THE PASSION PLAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22365, 12 September 1934, Page 12

THE PASSION PLAY

, NEW ZEALANDER’S VISIT'A view, of , the Fusion Play at Oberammergau, Bavaria, in July, la . described by the Rev G. -G. Barnett, formerly dean of Hamilton, and now vicar of Tfield, Sussex, in a letter received by Mr Philip Le Qiiesne/ ol * Hamilton. . Mr Barnett said that Oberammergau was a ■ small village almost in the Bavarian Alps, hear to the border of the Austrian Tyrol. There were steep hills on three sides, with- a valley, tothe north. For months the villagershad been preparing for the play. Canon J. R. Wilford, late of College House, Christchurch, New Zealand, was temporarily in charge of the Church of England at Oberammergau, Referring to the Passion Play, which he witnessed on, Sunday, July 8, and which made a great impression on him, Mr Barnett said that Alois Lang, who: took the part of the “Christus,” was very tall, and dark, with very fine features. The day was fine and the theatre* - in 'which the play was enacted was filled’; with 6000 people. The roof was eemi-. circular, and the stage end Was open to the sky. ’ ’ 1 ’ - The chorus, consisting of men and girls, filed in at 8.15 a.m., and the. prologue was spoken by Anton Lang,-: who used to take the principal part ' before his son was chosen. A : chorus, number followed, and the curtainwas - withdrawn to reveal a tableau. Twenty.. tableaux, each perfectly staged and egch representing a scene leading up to the Crucifixion'and Ascension, were' shown.*: The first scene was the triumphal entry : into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. There were; 16 acts, each, introduced by prologue, chorus and tableau. Tlurc play lasted from 8.15 a.m. until p.m., with a break of two and a-toi*?' hours at midday. The, only time 11- ' spectator felt that the vast crowd w ; losing interest at all waa during various trial scenes, and this was pei“' haps partly accounted for by the heat.