Hungry Horse news. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1948-current, 1955-07-29
Falls Girl Has Part in Passion Play
BY Kathy Harvey

~ bN0sUy 49, ~
When most little girls Of three 60
to visit their grandmas and grand
pas for the summer they can count
on picnics, a party or two, probab-
ly swimming and lots Of just plain
playing. But Vonnie Goble has some
thing else in mind when she goes to
SpearfiSh, S. OAK, to visit her grand |
parents. There she enthusiastically
takes part in one Of the most I'M
usual dramatic productions in the
world, the Black Hills Passion play.
The three year old tot, daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Carl Goble, Column
bia Falls, plays the part Of "a child
in two scenes Of the nationally
known dramatization of Christ's sew
en- last days. In one scene she rides
on a donkey during the triumphal
procession to Jerusalem and IN the
Bethany scene she dominates the
action as she runs to Jesus and IS
picked up by Him.
In the latter scene she needs no
coaxing to run to Josef Meier, who
portrays the Christus, because he IS
one of her favoriie people. Her en-
thusiasm for acting the part is par
tally due to her affection for him
and when she arrived in Spearfish
this summer with her grandmother,
Mrs. Frank Tyro, she wanted to
"call up Mr.. Meier right away"
To Meier, his wife, Clara Hume
Meier, and daughter, Johanna, pro-
duction of the play is their LIES
work. Meier, trained for the. part
since childhood, is the seventh in
his family to portray the role OF
Christ. His wife plays the part OF
Mary and daughter, Johanna, II,
plays Salome. She began her career
. in the role of the child, that Vonnie
! plays, when she was just five weeks
old.
The passion play dates back 70(
years when it was originated BY
monks in Germany. It continued {
German production until 1884 wher
Meier brought it to the United States
d to escape trouble under the Hitlel
a regime. It toured this country unit
June, 1899, when it found a perm
- anent home in Spearfish. 1t is pre-
!. sented each Tuesday, Thursday am
i Sunday evening from the middle Q
- June through the first week in Ser
e tember in the great outdoor amph
r theatre. Last summer $4,000 peopl
=. witnessed the performances.
Z. The Passion play is more tina
81 Just something that takes place
d. Spearfish. 1t is the heart of the sun
Is mer life of the town, and about Il
D residents serve as supporting pla!
d. ers called "supers", taking part
ne mob scenes and in special role
of There are about 20 professional a.
rs tors and many animals in the mas
i've pageant, staged in numerous in
pressive sets on the huge natur'
amphitheatre's stage.
Little Vonnie (actually LaVonr
- Gay) Goble isn't overwhelmed
,a the giant stage or the thousands wi
rs witness the play In fact she
-. scarcely aware of the audience b
hind the lights. She is an old tim
~ at acting, having started in her ro
~ ~ at the age of 10 months when h
"a parents lived in Spearfish. She
m turned last summer and this year
~ participate and stay with her gran
, a parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Tyl
~ who own Shady Pines cabins a
i act in the play each year.
The tiny actress is often soug
md out by tourists who enjoy her p
md Torrance and she readily grants
zen terviews and poses for photograph
lev Mrs. Goble says she is develop
are a great deal of poise through /
Alb acting.
Her mother, also a veteran sup
I'M introduced her daughter to Meier
Don 1858 when the family was in Spe
, a fish, where Goble attended Biz
dis Hills Teachers college. He major
in math and science and is now
Mr.. pot control foreman at the Anac
ere da Aluminium company plant. ]
Mr.. couple have, in addition to VOnl
inn two sons, Craig, and Curt, l.
GUS Mrs. Goble says this is proba
Sne Vonnie's last year in the part
!. II is getting too grownup for it.
eao. parents are glad she had such
lssy opportunity and are pretty pro-
ana to have her taking part in the +
ne se GUS Black Hills Passion play.