The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-08
PASSION PLAY STORY
IS INTERPRETED ABLY
BY VILLAGE ACTORS
by JUNE ROBINSON

Bf JUNE ROBINSON
PARIS, July 24.-By mail to the |
Palladium-tamous for its presenta- |
ton Of the Passion Play, Oberammer-
gau is again the journeys end for
thousands of travellers from all parts
of the world this year. The interrupt
ton OF the performances by the war /
Which had until then been given every
10 years since 1913 has not dimmed
the inspiration or earnestEess with
which this little village continues to
keep its pledge of centuries ago made
at the cessation of dreadful plague.
The play is given at certain days
during the summer months and 5000
people are accommodated at each per
torrance. All visitors must arrive
the evening before the play as II lasts
eight hours, four hours being given in
the morning and four in the afternoon.
Then they remain until the day after
the play to depart During their So
journ they are entertained in the
homes Of the natives, by members of
the play cast as well as others. Their
homes are SO simple as to be almost
primitive the cows, goats and chickens
Unique Feature
y unique feature of the play is that
the audience is seated in a covered
auditorium one end of which is open.
At this end the stage has been placed
open and separate from the auditorium
and with a background of mountains.
The play covers the life of Christ from
His entry into Jerusalem until His
ascension. The spoken lines were
written by Dominican monks and have
been elaborated upon somewhat in the
course of years but with amazing ac-
curacy Through years of study and
patient labor the peasants of Ober-
ammergau have evolved this beauti-
full play from a small and rather crude
beginning For a year before it is
presented they rehearse and prepare
it Their lives are lived for it and
with the desire to give a true presen-
tation of the story of Christs life.
The result is one which could not be
surpassed by the greatest Of actors and
one which is unique in the history of
the world The thousands who flock
10 the little faraway village are tes-
timonial to the success of their effort.
They have no desire TO become rich
but live on in their simple way I'M
world with its sophistication modern
ness and offer of wealth to them.
Each character in his everyday life
tries to live according to the part he
takes in the play All are simple folk,
picturesque and quiet Most of the
men have long, curly hair which waves
over their shoulders beneath cocky,
green caps topped with peat feather.
The women and girls wear full skirts
and tight little bodices prettily en-
broidered. Regardless of cold wea-
Their the children almost all go bare
footed Woodcarving, pottery making
and other handiwork is done by the
villagers to make a living and in win
ter the place is visited by many Europ-
cans for winter sports. The village is
only three hours from Munich, one OF
Germany's important cities.
SkiIfuIly Interpreted
The Passion Play is not a naive or
crude presentation by peasant folk
but a marvellous story interpreted by
artists of drama and told in an earnest
sincere and convincing manner. The
costumes are in ravishing colors and
exquisitely made, many Of them hand
somely embroidered. The stage is
divided into three parts. the center
DenS USED 10F taDleduX winch are
given during the play About 200 per
sons take part, so of them being II
the chorus which sings before eacf
part. accompanied by an orchestra
The play itself is a perfect symptom!
Of color, amazing in its beauty.
Wonderful Costumes
The costumes of the characters OF
flowing Greek lines are wonderful il
their colors. Christ wears robes o
crimson and white; Mary. red ant
blue. Mary Magdalene's gown was o
the softest blue and yellow. Johl
wore a soft vermiIlion red and div
green. Judas was costumed in blacl
aid gold. The priests and other dig
nitaries of tn synagogue were respler
dent in embroidered and bejewelet
robes. The soldiers of PLATE wor
flashing armor The singers formin
The chorus wore amazing gowns in dit
ferent colors over ivory robes. excep
\ the part which preceded the cruc
fixion, when they appeared in robe
pf black over their ivory