New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-25
THE OBERAMMERGAU PLAY
BEGINNING THE SEASON TOMORROW.
A SPECTACLE THAT MAY NEVER BE SEEN AFIES
THIS YEAR-rHE PLAY IL The PAST
AND THE PRESENT.

THIS Wharf.-The PLAY IN IhE FASI
AND THE PRESENT.
Once in every ten years the great round Of European
travel finds its centre Of interest in village OF tno
Bavaran HIGHLANDS This year AGAIN the steps OK
thousands Of travellers will be toward obcramHr'
eau and their ewes will be TO see one OK the
last relics Of most Characteristic custom OF '"s
Middle Ages zone Of tho last relies Is said a.
visedly, for another still exists at Brixlege III @s
Tyro an even more interesting one. historically tnan
that Of Oberammergau. perhaps, and lkey 70 iass
longer Tic first representation for this year OF inc
Passion Play at oberammergau will be given To-
morrow the full rehearsal! having taken place week
49,
It is much TO be feared that wide attention which
this play has attracted, beginning as far BACK a.
1910 and drawing to It so many hundreas oI
strangers from all parts OF the world VIII snow TINS
year q most detrimental influence on the play tsen'
or at least on the methods OF presenting it and the
conditions by which 1t will be surrounded. The
Oberammergau peasants have lost something OK tho
primitive simplicity that should be the charm OF tner
life and their representation Of the Passion OF ChrsS
There will stage manager from the Royal opera In
Munich and some new effects may DO expected winch
NAV add 10 the elaborateness OF the Spectacle ons
which NAV fail to please people vino are willing to stay
I'm London or Paris or New-YorS to see modern
theatrical mcchansms. and 60 10 ms MOUNTAIN
village in the hope II finding picturesqucness Oh
another sort The unhappy tendency OF the PASSION
Play seems 70 be 10 lose its old deep religious mean
ing and 10 take N more Of the nature CT moneru
exhibition. with the modern object Of making money.
n is no wonder that Church authorities siS)uid %
displeascd that sensitive feelings Of proprey \hou"
be shocked and that the Bavarlan Government 49,"
declare It's intention never 10 permit the play 'er
this year.
Yet the Passion Play IS altogether worthy the al
cnton Of students Of religious and general history ana
/ rofT ~ matt
the modern drama traces is origin ana CROWN 'hoTo
distinctly from classical models than from those WHICH
belonged characterisicary to the Middle Ages ye'
IL could not bu: be Influenced 10 some extent ny .'o
miracle plays the mysteries and the moraii'ies ua'
were prevalent in England as well as on inc cohe"..
The miracle PLAY that will be given this summer ano
/, threatened with extinction after THIS summer oes
when such exhibitions were common and he'd not only
! tho approval but the active cooperation OF t'o
Church. and though Il is now changed In form anu iS
suffered from the desire Of those who conroi IL 10
mike II commercia capital, it is none the less dis
tlnct survival Of that old form of dramatic representa-
: ton that has 50 nearly disappeared
FROM THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY TO THE
PRESENT
The story Of the Obeammergau Passion Play has
often been tod and though the Interest in Is again
roused This summer il needs only the 5refest review
here There Is q legend that Duke Frederick OF the
| Fmntv Pockets when he wandering about as
prescribed ou'cast. presented play which sho"ed
the sorrows Of a prince in his condition ana ihclteo
the people who saw il give him active support ana
aid This is the first direct evidence Of play In tho
TyroL Before the beginning Of the sixteenth century
miracle pays were certainly acted here. They were
for the uo,,rar like those that were common through
ont Germany and coarse and ruce IN construction
and often In the language used. II was In 1888 mat
the peasants Of Oberammergau made vow that II inc
pestence then raging among them should cease they
would present every ten years play OF the PASSION
Of Christ The pe5t!lcace was checked at once ana
the next year the play given for the first tiine'
After the fifth representation, in 1G7i the play was
repeated in SIX years. or In 1850. ana since theh IL
has been given In the year Of each decade with ous
few interruptions. In 1910 the play was suddenly lo>
hidden by tho Bavarian Government, bnt King wax
finally allowed il % % on, v!.h the condition thas
everything that could be found Objectionable should
be taken out Of it, II was thu, given in 1oll. IN
1870 the play was interrupted. after IL had been
presented three times. b. tie Frinco-PrusSan war,
and il was continued IN I'll The production OF loo"
is still fresh in many Minds
The changes that were made carly in this century
deprycd the plav Of much tina, MIGHT offend sensitive
modern taste Previously satan had been prominens
character II was distinctly comedy par;, as was
also that of Peter. Thi, too has been changed Oh
course But though the play is thus the better htted
for cultured eyes ana there i some loss 10 t'
student for these comic characters and their places
in rho drama are lnportau; features Of the genuine
medieval miracle play. That which makes tie play
eccetlo AT al 70 tie rclIi3Us sentiment OF to-day Is
The sincerity with which it is or las been presented
and the earnest belief Of the peasants that tey can
Actually reproduce the iGst as they originally
happened
THE ACTORS AND TIE DAYS OF TIE PLAY
,f.,v will remember the praises that were 5estoTed
o or AGO ON the portrayal If tie part Of Christ By
oen laver lie Will play the part for the third iima
this summer other who will keep their former
n,rrs are Johann AID sebastian Lang. Thomas Renal.
Jacob Hcit and AnGgeas Braun 4'e Iu1i od'' - q"
! follows: -, Ma,
Nh!i'e-'''''- ............ Peter Rentl
!