Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-19
FIRST PERFORMANCE
Of PASSION PLAY
SCHEDULED MAY 4
Thirty-Five Thousand Applica-
tions for Seats Already
Have Been Received.

Oberammergau, Bavaria, March IS.
-(By The Associated Press. Prep
arations for the first postwar revival
of the Passion Play have progressed
sufficiently to enable the committee of
elders to announce that the final dress
rehearsal will be held May .. The first
regular performances will be given on
May IA.
Thirty five thousand applications for
seats and sleeping accommodations al
ready have been received from abroad
and while the local management has
not yet received indications as to the
extent to which Germans will natrou-
ize the productions of the play, it as
sumes that German attendance will
more than quadruple the foreign pa
tronage.
Anticipating an unusual influx Of
visitors in July and August, the man
agement has decided to give Wednes-
day performances during these months
Rural Simplicity Shocked
Economic conditions have obliged
the village elders considerably to
amplify their directing staff, not so
much as concerns the production of the
play as to solve the problem of nc
commodating 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 enterprise from
becoming hasely commercialized. they
a no hnr Yr liza 1nA h.
wars aftermath has produced an eco
nomic environment with which they are
compelled to reckon.
The municipality of Oberammergau
has pre- emptorily rejected a PROPOSE
ton that it levy tax on foreign visitors
which. it declares, would be out of har-
mony with the origin aud traditions of
the play and also would conflict with
the purpose of the present revival
which is regarded as one way of
achieving reconciliation between Ger
many and the other nations. The town
fathers, however. announce that they
have been forced to assume consid-
cradle initial expense in preparing for
alter which will seat 1890 spectators.
and in providing costumes.
Plan for Visitors Care
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 10000
marks while repaving Of The main
streets has cost almost as much.
All told this hamlet which. in peace
times. had budget of insignificant
already has staked its
n
this years productions.
Oberammergau will be able to fur
nish accommodations for 1000 visitors
who prefer to sleep in the village in
order to be on hand for the early open
ing performance. Tnterammcrgau.
close by. is arranging quarters for
l 800 others. while the well-known
at Ettal, half an hours travel
distant. is preparing to install 500
cots. Thus the management
of the play believes that it will be
amply able to accommodate the over
flow of visitors.
Will Rebuke Proflteers
The problem Of feeding the guests Is
more intricate and to solve it the eld-
ers have appointed commissary de-
partment which win cooperate with
The Bavarian food controller and the
cooperative society of Regensburg.
Stern rebuke awaits the profiteer
who should attempt to conduct a lunch !
stand here in defiance of established |
regulations or violate fixed price sched-
lles. In fact, Legitimate dealers and |
SPECTATORS Of all categories arr being
informed that Oberam-
nergau is bound to prove disappointing
10 them If they regard it ms an op-