AUDIENCE OF 16,000.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14133, 7 August 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

AUDIENCE OF 16,000.

MAGNIFICENT REPRESENTATION OF SCHILLER'S "JOAN OF ARC."

America is noted for doing things on a huge scale, and she maintained her traditions -when, in the Stadium of Harvard University, was .given the most elaborate, mo3t spectacular, and costliest theatrical performance ever seen in the United States. A combination of Mt. Charles Frohman's London and New York dramatic forces, aided by 1300 undergraduates, presented an English version of \ Schiller's "Joan of Arc," with-Miss Maud Adams as the Maid of Orleans. For years pact there has been a strong movement at Harvard for the encouragement of German art in America, and some months ago Miss Adams suggested to Mr. Frohman that they might help it. Negotiations were opened lip, and it was arranged that Miss Adams should appear in one of the German classics. She chose Schiller*. " Joan or Arc" because for 12 years past she had studied everything connected with the life of La Pucelle.

Preparations were made on the most complete scale, and the result was a perfect triumph. The huge stadium at Harvard, which Is a reproduction, of the Coliseum, was divided into two by groat curtains. One half was the etage, the other the Auditorium, and the vast space gave opportunities for spectacular display of which the very most was made. The play opened with the Maid of Domremy coming over the hill to listen in the twilight to the mystic voices urging her to undertake her country s ealvation. Then the story proceeded on more stirring lines until the great scene of the battle wae reached.

No fewer than. 800 armour-clad soldiers, avalry and infantry, took part in this, together with priests, nobles, etc., and when the Maid appeared, riding the traditiona. white horse and carrying the flag of her faith, while nearlv one ■ thousand troops shouted "The Maid! the Maid!" the effect was electrifying.

In Schiller's version Joan is not burnt at the stake. She talk juet: ae the battle is won, and the death scene made a wonderfully impressive picture in the representation. Breathing a benediction on her King and her country, the heroine quietly passed away, and her body was borne out upon the shields of her chieftains, while an immense invisible orchestra played the ■ funeral march from Beethoven's " Eroica"' Symphony.

So deep an impression did the Boston performance make tfyat an endeavour is to be made to have it repeated in- other parts of the country.