New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-05-15
I ASSIGN Play
Audience Half
From America
fignifcance Attached to the
J First Performance at
Oberammergau Since War
Because of Genoa Struggle
ang Sees a Message
thief Actor Says He Hopes
4 World Will Find Basis
4 for an Understanding

s oBERAMMERGAU, May IL (By The
Associated Press) To-day saw the
hrst public performance since 1910 of
the world renowned Passion Play, with
the highlanders Of this Bavarian viii
iage the actors. In tho wake OF the
most cruel and extensive war Of his
tory the revival Of the pageant drama
. tIzation of the life Of Christ came to
I an audience Of some 1000 persons in
what seemed particularly appropriate
sequence to the conferences at Wash.
ington and Genoa.
II was pointed out to-day that while
At Washington and Genoa the expert
political and economic builders Of the
world conferred on the reconstruction
OF good will among men, the represent
atives of the four corners of Christen-
dom were beginning the seasons pill
Srimages to Oberammcrgau to witness
the established Interpretation of the
foundation on which their religious
structure was based in the career Of
the Man OF Galilee.
II hope the Passion Play will con-
stitute basis from which more friend.
ly intercourse between nations will re-
suit in better international under
standings said Anton Lang, who plays
the role of Christ. "To mo there could
be no better place for peace confer
ence than Ober.mmergsu. with the
teachings of its Passion Play
Lang's every gesture and his attitude
Pm. or of the stage personify a man
~ peace. and his personality reflects
fhe devout character and sturdy ideal
ssm which since 1888 has guided the
Tillagers' devotion in presenting the
clay every ten years, except for few
necessary Interruptions
g Thousands of tourists are here for
Ehe Passion Play. Those who had been
final dress rehearsal commented freely
to-day on the undoubted effect of the
surrounding natural beauty upon the
yiesrnings of the villagers of Oberam-
fergau for the higher things of life.
Vhe majestic peaks Of the Bavarian
fyrel, in which Oberammergau is
,ocKeted, seem like solemn sentinels
Guarding its unique enterprise from
The commercialism of the world out
r,ide.
y The bells of the parish church which
his morning summoned the inhabi-
,ants to the last mass before the open
1t1g of the Passion Play season yester-
FAY tolled the final rites over q promi-
tlent member of the cast. Anton Mayr,
nho played the part of the Disciple
rhomas. Mayr caught cold fortnight
:iyo while rehearsing on the outdoor
tsGse during the severe weather and
sdkd on Thursday. His funeral was
ihNd yesterday. He is survived by FIVE
participate in the play.
Fully half of to-day's audience was
nfde up of Americans, among them
George A. Bucklin, the Consul at Co.
blenz, and Mrs. Bucklih. and Colonel
Ezekiel j. Williams, of the American
General Staff, and Mrs. Williams. The
English delegation was next in size.
sThe other auditors were Germans, Rus
,iaps and Dutch.
The inhabitants Of Oberammergau
are sparing no pains to billet foreign
srs comfortably and to entertain them
generally. The visitors are particu-
,arly impressed by all the efforts made
'sn their behalf, dictated primarily by
yineere motives of cordiality and with
tout consideration for monetary advan-
itages. These efforts are somewhat in
contrast with the experiences at Mu-
pich, the inlet OF the Oberammergau
tourists.
4 The visitors here mingle freely with
lad are largely billeted in the homes
( actors and actresses of the Passion
clay. The wife of Anton Lang assigns
3A considerable number of them to the
Homes of villagers.
" The village itself does not forget the
realistic side of life while portraying
..1s idealism. Fourteen members of the
.s.Red. Cross, as we'll as firemen of the
= ocal department, stand ready in the
,,theater for any emergency.
:, Brilliant sunshine flooded the tiny
, Valley this forenoon after two days
=, Il rain. This afternoon was partly
5loudy, but the performance Of the
,heassion Play proceeded faultlessly and
Has highly commended.
, q Beside the art of Lang the interpre