THE PASSION PLAY

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1930, Page 13

THE PASSION PLAY

fulfilling of a vow A REGENT VISIT. IMPRESSIONS OP TARANAKI GlfiL’.

(By

R.J.L.

j.—Special

to News.)

Oberammergau, August 20, Tile Passion Play is the, fulfilling of a vow taken 300 years ago by the villamms of Oberammergau,- in Bavaria, A a tel-riiie plague had/Aged and swept away maily of people from all the districts abound -OherainhiergaU itself The inhabifdhts prayed to be delivered fbonl this plague, offering as a thanksgiving to play the Passion every 10 --/,The plague was stayed, and ever., since the villagers have faithfully kept their vow. . *• •Oiberahimergau is situated iii the ids mountains which, in tl/c iVihter are snow-capped and Often almost inUnda e the Village. The mam work of the people is carving aiid pottery, Uid the carving of crucifies, for which they ftic world-famous. fact aloiie demonstrates the simplicity itiid devotedhess of these gracious, soft-spokeh Village f °The play is a perfect piece Of Wobk. OHB feels, Bittiiig tjiei-e JU the trcmemlotts theatre, that one is iookmg doyn through the ceiltilfies upon the a etna Im'ppenings. For eight hours, foul the morning until four in the afternoon, 5000 people sit motioWlbSß, tOO inoyrn to speak, and watch these village folk their parts. , , The open front of the theatre looks out on the pine-dotted hills bey .°‘ l<^; in summer mist blue, in winter silowC 1 Wet or fine the play is produced, and the stage, not being under cover, tnO players ofttimes are acting undei tiynL, Sllons. When It is nl l over spectators stream out into the »ti?eU of the village into the shops to buy souvenirs, and there they find the- erstwhile players at their nol-mal occupations, smiling and obliging, but without anv sign of importance or lack of simSty?' It is difficult to believe that with an influx of 5000 people twice a week from all parts of the World that these humble village fblfe can retain their charm and unwbrldlifless. . 'Pile production of the play invohes oreat physical energy, yet to accommodate all those who coiiiO tp see it the viilagtlrs bfteh gii'C dp their own beds aiid sleep oil tile flmfl'; One is peimitted to stay in the village only one day, and has to move on to make room for thosejcbmiiig for the next perfoimthe building of these new theatres, the Villagers have incurred a debt to the extent ..of a.-, million afid a ImH marks (a mark is worth albou M® Z addition; there are road and diaiha o e expenses, fob the iiicreiisiiig niiihbyr of visitors each session renders the old systems iiiadeiltiate. During the. play, and tlie tinle which is spent in ie-heal-siilg; each player receives the aiiiouiit whit’h lie Would othetWiee be receiving webe hp at Jiis work. o there is fio material profit as some are led to behove-. In the little village, carriages, drawn -by double teams, jingle through the stfeete, and the fauddcs. of the houses lire gaily painted; In the evening, all iratlieFat the open-air beer-Cafes, y here Tyrolean music is played and yodelling makes the visitors hiarvel and ctiritids. tn the background, stands the clysScrowned peak of the Kopel, the highest mountain, very grim diid very black against the tinted sunset sky. . One nieets With unlimited kindness and hospitality. The women and girls are smiling, as are the men and boys. The latter wear tlifeir hfiib shoulderr length (since, to take part in the play they must do so), upon their hedds quaint little felt hats with jaflhty little feathers at the side. Old men and boys alike wear knee-breeches and beautifully embfbidered leather . braces. In,

the midst of it all, one feels that sutel/. here-is a people quite Unaware •©f the outside . World and content to live _ds their ‘forefathers lived so many year© before It is d'uitO unlbelievhble then to g SpaJti visitor, WhO has Witney fidf this triumph of plays and who. has mist had a glimpse Of the life of ihes© iiiprn to live as in the time Of Our I Orl lind that, to thehl,' tile TUsslon Th iFa folh OUs sci'vide, an expreSof l»vl ml W btiocwto lire ciiosen to take part have to bel of eodd' eiiai'deter, to have lived good lives, and to be able to stand the str-am that the taking of a P aiifc . ■ As one speeds away down the Itt 0 railway through fir-forests and eultr vated plots of l and ’ shnne-guardai, Munich, that city of Art and Galtike, and leaves Oberammergau find its lov able people, oite fabeatlies a little ptayef lEilssivibg »«4 of f “ . ! have had tile privilege of witnessing such a sacred play; .!n the , y eat ® come afiOi the Oberammei-gau sleeps ahd it vUted mi ly bv a few toiirists uiixiOUs td See th& locate of the Passion Thy, it h tb ba hoped the people remain mid as unspoiled as oiie inlds them to day. 'i ,