THE PASSION PLAY.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8164, 19 April 1895, Page 3

THE PASSION PLAY.

Mr Walter Bontley, who as an actor has earned the admiration of tho people ac Homo and abroad, but particularly in the colonies, appeared in tho Publio I\\\\ last evening in A comparatively new role. Mr Bentley has been described as the finest actor that h-ts ever viaitod the colonies, nnd ho has made a reputation for himself as a popular and entertaining lecturer. Mr Bentley's abilities as actor and lecturer pre-eminently equip him for the work he is now engaged upon, and it would be invidious' to institute comparisons between Mr Bentley's "David Garrick 'and his "Passion Play.' Tlioro is, probably, no man who ha? % deeper or truer regard for the drama as an educator ; and few men have dono more professionally to make the stage perform this, the highest attribute of jta existence ; (or on iho stage Mr Bent ley has both displayed the genius of on actor of the first water, and defended its tendency against calumny and. rtprosoh. "Tho Passion Play" gives Mr jJentley ample scone for [he display pf his genius and histrionip powers, and many— there was a good house— who were present at the Publio Hall last night divided their admiration between the actor and the exhibition o( the most remarkable " mystery" now extant. Some, however, are apt to regard tho representntion of religious subjects upon the stage with disfavor ; but the religious play was in the middle ages esteemed as tho best means of inspiring religious thought and belief. They were very popular in all tbe countries of Europe ; and were as popular In France, Germany, Spain, and Italy »s in

England. Indeed the " moralities, in which the Virtues and Vices wero personified, were the precursors o f tho drama of Sh*kespoire. The Basques and Bavarians have contimud those representations? with unwavering fidelity. When those pinya are not made irreverent — even god things can bo abusod and scandalised— thiy often, in the 1-inguago of Luther himself, "d<> moio good and produce more impression thin Rormoiiß. ' The miraclei)!xy wft<>, indeed, encouraged by the oarly 'roteetdfifc Church, and Milton s''Puradiso Lost" vv(\h in ita original form a sicred dr-unn. To this day in tho Ca»holio regions of Germany the mtpclo-play '8 ptrformed, and tho inhabitants of CborAmmorgau "on the O'sswion of h grout plague vowod to po'form e«ory tomh ye<r tho Passion of our Swimir out of gratitude and aa a moans of religious instruction." As "\ resul' the p oplo ol this village a o in a general w,iy bnior oluoited in religious subjects than in any part of Kurupp, ai.d this '• Pnsaion Phy" is to thorn "truly dovout and eHfying." Tha players havo bt'tn cons-orate I to tlioir work by prayer, andaoohosen for tho performaiictibucau^e of their doeprelifjioiifl instinct and belief. Tho narra ive of tho Now Testament In strio ly ndhmod to. To witness tho variom BCi-nffl depicted with tiu'h and heauly in tho * xhibition given In tho Pubbolltll last night mid to hoar (he refined and impmslonod utterances of Mr Boutley could not fail to mnke n deep an 1 lasiing improssion upon tho miri'la and coiisoienc-v <if iho audience. The picture*, whereby Mr Bentley's discourse is illustrated, aco of rare exofllono* 1 , but were hardly aq well shown as thoy might havo been. Thu mot it of the entertainment—if it can be en led n enturtainment — inks in f o insignilicmco besido tho theme pourtrayol. ami verily it may bo siid in tho mind of Lather tli.it its representation is woMh >\ p >wi>r of ■ormons. The eff ot of Mr B'ntley'n elocution was deoponcdand intensified by Misn Brandon's singing of ••Olivary" (Miss Bndoti'd voioc, howovor, is not altogether suita 1 la to tho flinging of stored solo). •' Palm Sunday," and " Tho Holy City." The performance taken hs & wholo id worthy the respeob, atteritio'i, and admiration of tho public.