PASSION PLAY.

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 111, 6 November 1929, Page 4

PASSION PLAY.

A pticurised version of the famous* Oberam* mergau Passion Play will be screened at thi Town Hall 011 Monday evening nest. Th* production of this play upon the screen is* another example of the value of motion nic-5 turcs. The Passloif Flay has survived tod centuries at Oberammergau; thousands oS visitors attend its preformance, which take* pace every tenth year. Pilgrims travel b* all means from every part of Europe to wttnes'il it. ?>ow through the screen, it Is being pre»' sented to a world-wide audience. The origin/ of the play, which represents the sufferings of Christ, was a vow made by the villagers in the Middle Ages, with the hope of staylne a, plague that was raging. Each performance of the plaj- lasts nine hours, and 70» actors, all belonging to the village, appear in the large open-air theatre, which wlllholcl 6000 spectators. The performances are re*garded by the villagers as solemn acts of religious worship. The principal parts usualbi belong to certain families and are heriditary.! It is only natural that the part: of Chris* should be regarded as one of the greateßtt honours, while it is a disgrace not to ob al!<nre» to take part in the play. Considering thaV screen work was new to the players, the per* formances are splendid, and some of the mob> scenes are especially fine. .--. The manner oft production, which was without the elaDoratif • equipment of the studios of Hollywood* Etetreej and Germany, has a distinct charm. Ther* will be only one opportunity of seeing thi* woria-famous play. The bor plaa-ls now-t>pe^ at The Bristol Piano Company.