Posted on 05/16/2010 5:26:55 AM PDT by GonzoII
Published: 16 May 10 09:55 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100516-27225.html
The 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play premiered to nearly 5,000 spectators Saturday. The performance marks the start of the 41st production of the traditional five-hour performance.
About 2,400 residents – or half of Oberammergau’s total population – participated on stage or behind the scenes to help with this year’s production.
The Passion Play tradition goes back to 1633, when the plague struck the Alpine village and locals vowed, if they were spared, to put on a play about the crucifixion and reincarnation of Jesus once every 10 years - forever.
Frederik Mayet, a 30-year-old marketing student, played the role of Jesus and braved cool temperatures on the open-air stage – wearing just a loincloth in some scenes.
Fleece blankets from Passion theatre’s souvenir shop were sold out well before the opening scene, and some theatre-goers even brought their own sleeping bags.
“The scenes were so strong and striking, you could almost block out the cold,” said Bavarian State Premier Horst Seehofer, one of the guests attending this year’s premiere.
(Excerpt) Read more at thelocal.de ...
We'll let ya slide on that one.
An bit of trivia about Oberammergau that I learned recently: no fake beards, mustaches, or hairpieces allowed. Every beard you see on stage is a real one, so the actors required to wear beards have to start growing them months before opening day.
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