- Title: WEST GERMANY: STARS OF OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY PREPARING FOR 1970 VERSION
- Date: 7th January 1970
- Summary: 1. GV STREET LEADING TO OBERAMMERGAU WITH SNOW BANKED ON ROAD SIDE 0.06 2. GV PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET, CAR THROUGH TOWN 0.11 3. SV HERR FISCHER WHO IS PLAYING CHRIST WALKS TO CAMERA AND POSES (3 SHOTS) 0.30 4. LV INT. BEATIXE LANG WHO PLAYS THE VIRGIN MARY AT HOME GOING THROUGH HER LINES (4 SHOTS) 0.59 5. LV HERR WAGNER (WHO PLAYS JUDAS) COMING OUT OF SKI LIFT AND MEETING PEOPLE (3 SHOTS) (HE IS A LIFT) 1.12 6. CU HERR HASER (WHO PLAYS PETRUS) SEEN HERE WOOD CARVING - SAYING HIS LINES (2 SHOTS) 1.24 7. LV HERR PREISINGER WHO PLAYED CHRIST IN 1950 - 1960 SEEN HERE LEAVING HIS HOUSE 1.36 8. GV PLAYHOUSE 1.42 9. CU POSTER RELATING TO PASSION PLAY 1.45 10. SV STATUE OF CHRIST AND INSCRIPTIONS "KING LUDWIG II" NAMED AFTER THE PLAY (2 SHOTS) 1.52 11. GV OBERAMMERGAU 1.57 Initials KM/VS/AW/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 22nd January 1970 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: OBERAMMERGAU, WEST GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVA16CS0VGACL9B4YZEM0NRL103V
- Story Text: IN THE BAVARIAN VILLAGE OF OBERAMMERGAU THE STARS OF THE FAMOUS PASSION PLAY, PERFORMED EVERY 10TH YEAR IN THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR LIFTING THE BLACK PLAGUE OF 1633, ARE BUSY PREPARING FOR THE 1970 SEASON.
EVERY ACTOR IN THE PLAY MUST HAVE LIVED IN OBERAMMERGAU WITHOUT INTERRUPTION FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS AND PREFERABLY ALL HIS LIFE. IN A SMALL COMMUNITY OF 4,600 PEOPLE IT IS NOT EASY TO FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN PLAY CHRIST, OR THE VIRGIN MARY OR ST. PETER WITHOUT RAISING OBJECTIONS.
THIS YEAR THE SELECTION COMMITTEE AWARDED THE PART OF CHRIST TO DR. HELMUT FISCHER, A 36-YEAR-OLD LAWYER WHO PLAYER THE APOSTLE THOMAS IN 1960. IT IS AN HONOUR BUT ALSO A CONSIDERABLE FINANCIAL SACRIFICE TO BE CHOSEN FOR THE PLAY. THE MAIN CHARACTERS ARE PAID ABOUT GBP700 (7,000 MARKS) FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED PERFORMANCES BETWEEN MAY AND SEPTEMBER.
IN THE OTHER MAIN PARTS ARE BEATIXE LANG AS THE VIRGIN MARY; HERR WAGNER AS JUDAS; HERR HASER AS PETRUS.
HOTEL KEEPER ANTON PREISINGER, WHO PLAYED CHRIST IN 1960, AND IS PRODUCING THIS YEAR'S EFFORT, SAYS THE MAN CHOSEN TO PLAY CHRIST LIVES UNDER GREAT PRESSURE. HERR PREISINGER EXPLAINED THAT HERR FISCHER CANNOT REALLY HAVE MORE THAN TWO BEERS AT A TAVERN OR THERE WILL BE WHISPERS AND THAT THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE TO REPROVE THE LEADING PLAYER SHOULD HE LOSE HIS TEMPER OR BEHAVE WITH ANYTHING BUT DIGNITY IN PUBLIC.
KARL BAUER, THE VILLAGE PRESS OFFICER, SAID THAT IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE MAN WHO PLAYS CHRIST TO HAVE A GOOD CHARACTER - HE MUST ALSO HAVE STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. THE SAME APPLIES FOR THE WOMAN CHOSEN TO PLAY THE VIRGIN MARY.
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