tion of the beautiful Passion Play. PREPARATIONS for the new produc- given every year in Amelica by a group of young people a few miles from New York. have disclosed this year a most interesting story—almost an Mill—'— which is woven around one of the young women who plays the part of Ruth in this splendid religious spectacle. Every year for some time past this Passion Play. now being presented. and which is better known asv "Veronica's Veil," has been staged by the young people of a Catholic parish near Hoboken. New Jersey. Although all the players are ama- ' teurs. so much attention has been given to this annual production that it ranks as a spectacle worthy of drawing spectators from almost every part of the country—- some coming every year, from as far away as San Francisco. There are changes each year in the cast of players, of course—some ‘ grow out of tllelr parts"-others move away to other neighborhoods, just as the players in Ger- many's Oberammergau gradually disappear from year_ to year. Bur many of these young people have been seen in the huge cast of players often enough to become familiar to their audiences. Among thzese is one young woman who for four years has interpreted the part of Ruth, one of the principal characters. She is a very beautiful Ruth. Many have asked about her only to be told that she is the daughter of a family in modest cir- cumstances and that she is a salesgirl in a costume shop on the New York side of the Hudson river. Perhaps she would ob- ject to being called just an ordinary sales- WOlnall now, for of late years slle has risen to be a “designer" of some of the costuilles her employers sell. Real Truth About Her Disclosed at Last With this scant information lnqulrers have had to be content-Jar the individual players in the-Passion Play are not cm- phasized. But many interesting things ‘might have been told to all who asked about this beautiful young Ruth. It is only this year that everything has become known. This Ruth is Miss Mildred Taberckl— she is not yet twenty years old, yet she has been one of the Passion players for several years, earning better parts each year until at last she was chosen to lmper- . sonata Ruth herself. Ruth is a most important character in the stage development of the legend upon which “Veronica's Veil" is founded. It is a character that requires ability to express deep emotions. to portray the passion, grief. Joy and vicissitudes of the daughter of theIHigh Priest pf Jerusalem.- The most gifted star'of poo professional stage might ~ well givisuch'a‘part long study and might well be comforted if she achieved a worthy ‘uccess. Little Miss mum-ea, wileso only Itage training has been under the parish priqt who dimcto the elect (lg of the bean. tiful ope-tools. has won so much applause brlifil' ng impersonation that many unions producers of attractions for the regular page have sought, year after year, her consent to their plans to make a then- ter star of her. One manager. whose name in a byword amdng those who talk of the chm. has pleaded with her, to allow him 0:0 “blaze her name in electric lights scrolls a“ continent.“ He has declared that in on his searching for talented- young women. worthy of sol-ions dramatic mew ' lief never touch oco who hell the m «it u M! tutor. in little Miss m vlerahle wonder at this. There has been consid- The manager men- tioned above declared his willingness to pay her what would be. to her, an enor- mous salary—mounting into hundreds every week. Even in her new position as a “designer" Mildred earns much less than half of $100 each week. Her parish priest asked her recently. when he again designated her to enact Ruth this year, why she had not gone out to become famous—and rich. “i am afraid, Father.’ if [should go on the real stage I would learn too much of life—that I would no longer be. good enough to’be Ruth." Simple, Unaffected Reply Reveals Dramatic Element In these days of sophistication there is every element of the drama in this simple. unaffected reply to the questioning of the priest. A problem play might be written around the state of mind of a young girl, a girl who is modern and vivacious and vital; who has met the circumstances of life as a counter salesgirl and whorls so worldly that she is of value as a de- signer of the lnodlsh garments sought by the young women of to-day; who might be a Cinderella if she would only try on the slipper—but who, neverthe- less; renounces the slipper—which sym- bolizes the fortune that might be here‘- that her mind may remain attuned to the gentle emotions of the .daughter of the High Priest. A satire. too. might be composed—- with an illuminating climax. It would be a satire upon the satirists. For surely the refusal of this young girl to accept a huge weekly salary as a theater star because she fears she would learn more of the gayeties