The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-07-15
PASSION PLAY TO
Be GIVEN NEXT YEAR
PEASANT STRIVING FOR PLACES
IN CAST OF GREAT PRODUC-
TION DURING 1922.

|
lP.)-Thirty performances of the Pas
sion Play have have been scheduled
which is directing the spectacle, but
this number will be increased if the
attendance demands, as was the case
both in 1900 and 1910
1t will require an outlay of 500 900
marks to stage the Oberamerau play
and the villagers are extremely anx-
ious about the German political situa-
tion lest conditions be such that for
eigners will not attend.
The $50 burghers, who constitute
the descendants of the original peas
ants who made the vow to produce
tthe play decenially, personally as
sumo the responsibility for this ex-
penditure and the failure to attract
sufficient visitors to meet the cost
would result in the bankruptcy of
practically the entire village, as the
Oberammergau folk have slight re-
sources
Most of the burghers are woodcarv-
es, potters, painters, sculptors, farm
ers, merchants and small shopkeep-
ers.
Only the descendants of the villag-
ers who were saved from the plague
in 1888 take part in the Passion Play
and assume responsibility for it's pro-
duction.
Next October will be a fateful
month for then the names of the vii
layers who are to have the leading
roles in the spectacle will be announc-
ed.
To be selected to enact the role of
Jesus Christ or one of the apostles is
a far greater honor to an Oberammer-
gau man than election to the presi-
dency of Germany or any other office
within the gift of the entire German
people.
And any woman of Oberammergau
would far rather be chosen to play
tie role of Mary or Martha or Mary
of Frau Ebert as 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
be chosen for the part again,
as he is still young enough to under
take the arduous task and looks the
part so well 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 wman can
play role. Consequently all the
voung women of Oberammergau with
ability and experience as actors are
'agerly trying to qualify for the
highly important part Paula Rendl,
laughter of of Peter Rendl, the sculp-
or, who was Josph of Arimahea in
he play of 1910 and enacted the role
# St. John 20 years ago. is one of
he most promising candidates for the
ole of Mary. Fraulein Rendl has
hown GREAT ability in minor religious
lays which are produced constantly
" the Oberammergau folk as means
f training actors for the Passion
lay.
Marie Mayr, who played the role of
larry Magdalene in the 1910 produc-
ion, has also married and is living in
hicago. Marie Schmid, who was the
'eronica in the last production, has
lso married.
Eightv-two of the Oberammergau
zen died during the war and many of
le older actors of the last production
i'll be disqualified by age for import
mt roles. Consequently there are
,ares of places in the cast to which
oung men with ability as actors may
'pire. They have begun to let their
air grow. Wigs and makeup are
1t permitted by the directors of the
assion Play.
Practically all the older men who
I'd important parts in the last pro-
lction, have never cut their hair.
any of them have retained their
ng boards and pride themselves on
cir resemblance to the biblical char
ters they have depicted