The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-06-11
MRS. cILWAIN TELLS OF THE
OBERAMMERGAUP PASSION PLAY

theater. where all the tableaux are
presented.
on the morning Of the play at 1880
the firing Of cannon announces to all
to proceed to the theater. At O'Clock
the cannon is fired again three times
to announce the commencement, and
five minutes later. all who are not in
their seats must await on the outside
until the next act.
The play consists OF II acts, each
preceded by tableau from the old
Testament, pointing to the action
which follows. The prologue, or
speaker. explains the connection of
the % tableaux with the action.
The Expulsion out Of Paradise the
first tableau, is Immediately followed
by The Alteration of the Cross, by
angels. The chorus follows and the
play begins.
Act l.-Christ's entry into Jerusa-
lem. children marching with palm
branches, out of the gates OF Jerusa-
lem, crowd following, shouting for
JOY. Christ appears, riding on the foal
OF an ass. He dismounts amid the
cries Of the people, and exchanges a
few words with the priest
The curtain again rises in the thea
ter and reveals the temple, with money
changers, sellers of doves, etc
"A chorus tells the story Of the sec
ond tabIeau. where Jacobs sons re-
solve TO put their brother Joseph away
Following this tableau, the sand
hedrin liz assembled and determines
to take Christ prisoner.
"One of the most beautiful tableaus
is the rain of mamma, followed by its
companion tableau, The Last Supper
Judas now appears and receives the
traitors reward. So perfectly has he
done his part that instances have beer
recalled when after the play he has
been stoned by the children of the
village.
The morning performance ends
with Christ's betrayal, and His with
drawal to the Mount of Olives with
the three disciples.
AT D. m. again we assemble at the
firing of the cannon, and the trial Of
Jesus proceeds with the crucifxion
Christus staggering under the weight
Of the great cross he is bearing. Isaac
carrying the wood for his own sacri-
flee is the significant tableau which
has preceded this scene.
Mary, as she catches a glimpse O.
the awful vision, cries: oh, God, it is
my son!' Christ remains on the cross
twenty minutes. closing with Tt is
finished. When the soldier pierces
his side with his spear, inside of his
flesh-colored tight covering is con-
cealed a sack of red fluid: when this
is pierced, and the liquid falls to tht
floor, SO still and tense is the audience
that this is heard when it hits the
the floor. Children scream and women
and men weep.
A strip of linen is placed back oil
the cross and the body gently lowered
and placed in the tomb. Christus re-
appears, and the tableau of His
Ascension IS presented. showing Hin.
surrounded by hundreds of Hi
friends. The curtain falls, and the
chorus renders triumphal song
gladness and hallelujahs to the Riser
Lord.
He who can look on unmoved al
this play must have the emotional ele-
ment left out OF his makeup. an{
have been robbed at his birth of mucl
OF the joy OF living.
In this open-air daylight theate
there are none of the conventional
artificialities of the footlights-no
accessories except those Of costume;
no wigs, no cosmetics, paint or powde,
can be found on the face of a single
performer
1t is thinking and feeling his rol.
that is the key to the Oberammergat
acting and success of the Passion
Play.
In emerging from the theater al
are impressed, as If leaving the bod,
lof dear friend behind, and the oc-
casion is too solemn for words. We
seem to have seen the real living
Christ and His followers, and the i'm
preston can never be forgotten.
The late w. T.. Stead, famous Brit.
ish writer and editor, who persisted OF
the Titanic, wrote: saw it in 1890,
1900 and 1910, and II my health doesn't
fail, shall see II again in 1920
The only dates missed in its per-
Torrance were during the 18th CEN
tury war, and in 1870. the former
Prussian war, when it took place in
1871. Several of those who had played
1920. the great world war, the play was
also postponed.
In all these hundreds of years they
have made no money. but have had
deficit TO meet, until 1900 when s144.32
was the profit. In 1910 the sum of
$267, III was taken in, with expenses
OF sS0,20s. OF this sum $1o2.502 was
given the performers and ss3,6s6 to
village Improvement.
1.-THE costuming material is bought
in Berlin, Paris and Damascus, and
the costumes are designed by the
drawing master Of the village and
made by the women. Some OF them
are Of expensive brocade.
"The thirty-hve girls in the angel
chorus are all in white flowing robes,
with long loose hair. No married
women are permitted to take part in
the play.
Perhaps 1t may also be interesting
to know that the prices of seats is
graduated, according to location. the