The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-03-24

WHY AND HOW IT Is GIVEN AT oBERAAl-
MERGAU.

WHY AND HOW IT Is GIVEN AT oBERAM-
MERGAU.
Written for the Republican Journal.
The story of the Passion Play is old, yet
ever new, dealing as it does with the cru
cifixion Of Christ. A correspondent furn-
shes the following sketch of the play as
derived from his study and reading
In the early history of Oberammergau
a small village in Bavaria, Southern Ger
many, it was visited by a plague which
proved so destructive to the inhabitants
that they made a vow to God, that if he
would use his power to repress its course,
they in return would perform the Passion
Play every ten years. The course of the
plague was stayed, and since that time
the inhabitants, true to their vow, have
performed the play. 1t is a remnant of
the old Miracle Plays, and portrays the
The regular day for giving the play is ON
Sunday; but if there are more people in
town than can be accommodated, it is
performed on the following Monday. All
nations are represented, and the poorer
classes walk distances of forty OF even
fifty miles, bringing loaves of black bread
with them for food, and sleeping in barns
They return home, after seeing the play,
satisfied for the rest of their lives.
The stage is open to the sky, and the
play is performed even during storms the
audience being so spell bound and the in
terest so intense that they do not seem to
mind the state of the weather. The tab
leauX are one of the most interesting
features Some of the parts are taken by
young children. who remain in their diff
cult positions as immovable as statues 1t
is considered the greatest honor to take
part i'll this play, and the greatest dis
grace that can befall a person is to have
his part taken from him
The occupation of the people of the vii
lage is that of wood carving, and it is said
carves only figures of Him whom he i'm
personates.
The money taken by the play is used
in identifying the village church, in sup
porting school for instruction in wood
carving, and for theatre effects. Of the
twelve hundred inhabitants in the village
eight hundred take part in the play.
The hustle of preparation begins as early
as Friday, and continues until long after
midnight; and travellers dusty, footsore
and weary seek rest wherever they can
find it. In the course OF thirty-six hours,
six thousand people enter the town. In
the morning the firing of cannon an
nounces to the people that it is time to as
semble, and at eight every seat in the thea
tire is filled. Then comes the prologue,
followed by chorus of many powerful
voices A tableau is next introduced
which relates to the scene which is to fol-
low. There are eighteen acts, which oc-
| cupy eight hours, and there is one hour for
intermission. Christ's entry into Jerusa-
lem, the Last Supper, His Condemnation
by PLATE, His Crucitixon and His Ascen-
sion are among the most important
They occupy the time from Christ's entry
| into Jerusalem to His driving out of the
money changers from the temple The
| part of Christ is the most difficult A man
named John Meyer has taken it for the
past three times (thirtv years. but on ac-
| count of his age will be unable to take it
again. During the Crucitixion scene, it
is said that Meyers wife leaves the thea
tire, unable to bear the sight of her hus-
band in such a position of torture. Sobs
and groans arise from the assembled peo-
pie, as he hangs there "a living Christ. -
1t remains secret, known only to him
self, how he manages to hold himself in
| this position with no visible means of sup
port Another great character is that of
Judas.
1t may seem sacrilegious to people of
our country to initiate the life of Christ
and his sutferings; but the spirit with
which these simple people enter into the
play makes it a sublime performance
They seem inspired directly from God,
and this has its effect upon the spectators,
and at the close of the play with bowed
heads they seek their homes. G.