Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1908-07-16
TIE PASSION Play OR
THE LIFE OF CHRIST

This production is of :; religious
character. To the church we must go
for the origin of the drama. In the
| middle ages when form became SYMBOL
ical, all theSwiscst said dramatic
beginnings woszanntItured In the early
church the Bible &:ories were made
realistic. These plays commonly
known as Morality, NIi5R6le, Mystery or
! Passion Plays are of the fast You viii
witness one of the best known of all
the productions of the stage and yet one
about which less is known than of any
other. The Passion Play is known in
every land, in every nook and corner
: i'll the world. 1t is the privilege of few
to witness the original production of
the Passion Play at Oberammergan and
so we have secured at great cost and as
a special favor at this time reproduc-
tion after Pathe in artistically colored
effects.
1t is i'll remote Bavarian valley that
| the last of all these dramas still exists.
During the summer months of every
decade it is witnessed every Sunday
and Monday by about Il quarter of u
million people. Five hundred years
ago some drama of the life of Christ
was performed at the same place.
\ About 250 years ago "a plague was
3 raging in Bavaria and in the little
l5secluded mountain village of Oberam
dsmergan hundred people had perished.
Accordingly the terrified survivors
made Il VOW that if their town were
spared all further ravages of the disease
they would thereafter every ten years,
portray i'll dramatic form for the
instruction of mankind the story of
| Christ'S life and srlfferings, "
Apparently this VOW was heard for
the plague at once abated and the vii
lhgers true to tlisir promise have every
ten years for nearly 300 years past, por-
trayed thelife of Christ in this dramatic
way. TIE costumes, makeup, attitude.
bearing and general character of each
scene is III imitation of old paintings
and ensravings and very like the works
of the masters. When you look upon
the passing scenes on the serene YOU
are witnessing the reproductions of the
masterpieces of art posed for by the old
time citizens of Oberammergan. The
seven hundred actors are poorly paid,
as the majority of the money received
goes into the Improvement of the theatre
church and village endowment Large
sums OF money are repeatedly offered by
European and American players for
their services in foreign lands, but they
have repeatedly declined the offer, their
] purpose being not mercenary gain but
! "eligious duty. .....
How simple peasants can understand
and represent with such skill such a
stupendous subject as the Passion Play,
is Il mystery to all who attend.
In the rendition of the play tableau
OF Old Testament characters and events
is introduced before each important
scene to symbolize and typify what is
to follow.
| The next production of the Passion
Play at Oberammergan will he in 1910
from May to October. Hither q party
of fifty people from Elko have already
arranged to make pilgrimage.
Those familiar with the Bible history
will recognize the Biblical characters
and events as they are portrayed in the
hand-colored representation at the NOV
ing picture show, next Friday and Sat
urday nights.