New Christus For Passion Play

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 829, 25 November 1929, Page 14

New Christus For Passion Play

YOUNG WOOD-CARVER 300,000 VISITORS EXPECTED For the first time in 30 years there will be a new actor playing the role o£ Christus, when the residents o£ the little Bavarian mountain village of Ober-Ammergau present their Passion Play. Aloys Lang, wood-carver, has received the coveted honour. Aloys succeeds the world-famous Anton Lang, who is now 58 years of age—too old to play the part o£ the Saviour. There is no relationship between the two. The new Christus, who hitherto has played the role of Nathaniel, is 38 years old, six feet tall, and has the olive complexion and classical features o£ the Nazarene. In the last election, Aloys was beaten by Anton Lang by the close margin of one vote. New Player for Virgin A new player for the role of the Virgin also was selected —Annie Rutz. She succeeds the old player of Mary, Martha Veit, who deserted the cast after the last presentation to marry a Dutch visitor to the fete. Anton Lang did not run for his old role in this year’s election, but contented himself with the role of the prologue reader, the traditional part of the retiring Christus. The race for election to the part o£ Mary was close, with Miss Rutz opposed by Hansi Preisinger, 22, an inn-keeper’s daughter. The latter was appointed to play the part of Mary Magdalen. Miss Rutz is 20, and has sable hair and dark eyes. Immediately upon learning that he I had been elected to the major role, I Aloys Lang went to the town’s church, j where he prayed in thanksgiving. His | election has caused general satisfac.- | lion, as he is known as one o£ the i most pious of the villagers. He has i trained all his life for appearance in the Passion Play, and is well qualified ] in outward appearance for the part, jHe has a chestnut beard, and dark i brown.hair, which is uncut. ; Lang is known as one of the most industrious and thrifty men in the village. He is conceded to be one of the best wood carvers in Ober-Ammer-gau and in addition tends forty beehives. Like all other Passion Players, he based his claims to the role he j received upon his spiritual as well as i physical qualifications. ! Father Bogenreider addressed the j entire village, reminding them that the play is a tradition of 300 years standing, and urging them to exercise humility and piety in performing their parts. The first presentation of the play was made in 1634. There are 2,500 inhabitants in Oberi Ammergau, one fifth of whom take 1 part in the great drama. A commit- : tee elects all the speaking players, of i whom there are 103. In addition to ! the selections of Christus, Mary and ! Mary Magdalen, three others have | been chosen. They are Rendi Peter for the x>art of St. Peter, Guido : Mayr for Judas, and Hans Lang for ! St. John. The play will open in May of next year, when 300,000 visitors, 50,000 ! of them Americans, are expected to I visit Ober-Ammergau. The fact that both players of j Christus are named Lang is not considered unusual, as there are 500 persons in the village bearing the name. SUNDAY SCHOOL SERVICE MOUNT ALBERT BAPTISTS The Mount Albert Baptist Sunday School celebrated its 17th anniversary yesterday. In the morning the speaker was the Rev. A. W. Dean. The Rev. A. R. Jansen gave the afternoon address, and in the evening the pastor, the Rev. John Laird, addressed 550 people. The singing of the choir of 220, under Mr. A. T. Turner, was greatly appre- | ciated. The annual meeting and scholars’ tea will be held tomorrow evening.