New Britain herald., 1922-03-20
FINAL REHEARSAL
 FOR PASSION PLAY
First Pre-War Performance to Be
 Staged at Oberammergau, May IA

Oberammergau, Bavaria, March 20 (By the Associated Press).-Prepara. tions for the first post war reviva of the Passion Play have progressed sufficiently to enable the committed of elders to annouce that the fna dress rehearsal will be held May 9 The first regular performances will be given on May 14.
 Thirty-tive thousand applications for seats and sleepink accommodations already have been received from abroad and, while the local manage ment has not yet received indica- tions as to the extent to which Ger mans will partronize the productions of the play, it assumes that German attendance will more than quad ruple the foreign patronage.
 Wednesday Performances.
 Anticipating an unusual influx of visitors in July and August, the man. agement has decided to give Wednes- day performances during these months.
 Economic conditions have obliged the village elders considerably to am- plify their directing staff, not so much as concerns the production of the play as to solve the problem of accommo- dating thousands of visitors for whom the comforts and conveniences of travel before the war are now not available.
 The conditions under which the play will be revived this year have shocked the rural simplicity of these peasant play producers and, while determined to prevent the sacred en- terprise from becoming basely com mercialized they are now beginning to realize that the wars aftermath has produced an economic environ ment with which they are compelled to reckon.
 Will Levy No Tax.
 The municipality of Oberammergau has peremptorily rejected a proposi- tion that it levy tax on foreign vis- itors which, it declares, would be out of harmony with the origin and tra- ditions of the play and also would conflict with the purpose of the pres ent revival which is regarded as one way of achieving reconciliation be- tween Germany and the other nations. The town fathers, however, announce that they have been forced to assume considerable initial expense in pre- pairing for the production, recon structing the theater which will seat 4,3o0 spectators and in providing cos tunes.
 Town Needs Improvements.
 Oberammergau also is sadly in need of municipal improvements to give the village a presentable attire when the first guests arrive. A new church bell alone called for an outlay Of ITO, ,000 marks while repaving of the main streets has cost almost as much.
 All told, this hamlet, which, in peace times, had a budget of insignificant proportions already has staked it's municipal existence on the outcome of this years production.
 Oberammergau will be able to fur nish accommodations for 1000 visit ors who prefer to sleep in the vil- lage in order to be on hand for the early opening performance. unteram- mergau, close by, is arranging quar- ters for 1,500 others, while the well known convent at Ettal, half an hours travel distant, is preparing to install 800 emergency cots. Thus the management of the play believes that it will be amply able to accommodate the overflow of visitors.
 Big Feeding Problem.
 The problem of feeding the guests is more intricate and to solve it the elders have appointed commissary department which will cooperate with the Bavarian food controller and the cooperative society of Regensburg.
 Stern rebuke awaits the proiteer who should attempt to conduct a