Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-07-27
FARGO LADY TELLS Of
GREAT PASSION PLAY
ACCOUNT AMMERGAU PRODUCTION is N.
TEREsTINe THINKS CAST OF CHARACTERS CONTAINS SOME
WHO WOULD MAKE REALLY GREAT ACTORS
THREE HUNDRED

, and rolls, We went 10 the theatre to
see the play for which we had jour-
neyed so far. The old. wooden play.
house Of former years has been de-
molished. and one of iron has been
erected in its place for the represen-
tation of 1910. The building, which
sits 5000 spectators. is rooted over
except the stage end, which is still
left open to the sky and TO the noun
tains. like it's predecessor, to heighten
the illusion. That is. it is left open at
the top and side, but splendid painted
scenery is used. Every seat was TAX
en-. and We were fortunate in getting
splendid ones, fourteen rows from the
front. The crowd of visitors in the
town was so great that the perform
ance had to be repeated on Monday.
The usual days are Sundays and
Wednesdays. Promptly at 8, when
the orchestra began, the chorus of
forty men and women came forward
and sang the prologue for the first
tableau. that of Adam and Eve being
driven from the Garden of Eden. The
Passion Play consists of eighteen acts
or scenes, together with prologue or
Introduction, recited and sung by the
chorus. The play itself begins with
Christ's entry into Jerusalem, but
series of tableaux from Old Testament
history alternate with the acted, spok
en- scenes of which they are emblema-
tical while in order that the specta-
tors may understand the meaning of
the living pictures and their connec-
edy. the chorus is introduced with
duties similar to those of the chorus
of the classic Greek plays. Their
part is to explain and make intelli.
gible the action Of the drama. and to
engage in kind of running common
tary upon it, which is presented for
the most part. in musical form in
series of very beautiful vocal pieces.
We were surprised to hear so many
fine solo voices. as we'll as to see such
really wonderful acting. and the mem
DRY work of some of the characters
was astonishing.
Considering that the people of Ober-
ammergau have been. giving the play
for three hundred years, they are real
ly more than amateurs. In fact,
think great many so-called great
professionals could not do so well. A
position in some Of the tableaux was
held as long as three or four minutes,
mighty difficult thing to do. In the
first division which ended at 1880
the Lords supper and the washing Of
the disciples's feet were the grandest
scenes, while in the second division.
which lasted from l 80 to 6, the most
intense scene was when Christ bore
his cross to Golgotha, and his leave
taking of his mother.
The final tableaux was the ascen.
sion. The crucifixion was terribly
real, but was a little too near the
front Of the stage.
The performance from beginning to
end was carried on without a hitch.
Each one knew his cue and no one
needed prompting. The costumes
used are rich and gorgeous, with elab-
crate gold and silver embroidery,
costing from two to seven hundred
marks each. Those of the high
priests. Caiaphus and Annus each cost
seven hundred.
One of the strongest scenes was
when Christ drove the money lenders
from the temple.