Show preparing for passion drama dram a oberammergau getting ready for religious play to be given next year berlin word hns has gone out to all male inhabitants ol of oberammergau to let their hair and beards grow although another year must ellipse elapse be fore tile the famous passion play Is again performed in tills this little III tie bavarian village visitors already see signs ot of a activity and bustling preparations for the dramatic event interest centers chiefly on the choice of players for the main roles christ and blary anton ung tile the m master as ster potter who hns has played harlst in ohp in last three presentations of the pa passion assion play has passed the age limit ana ann I 1 Is not able to undertake the exacting task a fourth time who will be chosen to succeed i I 1 the choice for this important pa part rt has bas now narrowed down to two can alois lang a distant cousin of the famed anton and Aleicho lt a worker in a local sawmill alois lang Is a school teacher both men are splendid physical types tall erect with heavy bushy busby beards and trailing traill ng hair played the part of john the baptist in the last passion play production in 0 two seek mary rote role interest Is equally keen in the selection of the young woman who Is to assume the role of mary alary the choice for this part appears appear s to lie ile between ria lang daughter ot of anton lang and hansl Pr elsinger daughter of the village postmaster both are said to be excellently qualified for the role in character and appearance alike ench each has the madonne expression pale thin face with an almost ethereal countenance either might ha have ve stepped out of the frame of a raphael painting they are equally talented as actresses and each has long hair for bobbed heads are taboo in the passion play itla ilia and hanst hansl were both educated at the institute of Dornin dominican tean jah sisters at polling and both in accordance jul with a custom widely Fido pled hi bs oberammergau maidens have enjoyed a stay in ID england as house daughters in private families A knowl edge of the english lan language is considered a great asset in Obe oberhammer rammer gau in view of the throngs of enn eng elsh and american visitors to this his spot ria ani hanst hansl now alvi at home borne and devote themselves to assisting their mothers in the household but that Is oot not their ultimate ambition IbI tIon ria lani lang intends to atay at home like a true bavarian village karl it if she Is chosen tie as mary abe will first become a member of the chorus of the passion play 41 have vol worldly ambitions ambitIon pi in connect loo ift with tho play 6 she ebe said re recently centIS to me it Is riot not a theater but service ot of god and a n of the v vw w made by out our forefathers in rhe days of the fhe pestilence in if ion hansl tins ims a view ol of the altair she Is determined to become an actress she will not be content to assume iny any lesser r part in the play no even as marys ul al te tc niue tier her real alc L confessed Is to tie te married tier her prospective bridegroom bilde groom Is a young en ineer tit nt the be big power plant on tile he walchensee if his dancea should be chosen as mary custom would impose one year ot ol celibacy ou oil him ue he has declared himself whole aimle heartedly heart cily in sympathy with hans hanels desire to become an actress citizens select cast the inhabitants of oberammergau themselves et elect lect most of the actors actor and actresses for the chief part of the play the damoc of those chosen ire are then submitted to a special vm cum nettee headed by the mayor and this cods hods makes the final decision dt the cast will not be announced until sep ember but the names of eligible young lolk folk are discussed where evor the villagers forem foremother ither this Is not net log that the villagers grew up from thed r earliest childhood in the tradition dUlon of the passion play As children they strew lowers flowers in the savi jurs path during diring the play ten yeura latar liny joined the crowd that cries ho sany sanca lal 1 orease or else they were allowed to alty the parts of guardian angels dressed in swe sweeping eDing white robes those wi have stage ambitions then entered the kreuzer school which gives plays in its own theater near the famous passion play theater preparations for the performance in lyu 0 are proceeding rapidly all tile the village streets have been paved with asphalt and the country rond aronds leading to oberammergau have been rebuilt in anticipation of the tens of thousands of 01 motorists who are ex es pecked to visit the he passion play A site has been selected for the erection of an nero dome so that hurried tourists can come by airplane the passion play theater too Is being renovated |