New-York tribune., 1910-05-01
REHIND THE SCENES.
Continued from fifth page.


every other town and hamlet in Central and
Western Europe, probably had its mystery plays
These were merely the tales of the faith cast in
dramatic form by the monks who were familiar
with Greek and Roman literature. They were
performed at first during Passion Week only,
and included the Passion story. Later they were
given at all times of the year, gradually de-
veioping into morality plays. The first definite
date that history has written to call attention
to Oberammergau particular centre for the
Passion Play is 1888. when as the tale goes, the
little town was plague swept. 1t then that
the people. recognizing the devotional nature of
their ancient play, made VOW that if heaven
would intervene and them from complete
annihilaton they and their descendants for
ever would render the Play of the Passion
every decade in perpetual gratitude.
This vow kept faithfully until 1914 Then
slowly the play began to fall into coarseness.
The actors were no less earnest, but the audi
ence lost its reverence. quaint account of
this ''decadenCe' comes to from a naive
chronicler:
while the side he writes, 'the per-
formers took the greatest pains to enact the
solemn scenes of Chrsts suffering in the most
fervent manner. the other side troops OF
Jews and clowns appeared, sending the specta
tors into fits of laughter through their disgust
ing boisterousness and coarse behavior, and
the dirt
After that both Church and government for
bade the further representation Of the Passion
at Oberammergau. The little town, still mind
full of its vow, repented and sent a petition to
the general government of the province asking
permission to continue what it regarded j sa-
cred duty.
Garry out your in fitting form"
the answer. Go kneel in the church
and pray, or dedicate mass to this sacred
purpose"
The villagers obliged to obey, and there
was a long interval during which the mystery
stage was deserted. But in 1777 a new elector, !
Charles Theodor, into power, and at once
Oberammergau sent a petition for its play. |
Permission was granted. and in joy the villagers
took up their stately drama again. In 1900, |
however. it stopped, but the in
terval not long this time, for in 1911, !
through the intercession of the tutor of the
Kronprinz Of Bavaria, the order from
Munich that Oberammergau could give the Pas
sion again. From then till the present time
there has been tenth year when pilgrims
have not been able to Journey to the Ammer
Valley to the solemn play and join in the
devotion which attends it.
Perhaps devotion is not uppermoSt in the
mind of the tourist of 1910 who goes to see
the unique drama which will be given in it's
historic setting from May 1G at intervals to
September 25. There points that will be
stamped modern" by those who prefer the
greater picturesqueness of the old times to the
enterprise of the There will be a sugges-
ton of extremely modern spirit in this notice
which will be found the programmes:
Ladies will leave their large hats at home, |
accommodations provided in the thea |
tre for disposing of them"
Another notice below this that mo photo |
graphs may be taken of the performance" clear |
ly indicates that this right has been signed over
to professional photographers from whom |
alone may buy pictures of the players at |
handsome prices.
Perhaps also the raising of the price of good |
seats in the theatre to 81 and 81 30 was done |
to make the native of far-off Broadway feel at
home, for that American prices known in |
remote little Oberammergau is made painfully |
certain by announcement in one of their |
lodging house prospectuses that their charges |
Of 81 so for and board a day not |
paid for room and board at the recent fair in |
an American city called St. Louis. Yet if this |
is an age when the desire for money turks in |
every ones thoughts there is excuse for it |
I'm the increased number of wonderful things |
that in these days money can buy.
Oberammergau, however, has not forgotten the |
reason for its Passion play, and consequently |
1T still refuses to give itself to commercalism |
Not long ago a New York theatrical manager |