Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-11

solemn "hnslne's." ct. Deum is sung
and IN" bells chime. The famous
Easter sequence. "Nictima PaSchall,"
which is given in English with Us
ancient melody in tho English Hym-
nal, belongs 10 the eleventh century
and lends Itself even more TO dra-
matte treatment.
Week Services Dramatic
Christmas and Ascensiontidc also
""r" seasons for plays In church.
but the characterization OF the pas
sion ~ Ob"rammcrgau represents a
Development which u not found til
'h" thirteenth century. though the
ancient HOLY Week services were in
themselves more dramatic than any
Others Ry this time tho mystery
and miraci" plays had reached a high
developments In church. with c"s-
TUNES scenes, many properties and
much business, comic sometimes az
well as serious
Tho drama NOW hogan 10 react
considerably upon the other arts.
especially upon sculpture and paint
ing. Indeed. tho noble ,hitr"cn,h-cen-
fury French statuary at Rheims.
Ami-ns and other churches consists
I" great extent Of portraits, of the
prophets and other scripiuraI fg-
urcs who used To walk mp tho midst
~ the nav" To take their part in
mos" church plays whIrh Yer" so
rHSslpnnt-ly loved 10y IN" peoplc.
Mystery. morality, intrrludc went on
SD" by Sid" and Survived her. and
thor" In England down TO the seven
t""nth century. on IA" Cou,iu"u,
they can still bo seen In other places
besides Ohcram'n"rIau. though on II
smaller sral.
shnkrspcnrr's D-ht.
They disappeared partly owing "a
puritan prejudice. partly owing TO
Elizahethan discretion. anxious 80
hold aloot from those dangerous
subjects politics and religion and
partly owing IN tho triumphant com
p"'ition of tho great Elizahcthan
drarna'iSts "" do not Inherit mod
"rn tragedy from them. FOR The Chris
tan drama Is essentially comedy. hc
caus" Christianity IS optimistic and
requires happy ending But II was
probably because ~ tho medieval
drama that Shakespeare escaped tho
thra lldnm ~ tho classical "unities -
ShakesprHr" WAS not a circumstance"
drama'ist. he was free from tho
pseudo classical rcJantry 20 which
others succumhed, in literature and
in architecture because he built uron
the old popular drama
Now NC arc swinging round again.
Scrip'ur" plays arc common once
NOR" IN English parishes and tho
censor seams 10 have given up his
opposition. BEFORE the war YOU
could not presen, Ahasuerus or job
or ScnnaChcrih upon tho stage he-
cause they are In tho Bible. and the
public Was not allowed 10 witness
moralities II they had a religious
character So the public had some
times 10 he content with Immoral
tics which were more indulsently
treated
But religion and morality are the
most interesting subjects in the
world. az Mr.. shaw and Mrs Gals
worthy have shown us There is
thus great future for drama
that Will deal with the whole y.
life and with mans keen..t aspira
tons and many other playwrights
have h""n preparing the way--Ib-
son and Ma"ter!inck. Mr Yeats. Mr.
Jerome and Lady Gregory. for IN
stance "EaCarheart" Is almost an in
sttr'i"D. ana Mr.. Laurence Hous-
man. who wrote on. ~ the frs, az
modern Nativity Plays is having
some or his new plays about : Fran
els produced by Tho League NJ sr,.