of modern life than would be good for Ruth to know is a satire upon the criticism of the modern girl which is so popular among many persons to-day. There might be written. too, a melo- drama in which some unknown unex- pected hero comes to reward with hislove and his palaces the self-denying young heroine who prefers her dreams to what might be realities if she would but reach for them. And if this melodrama were written the hero might be a motion picture star. a young man who is just earning him celebrity. For Miss Mildred! frankly admits that she is deeply in love with her favorite cf the screen. A him, you know," she naively explains. "That is, I have never seen him‘ in the flesh. Just on the scream But I'm really, very much in love with him. He's so hand some and splendid!" ‘ Remains a Real Girl 7 Despite Her Anbitions “I am atraid,.Father. if I should go once on the real stage I would learn too much of Life—that I would no longer be good enough to be Ruth." It is difficult to realise that the young woman who speaks of her willingness to forego' luxuries that she may continue to portray a character in archarlty play is the same one whose eyes glisten with eager lights as she confesses that her ideal is a movie maul '- It is the more remarkable when it is 4150070?“ that the young woman's mother an unhcaring ear. 70:“ ago was a concert singer of colloid. ; arable reputation. The mother know the 2 To m of thfiflwl mum has turned ‘ stage and its people from infancy. She would not be unwilling to have her douch- ur follow in her own footsteps. Six years ago Miss Mildred made he! first appearance in the cast of "Venom ”Of course I've never seen' The great picture . above shows the Emperor’s favorite dancing girls celebrating the casting of Christians to the wild beasts. ~ Mia Mildred Tabercki is the central picture. The picture at ‘ right shows Mia Mae Maya... who enacts ‘ Miriam in “Veronica’s Veil." Veil " selected to “I“ 3 place among the says. "I think if I should be passed by it older children who h’elp form the back- would be a tragedy from which I'd never- '. ““1. ground for the principal characters. She recover. l have been asked to sign papers W38 "1'! his”! when aha was chosen. tor which would guarantee me from two to this was decidedly a mark o'f honor. . an years of appearances in regui‘ r the- The cast is selected anew each year. goers, under famous managers with In One of the parish priests. Father Bernard, enormous salary. but always I have looked the spiritual director of the spectacle, forward to the time when the 'Pualon watches carefully o'er the young people Playl would be called for its first re- ot his parish and each your subjects his hear-ail. and I hgve pictured mu a hilt candidates for a role in the play to a rigid being there among thoseJ'sthor Barnard examination. only those who no the moat W400i! eunuch to- at. part- Th0 worthy—those whose character is the most very “prospect would frllhton 1M- 1 would approved and those who have mecsmpd send word to the theta-teal people (hit up to high requimmenb—ero chosen. they mustn't bother me any more." Hany who are selected your fall from grace and are ”consume next m ”0 Molten]: Involvfi, . i After two seasons W was amen 7.7M; PIQM for LWC 0‘ 1“, toportreyxnthf' Itmquitetheploaunt— Otcoumliunildrodga‘insnomonoy estdayofheryoungtifo. “ ' byhermeeeafuldn' " oftherolo anus. momma-coon: purer-an. Mummm sincethonllivballyearwonder- Jugglwuihukedlailbyhthercon- mdtoboonoofhisplnyors—cadifxmn MMWMUnMong, _mumWM«-mm unb- - tron-1w 'al resources furnish the' elaborate costumes. The play continues throughout Lent, be- ginning with the first day of the season. and the audiences gather from many dis. tant cities. The production is not so widely heralded as the Oberammergau spectacle in Germany, but those who have seen both declare “Veronica's Vill" is quite as well worth a long journey to see as the older production. The young men and women who'make up the cast are mostly workers. Each has an once. a shop or a desk to go to daily. But each is spiritually earnest and apple elation of the honor won in being chosen to be a part of the beautiful religious spectacle in suincient for reward. The play was written eight years ago by one of the parish priests who intended it as a novelty of the semen. The spiritual requirements of the players are of unique interest. The only parallel in history is the odd ed. dowment fund established in France by Montyon, the rich recluse. who. when he died. left his entire estate to be used the foundation for the annual reward of to the “most worthy girl in France." The members of the French Academy were named as executors of this unique b e q u e s t. Each year. except dur- ing the recent war. *these g r a v e academi- clans have pompously assembled at Paris and have summoned before them