The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-04
~sz PASSION PLAY AGAIN.
me Famous Spectacle IL Pre-
i- santed at Cberammergau-
From the Mem York star

eented at Ooerammergau-
From the Nelg York Star.
few months the Passion Play at
,,,--an,,7errau will again be presented,
- an interval Of ten years The repre-
- --.a+i7n will attract thousands Of pilgrims
60, the Old " orld and from the New, who
ii find that many changes have been
--ie since the time Of the last exhibition.
~ cid playhouse, which stood at the
--I-o-n END of the idyllic village, has been
nlll--ioa+ed bv a newer, larger and mora
SUI l@r structure For the first time in the
$50 of the Passion Play tae theater IS
nl--.1Sad with complete stage machinery,
q tt-,cfed aftsr the best modern fashion,
~ tr1e to the traditions of that place.
a. i1n,ense stage has been constructed and
5;-,iied into several compartments.
In front of tie stage is large platform,
mon which move the great professions
ubjcb form so important part of the
~ Far back and in the center rises a
- arm. with a facade in the style of an
I 10 tample Under this arch, running
a.iII farther back, is the middle stage for
- st1- rasantation of the tdbleduc UiUdntS
T 1TG great arch is flanked by two smaller
4-c5ss. one on each side, through each of
Ibcb the eve of the spectator looks back
80 that appears TO be a street of old Je-
-r--aien- COMMENCING az OiiS Oubaluo tUu
81 Zach of these smaller arches, and coming
ronnd TO the front of the stage, on the arc
- a circle. are colonnades and buildings of
Crscien architecture. The buildings repre-
ssnr the palaces of Plate and the high
,,riast Annas. and the colonnades serve for
the reception of singers aud rabble.
ME Stage itself is open to the SKY, with
the execution OF the middle stage behind
The GREAT arch, which is inclosed and COW
.
tba stage is thrown a huge proscenium
arch bV means of which is secured a mag
n,fcent landscape effect. In former times
fine effect of the play was greatly damaged
Nv iulDerfect illumination on the Stage.
Now all the dark corners and the partly
translucent decorations will be illuminated
Nv artificial lights. Care has been taken to
secure greater speed in changing the tab
leaux. and new machinery has been put up
for the ascension of Christ.
The financial condition of the Oberam-
ulergau community has not permitted them
to rebuild entirely the main body of the
tbeater: but an extension has been planned
which will provide for the accommodation
of some 5, 600 spectators. The royal boxes
and an especial box for distinguished guests,
with vestibules and conveniences, together
with about 1900 of the seats, are rooted
over: the rest of the seats, lying next the
stage, are in the open air. The entire
tbeater covers an area of $500 square
meters, half of which is allotted to the stage
and half 10 the auditorium.
It was the custom in former times to de-
fray the expenses from the receipts, with
settlement after the close of the season, but
the Bavarian government has now required
from the town authorities a definite plan
providing for the payment of the debt in
cnrTed. In 1880 the town government was
unable to find a bank in Bavaria which
would advance the necessary funds, al
though its members were individually
liable. After a long search the Alsatian
Bank in Strasburg was induce to advance
the money. The town offered its forest as
security, but the pledge was not accepted.
A bank in Munich has advanced the funds
for 1890 From Il, 900 to Il, 900 marks have
been expended for new costumes, which
must be made of good and genuine material,
for daylight makes the use of tinsel and
cheap fabrics impossible. The costumes,
too, have been improved to correspond
to the Improvement in the new decora-
tons.
The election for the players took place
late in the autumn of last year. Joseph
Nayr, who takes the part of Christ. declared
himself ready to undertake again his ex-
acting role The election always creates
greater excitement in the village than do
those Tor the German RelchStag or the Ba-
varian Landtag.
Rehearsals are going on now. In good
weather they are held on a little stage, built
for tie purpose near the theater; in bad
weather they are conducted in a room of
the new Iun Wittelbacher Hof. 1t is in
tended to enlarge the orchestra. In respect
of the text of the play there exists at
present in the ruling circles of Oberammer-
gau some difference of opinion. Strangers
have suggested changes, but the prevailing
sentiment among the local artists seems to
be that no alterations should be made in
arrangements which time and success have
justified.
The construction of the new playhouse,
decorations, machinery and adjoining build
ings has been accomplished under the
supervision Of Karl Lautenschlager, the
chief engineer Of the Court theater in
Munich, man OF great distinction in his
especial vocation, who has been called to
all the principal theaters of Europe, not
excepting the great opera house in Paris.