The Columbia evening Missourian., 1922-05-11
PLAY SHOWING
SAVIOR,SLIFE
BECINSSUNDAY
People of All Nations Flock to
Obcrammergau for
First of Famous
Performances
SEVEN HUNDRED In CAST
Anton Lang Will Take Part of
The Christ-Tradition
FOrbids MatrOns to
Participate.

by tnHsd sfsss
OBERAMMERCAU, Bavaria, May IL
Oberammergau presented today the gen
rral rehearsal which will preccde the Tor
NAL launching Sunday Of the word-fa
nous Passion Ray.
Today's rehearsal was mainly for the
housewives and other non-participanis Oi
the village who will have no time for
the play afterwards. but will be busy
night and day attending the wants OF
PLAYERS and visitors.
This will be the first performance OF the
Passion Play since 1910. Since its first
rendition in the seventeenth century. the
result Of vow that il the village were
spared from the plague which was sweep
ing Europe. the Passion Play would be
performed every tenth year. there have
been few breaks in the decennial festi-
val. But in 1920 il was considered mad
ysable TO hold the play because OF the
afier-efTects of the war.
Anton Lang. the bearded master-potter.
will fill again the central role of the
Ghristus. which he performed in 1900
and 1910. Fraulein Martha Veit, bru-
nciie daughter Of a famous Passion Play
family. will play the part of Mary. Paula
Rcndl is TO be Mary Magdalenc, and her
father, Peter Rendl. ivory sculptor. will
be Joseph of Arimathea. Anna Bauer
succeeds as Martha her sister, Victoria
Bauer, who played the part in 1910.
Whilc-haired Gregor Breitsamtcr, old
csi PLAYER in the company. will play the
part Of IIerod Bearded, frowning Guido
Mayr will be the ireacherous Judas. Mel
chior Breitsamer is the youth selected to
play the part of John, who is always rep
resented in the play as being young.
The Lang family. which furnishes the
Chrisius, has altogether ten represent
iiiives who fill name parts in the play this
year. In addition, Johann Lang is direc.
tor and many Langs play minor parts.
The sleek, fat little donkey which in the
play carries Christ into Jerusalem is the
pet Of Anton Langs youngest children.
Seven hundred of Oberammergau's
citizens-mcn, women and children
make up the cast of the Passion Play.
In addition TO the leading characters.
Roman soldiers, moneychangers, witness
es and others, 200 adults and 200 chill
dren from the crowd Tradition for
bids the participation of married women.
The Passion Play is one of the Oldest
forms of Bavarian fOlk-drama. Mention
is made of its rendition as far back as
the thirteenth century. The text from
which the present book is derived was
rendered, in its original form, at Frank
fort in 1901.
Because they became corrupted by re-,
vision until their righteousness was
matter of considerable doubt, the Passion
Plays of Bavaria generally have been
suppressed at various times. In l770
nearly every village had its Passion Play.
Then the authorities forbade such PLAYS
because Of their, at that time, question
able character Oberammergau sougb'
and obtained exemption because of the
vow given at the time Of the plague, and
Is citizens gave the play again inl 780
Ii was suppressed again in 1910. Again
the citizens appealed successfully. and
performed the Passion Play in 1911. at
which time both text and music were
drastically revised. Now ihirty-five in
slrumentalisis and forty ehoristers render
the music.
With time. the performance of the play
has changed from a losing to paying
proposition. 4 century and half ago
the town had to pay heavy losses. Now
for decades the towns expenses and pub
lie improvements have been paid partly
from the Passion Play profits. In 1900
visitors paid more than 100000 marks
then S25O.000-to see the play, and of
this more than 10000 marks-$l5OOOO
was clear profit Out of this the vii
layers built new woOd-carving school
and a practice theater. gave generously to
local churches and charities. and divided
more than $4,000 among the players. An
ton Lang. then first playing the Christus,
receiving 1915.
This year will probably be the banner
year. Germans, Americans. Italians, Brit
ish and others booked rooms in the vii
lage months ago. Many of them are ar.
irving; others are staying at nearby towns
and will motor in TO performances.