scenery! It was colossal.
At it's presentation It was reported
that no building In New York was
large enough to set it all UP at once.
After weeks OF preparation the
opening performance was awaited, 1t
must be confessed, not without fear
and trembling by those concerned In
the production of "The Wayfarer."
But perhaps the most amazing thing
about the whole amazing production
was that it scored one OF the most in
stantaneous and overwhelming hits In
the dramatic history Of the country.
After the first night the Coliseum,
which housed the superspectacle, drew
a crowd of 5000 persons night after
night. while other thousands regis
tered protest against the manage
ment because they couldn't get in to
see it.
The success of 1.-THE Wayfarer" was
all the more amazing when one con-