The Irish standard., 1910-06-04
Many Americans Are Plainly Notice
able in the First Crowd at
Oberammergau.
Opening Performance For This De-
cade Given in Rain and Snow
and Sunshine.
Four Thousand Visitors Impressed
by the Tableaux and Art of
the Actors.

Under an oberammergau date of
May II the following appeared in the
New York Sun relative to the pres
entation of the Passion Play:
The trains from Munich to Ober-
ammergau yesterday were quadrupled,
and still were crowded by the strang-
ers that had assembled from all over
the world to witness the first public
representation Of the Passion Play for
this decade. Americans distinctly pre-
gested the United States, not Ger
many. The skies were more than gray
and constant showers might have
dampened the ardo;r of any other as
semblage of people:
AS the train mounted higher and
higher it was perceptibly colder. The
last hour Of the trip, which takes in
all from three. to four hours from
Munich. is on a small branch railroad.
The first morning train was so heavy
and long that half way up the engine
refused to overwork and the engineer
returned to the station for another en-
gine. Thousands had assembled by
evening IN the muddy village. where
nothing seemed to discourage them.
The accommodations are far better
than they were ten years ago, but the
stretts'are not paved and the mud was
several inches deep.
The scene this morning was a sight
to remember. It had showed over night
and all was white, but the people not
having come for winter sports the SOL
emn pilgrimage seemed harder for this
unexpected touch Of winter.
The village church was crowded at
6 o'clock by an assembly such as is
seldom seen. Peasants and worldlings
Of many nationalities knelt together to
prepare themselves for understanding
the presentation of Christs Passion.
From o'clock stream Of this molly
crowd poured up every road toward
the theatre. At quarter to o'clock
the cannon roared the signal and re-
verberated among the mountains.
Four thousand people were seated
under the high arched roof, and at 8
o'clock precisely the chorus came SOL
emnly upon the open stage and tho
prologue began. The orchestra is
grouped partly under the middle of the
stage, SO that you scarcely see the
players.
In the center of the stage, Of which
the sky is the only covering, is a closed
in second stage with curtain which is
drawn aside after the chorus has ex-
planned the subject, and wonderful
tableau is revealed. It is called the
Type, and is scene from the Old
Testament prefguring the events in
the life Of Christ. The grouping and
the costuming of these tableaux are
beautiful and artistic beyong criti-
cism and only equalled by the mar
vellous stiffness of the men, women
and children taking part. You gaze
on the picture feeling that the figures
must be statues, the pose is so per.
feet.
Many books and artists have de-
scribed the scenes of the Passion Play
and there are excellent scores in both
German and English, which are used
by the audience to follow the scenes
The first scene in the life Of Christ
is "The Entry into Jerusalem on an
Ass"-while the populace have palm
branches and spread cloaks for the
Nazarene to pass over. From this
scene on to the end the acting. becomes
like the reality; and in spite of tho
intense cold people were amazed wher
the first part ended at IL o'clock tc
realize that four hours had passed.
The audience scatters for the midday
meal and is summoned at 2 O'clock fol
the second part.
It is in these last scenes that the
actors display their unexcelled his
trionic art. Anton Lang az Christ ant
Johann Twink as Ju las are the mos
perfect. The roles are cast with 6
judgment that seems unerring. Sc
i a. a.sa4s .