EVE OF PASSION PLAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20560, 10 May 1930, Page 11

EVE OF PASSION PLAY.

OBERAMMERGAU PEASANTS.

BAVARIAN VILLAGE SCENES.

FINAL REHEARSAL HELD

SOLEMN RELIGIOUS SPIRIT

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 9, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN. May 8.

A message from Oberammergau says the inhabitants of that tiny Bavarian village to-day showed once more the devotion with which they fulfil (he solemn vow taken by their ancestors 297 years ago, when the plague was raging, to represent the passion of Christ every 10 years.

The rehearsal in the new theatre of the Passion Play in preparation for the official opening on Sunday was witnessed by all the members of the Bavarian Government, the Papal Nuncio and worldwide celebrities.

The fluttering costumes of the players, the crucified figure on the cross, amid drizzling rain with dark clouds scurrying over the towering mountains in the background made a most effective sight. Every third inhabitant of the villape is to take part in the performance. There will be 550 people on the stage, in the choir or in the orchestra, and 200 stage hands.

The Play and its Chief Actor

J Notwithstanding tho financial complica- ; tions involved in presenting the Passion Play under modern conditions—the new : theatre alone cost £50,000~-there is every evidence that the original religions inj tention will be maintained in spirit as j well as in form. There are 5500 beds ! for strangers in this village of 2100 in j habitants. Thirty-five performances of the | play are to be given, j A journalist spoke to Alois Lang, who | is to play the part of the Christus. I He jis a gentle, lovable man. He was | tired after the long rehearsal. "It is j anxious work," he said sadly. "We | are not paid for rehearsals, which are held every evening in the winter. " In the daytime I do wood-carving. ' Now that I have the leading part in the plav I hope to receive a good price, for even a Christus must live. We shall have 14 boarders to-morrow." Half way down the village street the man who is to play the role of the high priest Caiaphas was shoeing a horse. lie is a big. handsome man with a black beard. "No one loves Caiaphas." he said. " I have played the part twice, but my son plays the angel at the tomb, which is better." Two Other Principal Characters. Across the street Anny Rutz, who is to enact the part of the Virgin Mary, was busy at her housework. She wore an overall and her long, fair hair was tucked away. " You are young for the part," said the journalist. "Yes," replied the girl. "At the Crucifixion the Virgip Mary was 50. lam not vet 23, but only unmarried girls under 30 can take part in tho Passion Play. " People say I will marry a rich American, but I never will. I will not leave Oberammergau. I played in the crowd when I was four years old. You will excuse me now; we are expecting 16 boarders to-morrow." At the end of the street the man cast for tho part of St. John was busy with a paintbrush. "I am glad the real play is coming," he remarked. " I am j tired of rehearsals." i

" Perhaps," suggested the journalist, ' you will some day go to America and appear in the films." " Never," replied the man. "We receive big offers, but no one in Oberammergau would do such a thing. I must, not stay gossiping. We have 20 boarders coming to-morrow."

The new Passion Play Theatro at Oberammergau was consecrated on April 27 by Archbishop Cardinal von Faulhaber, of Munich. In the little village among the pine-clad mountains of Bavaria the young men have grown flowing beards, and the boys have heads like those of unshingled girls. Once in 10 years they cultivate these fashions in the village of the Passion Play." For some lime past crowds of people have been hurrying to the village from every corner of the world for the famous play, the first performance of which in the new .theatre is to bo given to-morrow. Every villager is now wearing the costume of the Bavarian highlands—green shorts, blouses, embroidered jackets and gaily-coloured socks. The wigmakers' art is anathema in Oberammergau; everything must bo natural, even to the hair and beards—evidence of a religious ideal.

In the summer of every 10th year for centuries, the peasants have performed the play as a solemn thanksgiving for deliverance from the plague which threatened their ancestors in 1633. The pact which their forefathers then made with God that they would represent the passion in dramatic form has been fulfilled. So the play is like a solemn act of worship, both picturesquo and beautiful.

The villagers who make up the cast liavo for generations heen artists—craftsmen, wood carvers, and potters, chiefly in the making of crucifixes and (ho images of the Saints. Tlio players have heen chosen by ballot, and everyone is a born actor, for the play is the most tremendous event in their lives, and their ability is said to bo unsurpassed on any stage. Uiey will not enter the theatrical profession. Their roles aro sacred.

A virtuous life alone is tho open sesame for inclusion in tho play. From childhood the peasants are versed in the Passion Play. Parents hand down (ho sacred legacy to their children. Tho play, according to custom, will be performed in the open air on Sundays, and each performance will last nine hours. It will be exactly tho same as it was nearly 300 years ago.

Preparations for this year's performance havo been going on for more than a year in tho village. Alois Lang, a wood-carver, has been chosen to play the part of tho Christus. He succeeds Anton Lang, who at 55 is considered to be too old to repeat his performances of 1900, 1910 and 1922, but will recite the prologue. Tho two incn are not related. The selection to plav the role of the Christus is the greatest honour that Oberamrncrgau can bestow. The roles of the Virgin Mary and the Beloved Disciple are also greatly prized. In fact, every part, however small, is a privilege which the villagers treasure. Everything in the play, even to the music, is of local manufacture. The Passion Play of Oberammergau is the only one that has survived from the Middle

Ages, when such plays were common at church festivals. Latterly, lliero has linen a revival in this direction, and tho greatest impetus has come from the constancy of the Bavarian Passiou players.