The Irish standard., 1896-10-03
MOST WONDERFUL PLAY
h The Great Dramatic Event as Seen at
I s5s SSsss Oberammcrgau.
FATHER CLEARY ABLY PRESENTS IT.

FATHER CLEARY ABLY PRESENTS IT.
An Event of the Most Thrilling and
interesting Character.
A large congregation assembled last
Sunday evening at st. Charles church,
+ Thirteenth avenue and Fourth street
1 south, to hear Rev. j. NJ. Cleary in his lee
}ture, .tIhs Passion Play Of Oberammer-
gau." 1t was given by request as benefit
4 to the popular pastor, and the church was
crowded with people.
The lecture begins with q description
of the little village Of Oberammerga,1,
giving The character of the people. and
many facts connected with the production
OF the play. 1t occurs every ten years.
and has bean.so produced for over ESQ
Z years. 1t is repeated every Sunday from
Pentacost Sunday, early in June, until
the last OF September, and It is witnessed
by visitors from every portion of the CIV
ilized world. Father Cleary saw the event
in 1890, and gives very vivid and inter-
esting account Of the play in all its de-
tails
Preparatory to the holding Of the play,
a village election is held in Oberamner-
gau for the purpose of choosing officers to
have charge Of the play. This commit
g tee has absolute control, from providing
means to choosing the actors for the sea-
son. In 1890 one Johan Long was put in
charge of the play, he being the mayor OF
the village ior that year. The play is CIV
en- in a large thaater, capable of seating
1000 spectators, which is kept especially
for the passion play. Most Of the seats
are under the open SKY, as is also the
larger portion Of the stage. The people
giving he play are not, as commonly sup
posed, simple, uneducated peasants, as is
proved by the fact that the acting of this
play is said to be the best stage acting in
the world. The actors all have good
school and religious education, and also
have back Of them the traditions of $50
years Of giving the play They have,
too, the genius of labor. In 1890 the play
ers had been trained by the managers Of
the Royal theater Of Munich.
At 1880 o'clock on Sunday when the
performance is to begin, a cannon salute
is heard, summoning the people to the
theater. AT s O'Clock the play begins
The singing Of Hosannas is first heard in
the distance, and soon appears the rep
resen taJion OF Christ entering jerusalem
riding upon an ass. Palms are streWn
in his way as he advances The next scene
shows Christ in the temple, where he
makes short work of of the money chang
ers. Next is the council of the Sanhedrin
to take steps toward checking the inf1u-
ence Of the new prophet. Two fakirs
who had been elected from the temple
appear and make complaint that Christ
Is injuring their business. The next scene
was Christ's last journey to Jerusalem,
commencing with the parting with his
mother. Then came the Last Supper,
with the scene of Mary Magdalene anoint-
ing the feet of Jesus, and the objection by
Judas that the ointment was precious
End could be sold for nice price. The
scene in the garden of Gethsemane fol-
lowed with the betrayal by Judas and
the arrest of Christ by the Roman SOL
diery, also the shifting Of the soldier by
Peter. Christ is then taken to the house
Of Caiaphus, the high priest, to await
trial on the following day.
This ends the first half of the play,
which thus far has taken four hours in
representation. At this point an inter-
mission is given, when the audience is
allowed to leave the theater and procure
refreshments. At two in the afternoon
The second half of the play begins, which
is as long as the first. The scene Of Christ
awaiting trial at the house of the high
priest IS shown, also the buffeting of the
soldiers, and the denial Of Peter. Christ
is then brought before the Sanhedrin, over
which Caiaphus presides. He stands listen
ing to the testimony against him in quiet
dignity. The fakirs from the temple are
there and make their accusations, but they
contradict each other, and their evidence is
worthless. The high priest then turns to
Christ himself, and asks the question, cart
chou the son of God?; And the answer.
comes, ':17hou hast said.' Upon this the
sanhedr:n pronounces the penalty OF death
,or blasphe1nv. But to execute the sentence
was not allowed to the ecclesiastical au-
thority, and the death sentence had to be
executed by the civil officers. The prisoner
Is thereupon sent to PLATE. who is unwilling
to convict an innocent man. He finds out
that Christ is from Gallilee, and turns him
Dver to Herod, the ruler Of that country,
who happens i'll the city OF Jerusalem.
Herod makes fun Of the whole affair, finally
dresses Christ in the robes OF mock king,
and with a reed in his hand, sends him
back to PLATE for trial. PLATE is still I'M
willing to put Jesus to death, and orders
Barabas to be brought before the court,
with the purpose OF having the people say
which Of the malefactors shall be pardoned
as was the custom. The priests cry out,
Away with him, cruelty him." preferring
to have Barabas, the murderer, pardoned
to Christ. PLATE then orders the crucitixion.
This scene ends with placing the CROWN
of thorns upon the head OF the prisoner.
Next is the march 10 Calvary, and the
insolence and injuries OF the soldiers.
Finally the crucifxion IS represented. The
players are actually hung upon the cross,
with all the appearance of having nails
through hands and feet. This scene lasts 20,
minutes and is most agouizing. 1t includes
the remarks made by Christ upon the cross.
"A messenger hurries in to announce that
the curtain Of the temple is rent in twain,
when suddenly the skies darken. The res
direction and ascension are represented in
tableauy.
The play is given with the greatest pos
sible reverence and is extremely religious
in its effect upon the people. It is we'll
s------------ -: