THE PASSION PLAY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20455, 7 November 1934, Page 2

THE PASSION PLAY.

Christchurch Season Opens To-morrow. In 1633, the village of Ober-Ammer-gau. in Bavaria, was stricken by a terrible plague. On its cessation, the entire population made a vow that they would, every ten years, perform this Passion Play depicting the life and and death of Jesus Christ. For exactly three- hundred years this vow lias been faithfully fulfilled, this year marking the tri-centennial anniversary. To celebrate the 300th anniversary a special performance was arranged which, it is claimed, is the best ever staged, mainly for the reasons of the greater maturity of those taking the sacred parts, and also the fact that Ober-Ammergau has now settled down after the aftermath of the Great War. A representation of this world-famous play has been made to celebrate the 300th anniversary. Every scene of the life of the Saviour has been filmed upon its exact location in the Holy Land and Egypt. Perhaps more comprehensive than the stage version, it covers all the principal incidents of the New Testament story. Christ gives sight to the blind man. and heals the paralytic*. He raises the daughter of Jairus. Jesus walks on the Sea of Galilee and He raises the dead Lazarus from the grave. Most impressive, yet reverent, are the scenes of that last journey to Calvary, the carrying of the heavy Cross, the cruelty, the profound agony and the consummation of that perfect life of sacrifice. It brings home the story in a way more vivid than realised in reading books. The picture Has been subjected to very rigid censorship and faithfully portrays the stffry of the Man of Sorrows. The Christchurch season opens at the Radiant Hall to-morrorv, at 10 a.m.. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The box plan is at the D.1.C..