The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-24

pounded by the indefatigable chorus OF guar
dian angels as they are called in the old text
One or two Of these tableaux precede eacn
scene from the Passion. For instance. his'
comes the tableau OF the expulsion OF Adan
and Eve from Eden. This Is followed by q
scene. in which there is action and speak
ing. representing Christ driving the money
changers from the Temple. A tableau show
Ing Tobias leaving his mother precedes Chrsts
parting from Mary at Bethany. A tatleau
Of Jacobs sons selling Joseph for twenty pieces
Of silver is followed by the scene OF 's sIlysr'
The tablcau thus prepares, the audience Tor
the dramatic scene which follows,
II is a remarkable thing that IN q perform,
ance by simple country people. lasting almost
eight hours, and involving IN. REPRESENTA-
ton Of the most trying scenes, there Is moth
ing which Is ludicrous or irritating lhrre
was one general smile the other day. ana only
one. When i'cter denied Christ, a false Geek
crew behind the scenes. \ second I'm" IN,
crew and presto, n neighborly Rooster answered
him checrnllly ana Tor at least tcn MINUS
the Oberammergau chanticleers performed an
antiphonal ook-a-doodle-doo which was very
amusing.
when .Judds did not actually hang himself on
the stage. Not that people especially hated
Judas. lie was so repentant that one could
not help being sorry for him Iut so many
technical difficulties have been ceverly over
come in the arrangements that the spectators
seonyd 20 think that Judas ought to have been
provided with some comfortable, and hai ihie's
means OF hanging himself instead. OF having the
curtain rung down at the critical moment,
These mechanical contrivances have been
carried out most elaborately Ia the scene ot tho
CrucifiXlon. The way IN which the two thieves
are tied on their respective crosses Is not In the
least adequate. Good healthy thieves, rs they
appear to be-, could very en>lly stay there until
they starved to death. These men. have no ap-
pearance Of discomfort. but sit up and take
notice in the most animated way until the
executioner comes and breaks their bones with
a very limp club" Then they die promptly, aud
disiointcdlv and are taken down and carried on.
The way In which thrust hangs upon the Cross.
however, il realistic and impressive . When
the curtain rises on this scene the thieves
crosses are already erected. WITH, IL" mGle,
factors upon them. christ Is nailed TO a third
cross. which lies upon the ground. The four
executionerS.. who are great, bury men,, hht
this cross and set II IN a hole in the stage where
u is securely locked. II Is constructed Of
hangs upon il the feet are above the heads OF
the men on the stage. To the audience no
mechanical contrivance for the support 81 the
body IS visible. but under tho fesh-colored
tights there Is n steel framework supporting
the body and this framework Is securely hooked
10 the cross. There is also a support under.
meath the feet. The Crown of Thorns is a real
crown Of thorns and the spectators groan when
the soldiers. press 1t down with sticks. A
sharper exclamation comes when the eNecu-
toner pierces Christ's side with the spear.
ISs gushing z. form noS Of the re slo2 Ss, 4 w Si6ssn' trs
blood Is concealed. Over the heart OF CHRIST
there Is n metal disc. When the point Of the
spear IL pressed against this disc It opens the
cavity and the blood gushes out in the most
realistic manner.
II the Passion Play we're all that many people
would have us TO believe, tie crucitixion scene
would not find the audience encrossed viii
curiosity about these mechanical details.
Whatever fault there may be, however, isn't
In the spirit of the representation. Not one
word Of that has ever been said about the sin
certify. reverence and earnestness of the play
ers seems to be undeserved. Ten years ago
m English paper printed a weekly article under
the heading The Oberammergau Blasphemy."
of course the editor was aiming at sensation
alism. just Ms the newspaper correspond
ents were. who spent twenty-four hours in
the village-most Of the day. OF course. In the
~theatre-and then confded TO the outside world
slanderous tales about the immortality OF the
PLAYERS. These allegations have been holly
denied. not only by the villagers themselves.
but also by outsiders who have lived in the
neiehborhood for years and are thoroughly
acquainted with the people.
The villagers are human. II is scarcely
10 be expected that In a country town OF 800
inhabitants there will not be some black sheep.
But as a good character IL a necessary passport
for entrance TO the ranks ~ tho players. and
"a the ambition Of every Oberammergau boy
Il TO hold a good role In the play, the Possion-
spiel Ia about as powerful a moral influence
as n town could invent.