The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-03

1870, 1871 and 1880, Thomas hendl, the
Plate of the last performance, Sc
bastian Deschler and Johann Diemer
II was unanimously decided that Josef
Maier should act the part again. and
Rendl was assigned his former role
Of PLATE, while the other two
candidates were given the paris Of
Annas and "Choragus' respectively. As
regards acting, Judas has the most i'm
portant part in the play, and on no other
character have the authors bestowed
so much attention. and Judas is here n
far more important parsonage than IN
the gospel story. Lechner was the
Judas in 1880, and his was the finest
acting in the play: It seems strange that
he was not chosen for it this time. as he
is not too old, and could still do the role
Justice. but he has now been ASSIGNED
20 the less important part OF Simon,
while Twink. who was the John IN 1850,
now acts Judas. The female characters
arc not of much importance, but there
is one curious fact worthy OF notice,
and that is that Mary. the mother Of
Christ. is always represented by q
Young person. as the Ober-Ammergau-
ers consider that she is endowed with
youth.
NOT \ MONEY MAKING MACHINE.
Ii has been said that the Passion Play
is now money-making scheme, but
that is really not the case, and the vii
layers still consider the play in the light
Of a religious performance. In 1870 The
refused an offer Of SlO.yOU
from an cnterprising German, VINO
wished to farm the receipts for that
year, and in 1874 they refused very
offers to perform IN England
and America. The next year some Of
the members Of the company were Of
fered large sums of money If they
would perform the Passion Play IA
Vienna during the Exposition OF 1873,
but they refused. The Individuals lose
in neglected work more than they are
pad for their roles. In 1850 Tobias
received but twenty
dollars for acting the part 81
Christ all that summer. In lo60
the remuneration was somewhat great
ert. and it augmented ten years
later to seventy dollars. " hich was paiC
Josef Maier for the part of Christ that
he enacted that year. In 1871 he re-
ceived "A little more tnan that sum.
while the other actors did not obtain
more than sixty dollars each. Atter
each performance the net proceeds are
divided among the actors, after certain
sums have been set aside for village i'm
provements and other things. This
wear they will no doubt make more
money, owing to the increased scale Of
prices and to the fact that unusual mum
bers are going there TO see tine play.
These good people assuredly deserve all
they can earn in the Passion year.
which comes only once IN every decld-.
for wood carving is very meagerly paid.
True. the wants OF the people are easily
satisfied, and their plot of meadow and
their fruit gardens help to make lie
more comfortable than It seems ut inst
glance.
THE THEATRE.
The theatre Of Ober-Ammergau j.
built principally of painted wood: it is
1870 feet wide by 300 feet deep. and has
no outside walls, only roof over part
of the auditorium. There are seats for
( 100 persons. Exactly rs in the great
theatre built for the Wagner festivals at
Beyreuth, the orchestra j. placed quite
Out of view OF the spectators. The now
building has cost over SO 600, apd u
we add to this the cost of costumes
scenery. exc. the expense OF producing
the Passion Play Will easily foot mp o.
over 100000. The stage proper is about
- feet deep, and j. divided into three
parts. On the left is the house OF
Plate and "A street Of Jerusalem. and of
the right the house of Anuas. the High
Priest, and another street in the hOly
city. As there is no drop curtain. these
houses are constantly Ia view OF the au-
dience. Between these houses Us q
middle stage. which has a curtain show
ing Moses and the two prophet.
Isia IN and jeremiah. Here are enacted
the "tabieauX ylyauts aud scene
from the Ola Testament. which arr q
great feature IN this production. Ihc
stage preserves in 10, noble simplicity
the architectural style a. "a G.cciln
tCmple. The decorations and side
scenes are by the well known Nr. BufE.
hard, of Vienna: the lew and simple
machincries are BIS Mr. Laulcnsch.a-cf
of Munich. the sole manager aud go
ventor of this new building. But Lhe
most remarkable and beautiful OF al
the accessories OF this really wonderful
stage is the natural scenery which de-
lights the eve Of the spectator on every
eide, for il is all Orel O. the day. From
the right we'll wooded mountain. ana
from the left tie celebrated cross
crowned Knlel gaze down upon the
visitors, while IA The distance they can
see a charming expause Of lowery
meadow belonging TO the Ammergau
Valley.
The village of ODER Ammergau was
formerly Roman emporium on the
nigh road running from Verona t.
Augs burg. Il is situated az a height
of 2.54O feet above the sea in the Bava
ran highlands, about seventy miles
south OF Munich. IL has population
of about 300. and extends for nearly
a mile in a green and smiling valley On
both sides of the gently flowing river
AilllltI. ne meat. w HlLt A1uoto az t
often adorned on the outside with
paintings of Biblical scenes. the sur
roundings consist OF yerdant meadows
and bushy hills. 70 the south is seen
all the much reyered
d" Kofel. $50 feet high. The chain o.
hills bounding Ober-Ammorgau 10 the
north. at the foot of which the theatre
is built. bears the appellation Of right
rich, " the chain lying opposite, poor. p
To this fact is due the origin IF the say
ing, common among the villagers
riches lie behind US; poverty stares us
in the face "a Jest To which undoub.
IDLY the profits accruiug from the Pas.
sion Play OF 1890 will give a precisely
opposite tenor.
The Praying Jesus.
Ore Of the features that conspicu-
1usly appear la the earthly life Of
Christ is the fact that IS a man, con-
,idered with reference to his human
nature. he was often engaged in prayer.
and that this was particularly true Of
lim on special occasions. Prayer IA
him was an exercise that had ITS seat.
Is reasons, its necessity, and its pro-
'riety. in ms human nature: and IN