The Wasp — May 15, 1880 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# The Illustrated Wasp - "The Passion Play" Controversy This page features a letter from Salmon Morse defending his theatrical production of "The Passion Play" against religious objections. The controversy centered on whether depicting Christ's crucifixion on stage blasphemed Christian faith. Morse argues that his play educates audiences and honors rather than mocks religious sentiment. He defends artistic freedom against what he characterizes as religious censorship, noting that opposition came from a "San Francisco preacher" and religious organizations seeking to suppress the production. The letter reveals deep 19th-century tensions over theatrical representation of sacred subjects, censorship by religious institutions, and competing claims about what constitutes respectful versus offensive religious expression. The Wasp, as a satirical publication, likely sided with artistic liberty against clerical authority.