the- hundreds of candidates‘France pro- vides each year for the much coveted prize. a dower T h e candidates a r e chosen-by lo cal com- mittees in the different . provinces. Before these committees the young women must pass rigid examinations. They must be recommended by their priests or other religious in- structors. Thefiesidents of their town or district must indoree them. They must hays the good will of the School authorities and the Mayor or Prefect must certify also to their extraordinary good character, It was not definitely stated that virtue one was to be the measure by which these young women were to be judged—but cus- torn has required that the worthiness of the young women chosen as candidates be proven by their moralities as well as i deeds. ”13:21: of muffiretectures. or districts, candidate eventually is chosen. She then is escarted to Paris. where. with those from other districts. she is. presented to the conunittee of the Academician. It is the solemn to choose the one most worthy and to make her happy with a dowry can to set her [wt for all France to honor by their award. Girl (to: Found Each Year " Because of Requirwcnu lthaanotboenoveryuartheAwleml- clanshavebeenabio to performtbeirduty. abnoyenrohavopnflodwhenthereseemed “hemmmwhomanrod to the mm “it...” the m Thiewisnobofeounqaredectionupen“ tho young women .‘of Franco—it meant oniykthat no one! than, macaw 9 mm ,__mm_oamr_ ammmumumi the veil was returned to her. the spiritual director of “Veronica‘s Veil." are comparable to those of thr-se Acazlentl~ clans of France. They differ only in th;: the priest has his candidates around him, under his constant observation. watches them carefully, guards them an: encourages them in the development of the many, little traits of goodness which he alone can detect. He knows their petty troubles, their disappointments and their hopes. He knows. too. if there is a love affair that is not promiseful of happiness. that is not founded on true values. He knows when'to interrupt a romance as well as when to encourage one. it is not only Ruth he must mold each year—bu! his other characters as well. Miss bias tie -Meyers who portrays the sister of Ruth. Miriam, and who is. therefore, the vi:- lainess of the spectacle. also is one of his favored players. Hers is a thankless part. yet she has endowed it with an interpreta- tion that stands out in clear relief as markedly as does that of her stage sister. Ruth. She is a villainess only for the few weeks of Lent. each year. Other weeks she lives in hope that again, next yaw. Father Bernard will find her as worthy and as preferable for the part over all the others. Viewpoint Not Warped Because of Her Ambition One might “veil think that perhaps 1 young woman under such close observation and fired with such modest ambitions would become warped—perhaps somewhat narrow. That is not to be said of Miss Mildred, however. usual girl. ' She likes the movies, especially if they disclose to her admiring and eager eves her favorite star. She does not care s: much for the legitimate stage, upon which she might, if she wished, he a popular lead- ing woman. She enjoys dancing. Airliner guilty, mischievous smile plays about be.- silent lips when she is asked if she does not enioy the most ultra modern steps. The play itself is something of strange. irresistible beauty to her. The narrative of Veronica, a woman of Jerusalem, who stood by the roadside watching the weary journey of Christ under the weight of the cross 0n the road to Calvary. is new to her each year. She lives over again in her imagination the emotions of. the woman who spontaneously offered her veil tha: Christ might wipe his forehead, and who saw the miracle of the red imprint when She believes implicitly in the legend of the veils power to protect its owner. Actually Lives the Part Created 2,000 Years A go She has so earnestly endeavored to per- fect herself in her portrayal of Rum that when she impersonatee the High Priest's daughter she is virtually living in the at- She remains a mes: an.” 0‘ “1°“ 811170 scholars, mosphere of that time. 2,000 years am). when the real Ruth lived and went about 7 her daily aflairs. The success of the Passion Play as an annual event has been amazing. Its fame ‘iias spread far beyond the little parish which inspired it. Its influence has spmd likewise. This year it is to be more lav: ishly staged than ever. There are many new players in the cast and many of the favorite ones of other years. Of these players there are may in- teresting things that might be cold—as ro- » workable as this revelation of the straw devotion to modest umb'itlon which actu~ ates the impersonator of Ruth. These things. however. belong to the unwritten history of the “behind the mes” oLtllo I: venture. and to tell them all would rob the spectacle of much of tq W me"-
Norwalk Chronicler