THE PASSION PLAY

Grey River Argus, 10 May 1930, Page 5

THE PASSION PLAY

VILLAGERS' VOW Kept; for the Centuries (Aus. and N Z. Cable Assn.) BERLIN; 'May S. An Oberammergau rqport stftl f s) that the villagers in this tiny Bava’-I ian town have again showed the devotion with which, they fulfil Ihe sol-j emu vow of theiir ancestors 298 years, ago, when the plague was ragting, represent the Passion of Christ, every* b‘c:ido 1 'i’l.p final preparation at the new t heal io in propitiation for Sunday's official opening, ws’.s'witnesscdi by th'J •.'" ; t*;re Bavarian, G'overnmc'nty } the Papal Nuncio, and eelebritle.s from aIL . of thp world. 'The fluttering dostumes of players, the crucified figure on the Cross, am hl drizzling rain and dark’ scurrying clouds over the towering' mountains was a most effective Bigh Every third inhabitant of the vil-| lage participates in the performance. There .are 550 on stage, in choir or orchestra., and 200 as stage hands. Despite the financial complications i'L vcLed in presenting the- play under m odern conr 'it ions—t he new theat re, alone cost £sD.OOOi—there .is < evidence of the original religions intention being mnintaintd in spirit ns well as in form. There are 5.500 beds for strangers in the village of 210(i inhabitants. j A journalist spoke to Alois Lang.: who is Christus. A gentle, lovable! man. he was tired after the l° n g rp_t i henrsai. “It is anxious work.” ho sri'd sadly. “There arc unpaid re, hoarsals nil the winter evenings. I’-j •he daytime T do wood carving. 1, now have the loading part, and hope to get a good pricn, for oven d Christus. ■ must live. AV P have four —j teen boarders to-morrow. “Tie gets no rest,” broke in hi c J stout wife, who was accompanied by five dachshunds. Halfway down the village was the l.igh priest Cafaphas, shooing a horse, lie is a big handsome follow, with a. black board. “No one loves Cainphas,” ho stated. “I’ve played the part twice,, but my son he- plays th? angel at. the tomb, which is hotter. Other Actors Interviewed ! NOTHING THEATRICAL. (Received Afay .) nt 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN. May 8. The journalist at Obermmcrgan, continuing his enquiries, found across th.*? strev’t there was the “A 7 irgin| Alne.t ’’ busy at her Ihousework in; overalls. She had her long fair hair J tuj Iked r.way. ‘ * You are- voulng for, th,, part?” said the journalist. “Yes.” she replied. “At the Crucifixion the A’irgin was fifty. I’m no; y.<t twenty-three, but. only unmarried women under thirty can par • t ic.ipato, in the Passion Play. People! say I will marry some rich American, but I never will. 1 will not have Oberammergau. I play'd in the Crowd when I was undpr four years of ago. A T ou’l! excuse me. AV? are! expecting sixteen boarders tomorrow. ’ r At. the end of the street wa • “Saint John,” busy with a paint| brush. Tie said: “I am glad the real play is coming. I am tired of the rehearsals. ’ ’ “Perhaps,” sugge,sted the journalist. “you will some day go to America to enter the films?” Ho replied: “Never. AVo have had big. offer-. Imt no one at Oberammergau wot rid do such a thing. Put I mustn’t stay gossiping. AA'o have twenty boarder-: coming to-morrow.”