New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-22

bo,gevar stu TO be had for dollar wei the seats
AZ 20 cents and less. We had The opportunity to go and
view the oator and select our own places during the
whole OF hc day preceding the performance, and some
porsons tako the pgcoautiOn 10 hire LITTLE boys of
the village so at very carly hour on the morning OF
the play and retain their places TN few minutes before
the performance begins This method is not very secure
however and unless the boys able to maintain them
selves they elected from their seats There is danger
OF not being able procure tickets Of admission al all
but visitors need not fear having to so home without
seeing the play since the community feels itself In honor
bound to repeat ON the following day II only so persons
were unable TO get in tho day of the performance
proper And the rspettOns are in every respect hAe
the ohief performance; the players 90 their uuiy
"a well before empty benches before full
ones. Many visitors attend both performances
and DO not then feel satisfied. busy
place is Ammergau in the day before the Play All
during the morning troops Of boys arc carrying tmhss
to the theater FOR use on the morrow Ihe Comihu"i
Council holds extraordinary situng; inc Dootn pio
prieos are erecting their fra structures, While the no
t ara constantly receiving fresh instaments Of vis
tors Toward evening the crowd in tho village increases
every few minutes showing that the friendly invitation
issued by the community Of Oberamnergau mas poon
well received This little invitation document reaos aS
follows: "Passion Play at Oberammergau IN upper pa
varia From the southern border Of the German EN-
pre- we send friendly invitation into all the provinces vi
the German Fatherand far the shores OF the NOr'h
and East Seas visit the performance OF the Passion ray
In Oberammergau interrupted last year Dy INC Wal, anu
which viii be continued in the present summer lIheh
follow the days OF performance May the fassio f"F'
this HERITAGE from primitive times in Germany see very
many German brothers. from North and South united in
love as members Of the newly arison German Empire
The Community OF OJerammergau" Many peasants had
walked distance OF leo miles; some hundreds had
Walked from various parts Of the Tyol the neighborng
mountain villages had furnished good quota while
the carriages and pOst-wagons brought some few humid
If EnQ1ieh American tourists. noticed two
eminent German teaterdiroctors among the guests tbs
one from the Berlin COurtTheater, the other from
brunswick English clergymen, in their church coats
were conspicuous for their numbers and the Cocknoy
dialect and tourist manners were unfortunately well
represented.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE PLAY
The OF the fesalday IL announced 20 the stranger
in Oberammergau by the village music band, headed by
the village remen, In state ornaments passing through
the principal street at O'clock going to the theator
We were walked up early in the morning by the firing OF
q cannon and at O'Clock all the bells rung, and
people begin TO turn out Of their houses TO enjoy the
fresh air and the novelties OF the The play COM
menced o'clock, but early as long rows OF peas
Onts were before the doorways patiently waiting
20 enter The sky had been overloaded in the cary
morning and rain threatened but il cleared up as
the people began take their seats in the heate con-
tinuing very pleasant during the entire performance
At O'Clock the theater filed except the numbered
reserved scats) and had time, not only 70 examine
the right rose a lofty mountain, sparsely covered
with trees and dotted here and there with yhuts to
the left high range, and between the mountain
stretches the valley Of the Ammer with the little village
OF UnterammergaI in the distance. Pure mountain
breez passed faces high above us arks were
warbng in the air. singing Of thanks to the warm
sunshine. Though the theater itself has often been de-
scrbed brief description Of it is necessary to under
stand the play. The whole structure reminded us as
we entered Of travelling theaer except that it was Of
larger dimensions and open al the top The seats which
formed rows Of benches rise retire from the stage
tho box-paces being the rear and covered over by
roofing Thus every part Of the theater the view
upon the stage unhindered, and hardly WORD was
missed even in the extreme corners There were III all
65 benches each capable OF holding 70 70 so persons the
last 10 rows alone being under cover The stage was
the most noteworthy part OF the structure
Before US, first Of all saw the proscemum, an open
space 50 feet long and Is to 20 feet broad II generally
occupied by the chorus or for some street scenes ana
that Of Jesus carrying the cross in which nearly 500 per-
sons are SEEM Back Of this the stage proper erected
bounded on either side by narrow, twostored building
with balconies and foldingdoOrs the building on the
right as we faced the stage, was the house OF the
High Priest Annas that the left the house Of Plate
Close beside each OF the houses open gateways allowed
us 10 see the streets OF Jerusalem, through which
the professions at times came and disappeared. The
middle stage had - movable scenes, and il was used for
the tdbleatI riUans including some OF the principal
scenes, the crucihxiOn resurrection, &c The whole
theaer seats easily 5000 persons On the stage 900 per-
sons had ample ROOM The orchestra was entirely COM
posed Of natives of the village, dressed IN plain uniforms
with hunters caps. 1t was well directed ana the music
was very fine. siringed intruments predOminated.
Precisely at o'clock, the second cannonboom an
nounced that tbe Passion Play had commenced; the
music began and the chorus as beautifully expressed
I'm German Guardian Spirits entered upon the stage
from either side, led by the choragus They advanced
toward the center after the other met and turned
toward the audience, forming curved line nearly the
whole way across the wide prOscenium The spirits had
an important part 10 play during the entire performance
and were the time peculiarly attractive in dress,
action and song The chorus consisted of 20 persons in
Guiding the cboragus who occupied the center Of the
stage At his side on the right and left were
three male spirits and then on each side OF these
were six female figures. The tallest stood IN
the center, and the figures were so arranged
as 10 gradually diminish in stature on either side The
dresses were peculiarly rich in color the forms good the
faces generally very attractive. The chOragus wore a
long alb Of cashmere, reaching to the sandaled
feet and bound by loose golden girdle. crown OF
gold bound his hair, which fell upon his shoulders He
had long dark beard and was pronounced one OF the
most handsome of men. may add in passing that 20
years ago a rich German lady saw him. and was so
attracted by his appearance that she offered him her
hand and fortune and they living in the hand
soonest villa in ObeTammergau. The other members OF
the chorus most effectively arrayed as regards the
color OF the dresses The two outside dressed
alike The others were all in different colOrs
each wore o long, loose-nOwng garment Of cashmere,
Ornamened at the bottom with silver or gold falling
TO the sandaed feet, this kind Of short muslin
tunic fell nearly TO the knees and this was loose
flowing mantle Of cashmere OF color harmOnizng with
the garment and trimmed with gold or silver as
contrast required The effect OF the distribution Of the
coors was singularly beautiful at times. After the
passion scenes, It extremely soothing to the spirit
Jae head was bound with gold circet, of patterns
slghtly differing below which the hair fell upon the
shoulders One tires Of looking upon this arrange
,uent OF the chorus listening to the information Of the
bors0n and the singing of the entire CORPS OF guardian