3-078-137 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Passion Play at Ober-Ammergau in Bavaria: Petrus (Jacob Hett), 1890. Staging of Jesus' passion, that has been performed every 10 years from 1634 to 1674 and each decadal year since 1680 (with a few exceptions) by the inhabitants of the village of Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany. 'I have spoken with most of the leading actors in the world-renowned tragedy. All of them inspire one with the persuasion that they are men of simple life and genuine piety of mind. Of the fifteen leading male characters, eight, including the Christus, are employed as carvers of ornamental wood, one as a builder, one as a house-painter, one as a tailor, and one as a baker...Altogether apart from the merits of the performance, it is a pleasing spectacle to see this peasant community devoting its evenings to a high form of dramatic art. In November last the characters were selected by a committee of twenty leading villagers. Thence until now there have been two rehearsals every week of the different scenes. These are held in the houses of the various characters, and on Sunday afternoons there have been rehearsals of portions of the play'. C. K. S. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.