3-078-180 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Ober-Ammergau Passion Play: Judas (Johann Zwink), 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...Eight of the characters play the same part as they played in 1880, the most important change being the substitution of Johann Zwink for Lechner in the part of Judas. The new Judas seems only too conscious of his deficiencies at the dress rehearsal, which were remarked upon by some English newspapers. But he pleaded to me the difficulty of following so admirable an impersonator as Lechner, and the immense difficulty of the part, to say nothing of its thanklessness'. C. K. S. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.