Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-03
THE PASSION PLAY.
A VIRGINIA LADY'S DESCRIPTION OF
THIS WONDERFUL CEREMONY.
Christ's Life on Earth and His Cruciflxion,
resurrection, and Ascension Portrayed
by . Catholic Peasantrv.

A Richmond lady who holds prominent
position in social life has recently received
letter from q married daughter who is
travelling abroad. in which she gives 0
pretty and very interesting description OF
the Passion Play. which she saw at Ober-
Ammergau, Austria, in July. The writer
is native of Virginia and former resi-
dent of this city, but for the past ten years
has lived in Baltimore, and she has now
been in Europe for nearly three years. The
extract from the letter which the Dispatch
has been permitted to copy is replete with
interesting facts concerning this strange
religious ceremony of the peasantry OF that
country. These plays are performed once
in every ten years, and have ALWAYS excited
the wonder Of the world for their striking
reality and freedom from all that might be
considered sacreligious. The various scrip
tural characters are pcrsonated by tho
Catholic peasantry in the country from
which she writes:
GOING TO THE PLACE.
The letter SAYS:
On Saturday morning, July 5th, We
started about 10 o'clock for Ober-Ammer-
gau to attend the Passion Play. The
morning was bright and very wsrm-the
warmest we have had this summer-but
before we reached our destination rain was
falling and the wind was exceedingly raw.
The train we were on carried eighteen hun
dred people and two others followed
equally crowded. Az we had two hours
drive through the mountains after we left
the cars you may imagine what the rush
was for the places in the omnibuses and
carriages. We had engaged our places IN
the hotel as well as in the omnibus and
theatre two weeks before. 80 we mad no
trouble, and found two comfortable rooms
reserved for us. Many were put five and
six in a room ladies often beng put In the
same room with strange men.
AROUSED BY CANNON.
Early Sunday morning we were awakened
bv the cannon which the villagers fire as
signal for the assembling of the actors for
the early mass. We went at 6 and found
the large church densely packed. The sing:
ing was sweet and solemn, performed, OF
course by the choir of the village. AT half
INST 7 the actors 90 in procession to the
theatre attended by the village band. Al
EIGHT the cannon is fred and the play be-
gins. Five thousand people got tickets for
that day, but two thousand more could not
get there, so they waited for another per-
Torrance on Monday.
For EIGHT hours we sat watching with In
tense interest the scenes portrayed by these
earnest people of the passion OF our Lord,
At half-past II there was on lnternllssion
of one hour for rest and refreshments ana
then We returned 10 our seats, where we
remained until nearly SIX. The cold was
intense. Many people went to their rooms
and took the blankets from their beds to
wrap up in.
The chorus were frequently obliged to
do their part in pouring rain, and |
believe they have not had single GOOD
day for the performance, but That does
not prevent the crowds from thronging to
witness il.
this plav. fearing il would seem sacrlie-
| oious' but there Is nothing to offend the
most sensitive mind, for these simple peo-
ple do most earnestly show the manner as
tl,ey understand it of the death and suffer-
| ings of their Lord.
TIE CHARACTER OF CHRIST.
The man who took the part OF Christ has
acted il twice before this year, and ~ con-
| seouently too old for the character, but he
| does the character with simplicity and dig
nity. uttering no word that is not given IN
| fine Scriptures. His walk was admirable,
and it spoke well for his portrayal OF the
| character that you had no resenttul feel
| inc towards one who was personatlng the
only perfect life the world has ever known,
| he did not try TO be Christ. but TO show
ms how he believed Christ acted when pass
| inc through these last fearful scenes or his
| life on earth.
The scene Of the last supper was most
| touching. rs also the taking leave OF ms
mother when he goes to Jerusalem Tor the
| last time.
One curious feature in this performance
| by Catholics was the small degree or prom,
nence given TO the Mother OF our LORD. vi
course she followed the crowd TO Calvary
| and was near the cross, but only three
| times does she have any part IN the whole
| drama.
THE DISCIPLE JOHN SERVING SOUP.
| John was an interesting young boy, with
| n face like woman and long curls on his
| shoulders. He was waiter In our hotel
| and il did give one rather shock to have
! the beloved Disciple whom we had so re
Gently seen living on the Masters breast
handing YOU plate Of hot soup. We
bought his picture and he wrote his name
on II and one of the sentences he speaks.
| Peters character was well done. as wal
Judes's: the latter. of course. gave more
opportunity for dramatic action than any
| of the others.
and all made IN the village.
The music was much liked by many enc
not much by others. For my part likec
it, but thought the repetition rather to
| dious sometimes.
The High Priests Caiphas and Anna!
were beautifully gotten up and well acted
cHRIsr ON THE CROSS.
have never imagined such endurance
as that of the Christ IN the scene OF thu
| crucfxlon. For twenty-five minutes M
| hung upon the cross. OF course he wa!
| tied by iigaments which did not show, bu
the position must have been agony enough
and it was the most painfully reailsti'
thing ever imagined. especially when TINT
side was pierced and blood and water fiow
ed out. | was so nervous L thought
should scream if they did not take hlu
| down.
After the removal from the cross followed
the resurrection and then the ascension
the last was most beautiful. -,
Between all the scenes connected VIII
the life of Christ were tableaux from tn
Old Testament. Some of the tableau,
were most beautiful. am glad to hav'
seen this wonderful play, but nothin!
would induce me TO see 1T again. we LEI
the village next morning Tor Munlcl
and on the way to the station passed nun
dreds of people hurrying to the play, whlcl
was to begin at o'clock. some driving IL
carriages, wagons, or anything that the.
could get, while many more were walking
TIE PROLOGUE.
Enclosed in the letter is printed pro
gramme and prologue Of the play. which
as follows:
Part /. From Christ's triumphal entr,
into Jerusalem to the betrayal in Gethese
name.
Tableau /. The Fall: Adam and Eve OF
PEELED from Eden. u,
Tableau 2. The Redemption: The ado
ration of the Cross.
Act |. Christ's Entry into jerusalem.
Tableau /. The sons of Jacob conspir1n
against their brother Joseph.
Act III. The High Council.
Tableau /. Young Tobias takes leave 9
his parents.
Tableau2. The Lamenting Bride of tn
Canticles.
Act III. Christ's Departure fror
Bethany.
Tableau /. King Ahasuerus repudiate
Vashti and eleyates Esther.
Act ~. Christ's Last Journey to Jeru