PASSION PLAY OF OBERAMMERGAU

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 7

PASSION PLAY OF OBERAMMERGAU

PICTURES FOR HIS MAJESTY'S

This has very rightly been called the world’s wonder play. It was born in fear and grief from a reverent vow made nearly 300 years ago, and has survived the ravages of time. Over 700 people take part in this play. Early in the morning in that little village of Oberammergau, in the Bavarian Alps, these people will be seen wending their way through the quaint little village, with its green shutters and coloured roofs, to the church, where they remain for some time absorbed in their part of the play. At 8 a.m. a cannon booms forth and the curtain rises. The play continues through a fine series of tableaux and acts until 12 o’clock, when an intermission of one hour and forty-five minutes is taken for lunch. At 1.45 the play is resumed as the cannon again booms forth. Not until 6 o’clock in the evening do the closing scenes come with the great scene of the Ascension, and the great day of the representation of that stupendous tragedy of the Cross is at an end. The theatre holds about G,OOO spectators. The seats are only hard hoards, with another hard board for a back rest,' but so enraptured is the audience that it is quite unmindful of the passing moments. It is not run for financial gain, and the people are not greedy for money. They welcome the stranger, and advertise 4,000 beds and 1,500 clean straw ticks for their use, while they themselves sleep in barns and collars, halls and lofts such as they can find. At evening time it is interesting to see this little village of 1,700 people transferred into a large populace. Some leave tho great theatre and go up into the mountains alone to pray, others wander aimlessly round their rooms and around the streets without taking food, and spend much of the night in prayer. Why is it so? They have been witnessing the world’s greatest drama, the ‘ Passion Play of Oberammergau.’ The box plan is now open at The Bristol, and in view of the crowded houses in other centres tho management advises all to book, as there is no extra charge.: