Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-20
GET READY FOR
PASSION PLAY
IN BAVARIA
Famous Actors in Oberam-
mergau Production to Be
Seen Again Next Year.
LANG IN CHRISTUS ROLE

ammergau, Bavaria, are preparing for
the production of their famous passion
Play which should have been presented
in 1920 but had to be postponed until
1922
Anton Lang, who appeared as Christus
in 1900 and 1910 and became world IA
nous for his wonderful representations,
has been chosen again to fill this part.
His features bear a striking resemblance
to traditional portraits of Jesus and his
manners are of winning simplicity
other important roles viii be filed as
follows: Peter Address Lang; Judas,
Guido Mayr; Annas, Sebastian Lang;
Herod. Gregor BreitsamteT; Mary, Marta
Veit; Mary Magdalena, Paula Rendl;
John. Melchior Breitsamter. Jr.; Gaia
phas Hugo Rutz: Plate. Hans Mayr.
The war wrought many changes in
Oberammergau. 800 Of the men under IS
having been drafted into the German
army. Of these seventy four were killed
and many wounded Some were taken
prisoners by the French. Several of the
players lost an arm or n leg and other
persons had to BE substituted Anton
Lang being slightly over military age,
was not called to the ranks
now PLAYERS
ARE SELECTED.
The players for the principal roles are
selected by a committee of nineteen ap-
pointed by the villagers and headed 10y
the burgOmaster and village priest, the
vote being taken at the end of October
in the year preceding the play. Subse-
uuentIv the minor characters are chosen.
Nearly 700 persons take part in the
play. 122 of whom have speaking parts
while 2G0 act but do not speak. During
the play season the respective performers
Put aside their respective trades and en-
deavor TO live up to the parts assigned
to them In ordinary life Anton Lang
Is n potter Most of the other male
players are woOdcarveTs and farmers.
The staff of the play includes an or
ehestra of IS musicians, IL singers, .
scene shifters. co ushers. 30 carpenters
and q fire watchmen. There are also
committees on music, press, photographs,
lodgings, tickets, etc.
Costumes are made in the village and
cost more than $1,000. The materials are
obtained from Berlin. Munich and Paris.
Some rare stuffs are procured from Da-
mascus and Jerusalem. The play delights
the eye, the costumes OF men and women
in soft greens, browns and blues being
In pleasing harmony. Priests and
Pharisees are like emperor moths in the
glory Of their raiment. The stage pic
lures are beautifully designed, the
Lords Supper. for example, being a re-
production Of da Vinci's masterpiece.
Until 1910 the play :aU Oeen performed
every ten years since 1854 in compliance
with a vow made in that year. the only
break having occurred during the Thir-
" Years War. The performers are nat
ural artists, highly trained and excelling
In stagecraft. Advancing age, with each
decenniaI, renders a change IN cast I'm
perative, but no one surTenders a lead
ing role without tears. II is said that
in 1870, 1880 and 1890. died OF broken
Joseph Mayr, who represented Christus
heart when he had TO retire. So closely
are the players identified with their parts
that Johann Twink. who formerly ap-
peared as Judas. attempted 10 hang him
self on one occasion when carried away
by the tension of the scene. The way to
the cross is realistic to the last degree
The actor impersOnating the Savior is
suspended from the cross for more than
twenty minutes.
In earlier times the play was per
formed outside the village church on
platform of rough boards. Il is now
presented in an auditorium with seating
for 4.OOO. The theater Is rooted over
except the stage, which IS 40 feet long
and 10 feet deep. On either side are
the palaces Of POntius PLATE and the
High Priest The background is sup
piled hy the frOst-cOvered hills Of Ba-
varia and the blue sky. surprising lany
effect that an enclosed thester could pro-
duce.
Nobody Is going To make money out
of the Passion Play. In 1910 the receipts
amounted to $4,000. but this amount
was entirely expended for the costs Of
production. wages, public Improvements,
religion. education and relief Of the poor.
About 600 was required for salaries
OF nearly 200 persons employed in the
play. The largest amounts were paid TO
Anton Lang and another player, the man
ager, the conductor, leader OF the chorus
and first tenor, who received about 500
apiece. These payments were for the
entire season, from the middle of May
10 the end Of September
As in previous years, Anton Lang and
other players have declined TO appear
outside Of Oberammeragu- MoTinG
picture rights are also barred At the
close Of 1910 a company offered to bring
over the principal performers TO appear
in New York. at n salary Of 5000 each
with all expenses paid. Although this
addition to a handsome amount paid to
the community, the offer was immediate
" refused.
The Passion Play of 1922 will be pre-
scented at Oberammergau at intervals
between May IL and Sept. p, and will
comprise thirty-two performances. 1t is
divided into two parts Of seven acts each,
with frequent tableaux and musical &C.
commandments the thread of the nara.
tive being maintained by prologue and
band of soloists and choruses. Thu
nucleus Of the acts is always an incident
Ia the life of Christ. The performances
begin at a. N. and end at p. N. with
an intermission of two hours for lunch
Since the last performance, in 1910,
garage for 200 automobiles has been
erected in Oberammergau, which can
sbe reached by the electric railway from
Munich in less than two hours note
worthy feature of the 1922 production, as
far as American visitors are concerned
will be the lower cost of accommodations
in the village, owing to the high value
Of the dollar ut current rates Of ex-
change
Oberammergau today is filed with ex-
element over the preparations for the
play, which is also a subject of much
anxiety, the community having planned
10 spend three million marks on the pro-
duetion, and every member has staked
his all. 1t is not believed that the pref
udices and animosities caused by the war
viii tend TO keep away former friends,
while new pilgrims finding their way to
the Bavarian village viii receive n genu-
Inc welcome from people who hated war
rs much as the most ardent pacifst.