Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-15
PASSION PLAY PLANS
FOR 1922 UNDER WAY
Highest Honors Go TO lmper-
senators of Jesus Christ
or Mary.

BY Associated Press to Every Evening
Oherammergau Bavaria, june 2s.--
Thirty performances Of the Passion
Play have been scheduled for 1922 by
the committee OF 81, which is direct
ing the spectacle. but this number
will be increased if the attendance
demands. as was tho case both in 1900
and 1914.
II viii require an outlay of 100000
marks TO stage the Oberammergau
play and the villagers are extremely
anxious about the German political
situation. lest conditions be such that
foreigners will not attend.
The 500 hurghers, VINO constitute
the descendants of the original peas
ants who made the VOW TO produce the
play decennially, personally assume
the responsibility for this. expenditure,
and the failure, to attract sufficient
visitors TO mect the cost would result
in the bankruptcy of practically the
entire village. as the Oberammergau u
folk. have slight resources.
Most Of the burghers are wood
carvers pottcrs, painters, sculptors,
farmers, merchants and small shop
keepers. Only the descendants of the
Villagers who were saved from the
plague in 1888 take part in the Pas
sion Play and assume responsibility
for it's production.
Next October will he n fateful
month. for then the names OF the vii
layers who's are To have the leading
relies in the spectacle will be an
nounced.
To be selected TO enact the role Of
Jesus Christ or one of the APOSTLES,
is a far greater honor to an Obcram-
mcrgau man than election 10 the
presidency Of Germany or any other
office within the gift of the entire
German people.
And any woman of Obcranmergau
would far rather be chosen to play
the role of Mary or Martha or Mary
Nlagdalene than To be in the position
or Frau Ebert AZ mistress of the
Presidents palace in Berlin.
Many Of the actors in the Passion
Play next year will doubtless be the
SAME as those in the cast when the
play was last produced in 1910. An
ton Lang, who enacted the role Of
Jesus Christ in roo and 1910, viii
probably be chosen for the part again.
as he is still young enough 10 under
take. the arduous task and looks the
part 50 we'll that younger aspirantS
are not likely to displace him.
Ottilie Twink. who played the role
Of Mary in 1910, has married since
that time. No married women can
play a role. Consequently all the
young women OF OberammerGau with
ability and experience as actors are
eagerly trying 10 qualify for the high
ly important part. Paula Rendl
daughter of Peter Rendl, the sculp-
tor. who was Joseph of Afimathea
in the play Of 1910 and enacted the
role OF 81. John p years ago. is one
of the most promising candidates for
the role of Mary. F'raulein Rendl has
shown great ability in minor religious
plays which are produced constantly
ly the Oberamme Eau folk as
means of training actors for the Pas
sion Play.
Marie Mayr. who played the role
Of Mary Magdalene in the 1910 pro-
ducuon, has also married and is liv-
ing in Chicago. Marie Schmid. who
was the Veronica in The last produc-
ton. has also married.
Eighty-two OF the Oberammergau
men died during the war an= many
Of the older actors of the last produc-
tion viii be disqualified by age for i'm
portant roles. Consequently there are
scores Of places in the cast TO which
young men with ability as actors
may aspire. They have begun TO let
their hair grow Wigs and make
up are not permitted by the directors
OF the Passion Play.
Practically all the older men who
hae important parts in the last pro-
duotion have never cut their hair.
Many OF them have retained their long
leards and pride themselves on their