The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-03-20
THOUSANDS TO SEE
1922 PASSION PLAY
Applications From Abroad
Number $4,000, Many
Germans Expected
FIRST PERFORMANCE
SET FOR MAY Ii
Residents Wrestling With Economic and
Housing Problems-Determined Sacred
Enterprise Shall Not BE Commercial
izetl-Can Accommodate 5000 Nightly

IZeH-1dn Accommodate 0,UUO Mighty
OBERANINERGAU. Bavaria. March
20 ASSOCIATED Press Preparations for
the first postwar revival of the Passion
PLAY have progressed sufficiently TO en-
able the committee OF elders 10 announce
that the final dress rehearsal viii be-
held Nav 8. The first regular perform
ances will be given on Nav H.
Thirtv-fve thousand applications for
seats and sleeping Accommodations already
lave been received from abroad and.
while the local management has not yet
received indications as to the extent to-
which Germans will patronize the pro-
ductiou of the play, it assumes that Ger
man attendance viii more than auadru-,
pie the foreign patronage.
Anticipating an unusual influx OF yisi-
tors in July an August. the management
has decided to give Wednesday perform
ances during these. months. >,
Economic conditions have Obliged the
village elders considerably 10 amplify
their directing staff, not 30 much as CON
Germs the production of the play as to
solve the problem OF accommodating
/ thousands of visitors for whom the com
! forts aud convenicuces OF travel before
| the war are now not available.
Rural Players Shocked.
The conditions under which the play
| will be revived this year shocked the
rural simplicity of these peasant play
producers and while determined to pre-
vent the sacred enterprise from becom-
/ ing basely commcrcialiZed they are Jaw
beginning to realize that the war 5 al
! termath has produced an economic en-
vironment with which they are compelled
i The municipality of Oberammcrgau
has prcenptorily rejected proposition
, that it levy a tax on foreign visitors
which ii declares, would be out OF har-
, monY with the origin and traditions o.
/ the play and also would conflict with the
| purpose OF the present revival which Is
/ regarded as one of achieving recoHcllla-
4 ton between Germany and the other ma
/ tions The town fathers. however, an
:. nounce that they have been forced TO
4 assume considerable initial expense IN
preparing for the production, reconstruct
ing the theater which VIII seat 4s3eO
I spectators and in providing costumes.
/ Oberammergau also is sadly in need
of municipal improvements to give the
village presentable attire when the
\ first guests arrive new church bell
alone called for an outlay of E0OQO
marks while repaVing of the mann
i streets has cost almost as much.
Stakes All ON Show.
Il All told. this hamlet which, in peace
times. had budget of significant pro
portions already has staked its munlcl-
4 pal existence on the outcome OF tins
) year 5 productions.
Oberammergau will be able to furnish
accommodations for 1000 visitors who
prefer to sleep in the village IN order TO
be on hand for the early opening per-
Torrance. Unterammergau, close by, IS
arranging quarters for l,50O others. Whlle
: the well known convent at Ettal. half
an hour 5 travel distant. IS preparing TO
4 install 500 emergency cots Thus the
management of the play believes that 1t
. viii be amply able to accommodate the
! overflow of visitors.
The problem of feeding the guests Is
: more intricate and to solve It the elders
Z have appointed a commissary depart
, ment which viii cooperate with the Ba
l, varian food controller and the co-opera-
tive society of Regensburg.
Z Stern rebuke awaits the profiteer who
= should attempt to conduct lunch stand
] here i'm defiance of established regula-
; tions or violate fixed price schedules. IL
e fact. Legitimate dealers and spectators
: of all eategories are being emphatieallA
Informed that Oberammergau Is bound
{ to prove disappointing to them If they
< regard it as an opportunity for quick
5 cleanup.