3-078-140 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Passion Play at Ober-Ammergau, in Bavaria: Vashti and Esther (interlude of tableaux vivants from the Old Testament), 1890. Scene during the 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 in Germany. 'Between the acts of the Passion Play are exhibited a series of "tableaux vivants," representing incidents of Old Testament history which have been reputed to be typical or prophetic of the gospel of Christ. One of these, from the "Book of Esther," is shown among our Illustrations...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.