PASSION PLAY IN OBERAMMERGAU

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 145, 15 March 1939, Page 5

PASSION PLAY IN OBERAMMERGAU

Origin In Vow Made 300 Years Ago Lecturing at the Hutt \ alley High School on the Oberammergau 1 assion I’lay, Mr. T. G. Queree said that the play originated 300 yeais- ago when the black plague was sweeping Europe. The villagers of Oberammergau made a solemn vow that should they be delivered from the scourge they would perform the passion play every decade, as an act ot thanksgiving and devotion. It was said that the plague then disappeared. The play had been rewritten and enlarged many times since then, .there were 120 speaking parts and it occupied eight hours. So that the right atmosphere might be attained, card playing ami dancing were prohibited for a year before the presentation of the play. People wishing to, see it had to pay for thenseats and accommodation in their own country, so that no mercenary element should mar the proceedings. The villagers refused an oiler of £150,000 from America to film the play. The play was presented three times weekly for five months. Visitors were allowed to stay only two nights, as so many came from all parts of the world to witness the play. On the day of the presentation a gun was fired at 6 a.m. The presentation occupied from 8 a.m. till midday and from 2 p.in. till 6 P-tn. Mr.' Queree said he had been billeted with the village blacksmith, who took an important part in the play. The passion theatre was 145 feet wide and accommodated 5060 people; the acoustic properties were perfect. Only three sides were enclosed. leaving the stage open to the sky; consequently tlie actors were exposed to the sun, rain and snow. No make-up was allowed and no artificial light employed. It was amazing that so small and isolated a village could produce the widely varying types required for the play. The singing of the “Hallelujah Chorus” by a choir of 700 voices was a magnificent climax to (be presentation of the greatest drama the world had ever known. Dr. A. G. Butchers, president of the parents' association, thanked Mr. Queree tor liis lecture, which was in aid of school funds. Mrs. F. Potter sang “Alleluia," and Mesdames F. Potter, J. Schmidt, F. Gray, W. G. Fisher and D. Hodgkinson and Misses M. AV ells and E. Pryde, members of Mrs. N. Taylor's glee club, sang “AU on an April Evening.”