The Irish standard., 1900-03-24
Their GREAT DECENNARY FESTIVAL
Villagers to Present It During
the Coming Summer.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ITS ORIGIN
The Plans and Preparations on
a Magnificent Scale.

The people Of Oberammergau, Ba-
varia, are counting great deal on the
Paris exposition to make their decen-
nary presentation OF the passion play
matchmaking success, and no doubt
their Golfers will be filled as they never
were before. 1t is fortunate for them,
too, that their reproduction in mimic
of the passion OF the worlds Savior
falls at time when visitors from every
quarter OF the globe will throng Paris,
which is not far distant Oberammer-
gau is picturesque mountain village,
with fair hotel accommodations and
plenty Of pure cold water. The inhab-
itants are an honest and frugal people.
The passion play, as everyone knows.
is nothing more nor less than the pas
sion of Jesus dramatizcd, with every
one of the leading characters in the
tragedy Of the crucifxion, from Jesus
to "the least Of these" impersonated.
The stage is ample in dimensions for
the free action OF the play, and, with
towering mountain meeting the rear of
| the boards" for scenery, the scene
without the presence of the dramatis
personae would be inspiring But
when it all becomes a reproduction Of
Bethany, OF the garden of sorrows and
betrayal, the streets of Jerusalem and
on to "it is finished" the scene will be
something more than thrilling, for the
action Of the drama will excite more
than the imagination, more than mere
sentimental approval. 1t is the deeper
meaning that will stir the heart and
soul to their depths and carry the mind
TO the story OF the cross as told by the
chosen ones of humanity's best friend
In the seventeenth century the people
OF Oberammergau made vow to pro-
duce the passion play i'll every tenth
year if the Lord would drive away all
epidemic which was dcpopulating the
land, Subsequently the play was inter
ttiictcdd ttiiiictcd by the BavdriaI1 government, but
since 1870 it has been given at each de-
ceniary, and it grows more popular as
the decades come and CO.
The usual false rumors have been in
circulation about the Passion Play"
The first false rumor, which was widely
current in the summer of 1890, was that
the Bavarian government would never
allow the play to be given again. 1t
raises its untroublcd head every ten
years and, nobody putting himself out
much to confirm or deny it, it dies Of
inanition.
Eight years ago the story was that
the whole village Of Obcrammcrgau
was coming to Chicago to give the play
at the worlds fair. Indeed, it was all
arranged except the detail Of inducing
the Oberammcrgau people to come to
Chicago, and the whole scheme would
have been carried out triumphantly had
it not been for that one little flaw in the
plans. Then last year came the tale
that the Passion Play which would nat
urally be given this summer, would be
postponed till 1901, so as not to clash
with the Paris exposition.
Ali these rumors and the circulation
OF them merely show ignorance OF the
people OF Oberammergau. The two
traits which distinguish them more
than any others arc their conviction
that their play is more important
than anything else in the world, and
their general disregard OF the rest OF
the world and what happens to it. The
Paris exposition is nothing to them;
the Chicago worlds fair was nothing to
them; they do not worry necdlcss1y
about the regent of Bavaria. They arc
going to play the Passion Play this
summer il the rest of the world wants
to come it can come; if it wants to stay
away it can stay. The people OF Ober-
ammcrgau, judging from past expert
cncc, assume that it will come, so they
arc getting ready for it, but they would
play the Passion Play" if not seat in
the tleatcr were occupied.
Those who saw the play in 1890, and
perhaps some who only read about it,
will be interested in the cast for the
coming performance. 1t seems to have
been changed more than usual, scarcely
any OF the leading characters remaining
as they we're. 1t is as if all the actors
had reached the age limit for their re-
spective parts together in the perform
ance Of r2oo. But if the actors do moi