New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
Great Irrational
Pilgrimage Play"
Staged in Canyon
Hopes of Hundreds of All
Creeds Are Realized i'm
Production Telling Story
of Christ's Entire Life

Production Telling Story
of Christ's Entire Life
The hopes and plans of hundreds of
people of all sects and churches, people
from all parts of the United States
who have worked earnestly for many
months, were realized when the first
public production Of the "National Pill
grimage Play" was given in the natu-
rel amphitheatre in Ell Canine Real
Canyon, situated at the Los Angeles
end of Cahuenga Pass out in the Holly
wood hills of California;
The National Pilgrimage Play" un-
like the famous passion Play" Of
ooerammergau, was not confined 10 the
last week of Christ's life on earth, but
began with prophesies of His coming
and Herod's fear, and then. following
Faithfully the story of the Gospels,
continued the chronicle through the
Resurrection and Ascension.
The immense natural thcater in Ell
Canine Real Canyon, which is aces
sible to all by electric cars or by motor
has seating capacity of 900. More
could have been provided. but the ven
ture was to awaken interest in the
Gospel and not for money making pur-
poses.
Workers Stop to Rehearse
For many weeks persons passing
near the mouth of the canyon, where an
entrance way has been erected in exact
duplication of the old gates of Jeru-
salem. have wondered at the number Of
people going busily in and out of the
protected inclosurc. Had they been
o. tn ;Dt
would have observed men and women
at work with carpenter tools, shovels
and plckaxes; had they been there
about at o'clock each afternoon they
would have seen the majority of the
workers halt and rest while others of
their number, still clad in overalls
and jumpers, rehearsed their parts in
play which many hope will outshine
the greatest efforts of those wonderful
men and women who made possible the
beautiful spiritual Oberammergau pro-
ductions
Every Word From Bible
The National Pilgrimage Play" con-
talns the story of Christ's entire life
and every word He spoke on earth as
described in the Bible. The four
Gospels of the New Testament have
been so Transcribed that the words of
the greatest spiritual figure that has
appeared on earth in all the ages are
given literally and without alteration
substitution or the introduction of a
single word. The transcription of the
Scriptures was made by Mrs. w. Yorke
Stevenson. who was assisted by Sheldon
Cheney, Brander Matthews, Professor
Baker, of Harvard, and Clayton Hamil-
ton. The first production was under
the direction Of Mrs. Stevenson and
H. Ellis Reed, who was such favorite
in his leading role in "The Light of
Asia" presented some time ago.
The committee in charge of the pres
entatlon is composed of the Right Rev.
Philip NJ. Rhinelander, Episcopal bishop
of Pennsylvania; the Rev. DR.. Edward
Yates Hill, pastor of the Mother Church
Arliss, president of the Actors Church
Alliance; the Right Rev. Joseph II. John
son, Episcopal bishop of Los Angeles;
Miss Violet Oakley, mural decorator;
Clayton Hamilton. author and dramatic
critic; Edward W. Box. until recently
editor of the Ladies Home Journal"
and Mrs. Charlemagne Tower, Mrs. w.
Yorke Stevenson and Mrs. Otis Skinner
Four Main Diversions
The play consists of fourteen
scenes, divided into prologue, two
acts and an epiloeue. In the prologue
the players picture the prophecy of
Christ's coming, Herods fear and
proclamation, the angcl-heralded ma
tlvlty and the coming Of the wise men.
The first act presents the story of the
baptism of Christ by John the Baptist,
His temptations and teachings, the
TRANSPORTATION, miracles and episodes
in His life, including those of Lazarus
and Mary Magdalene. In the second
act the play shows the entrance into
Jerusalem, the Last Supper, Geth-
semane and the trial by PLATE. The
epiiogue tells the story of the death of
Christ, the Resurrection and the AS
cension.
The peculiar topography of the can
yon, constructed so that twenty re-
markedly nature-likc stages have been
built makes possible many soul stirring,
beautiful illusions. The stages are so
constructed that all are invisible to
the audience except the one on which
the illumination is directed. Far up
the hillside, 800 feet from the audi
ence, large pipe organ is installed.
Near by is concealed the choir section
and space for an orchestra of seventy
fivo pieces.
Many actors and actresses of note
are to be found among the 200 people
who appear in the play, but there were
no stars, for it was the desire to have
the play the feature, and not the men
and women who appeared in it.--Los
Anpa1aS TjrreS