European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 26, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Passion play one of Oberammergau s hordes of tourists photographs a picturesque Village scene. Continued from Page 11 confusion. The Sellers Don t know How much to ask for the tickets. Quot Well Are you scalping or do you want to make a reasonable american profit from a reasonable american than Quot Schultheis asks. He Points to the Soldier. Quot Here s a military Man serving hts country. We be got to keep the american  a British girl wades into the bargaining fray. Quot How much Quot she demands. Schultheis glares at Here. Quot we were Here first we re going to buy them he says sharply. She wanders off but not too far. A Deal is struck. Schultheis and the cd each pay 400 Marks $250 for two tickets. Normal Price is 95 Marks $60 each. A couple of More deals Are consummated by others on the sidelines a trumpets blow signalling the beginning of the play. Scurrying feet beat out applause on the Concrete Street. Act 1, scene 1 has just ended. The event will be replayed in the afternoon by those hopefuls who decide a half Day is better than nothing. Some will end up paying 100 Marks or More for the privilege of being sardine packed for up to three hours with 4,683 others on hard wooden seats that allow Little leg movement. It s a lot of fuss for a production touted As 100 percent Amateur. And with the exception of the commercialized biblical carvings and Knickknacks that Jam downtown shops it s All in the name of the lord a a religious fever seizes Many visitors who regard the trip to Oberammergau As a modern Day pilgrimage. Tickets to the passion play Are coveted because after sept. 28, the next performance won t be staged until the year 2000, the play which relives the last Days of Christ in Jerusalem has been put on for mostly 10-year intervals since 1634. The reason is steeped in history dating Back to a 1633 Promise that villagers made to god. The bubonic plague that had ravaged most of Europe finally spread to Oberammergau despite attempts by the townspeople to Seal off All Mountain passes. One historic account says that after 100 inhabitants died the rest of the populace turned to god if spared they vowed to re enact Jesus last Days on Earth every 10 years until the end of time. That pledge has been honoured except for 1920 during world War i and 1940 when the nazis dismissed the performance As sentimental drivel that would divert manpower from world Conquest. Controversy though seems to accompany the Fame that the 14-act, 60-scene epic has gained. Even today charges of antisemitism continue to dog the play. Critics argue that the script unfairly burdens the jewish people with collective guilt for Christ s death. This year horns traditionally placed on the Heads of jewish High priests have been discarded. For the first time Jesus and his followers Wear traditional prayer shawls. Despite script revisions and clothing changes jewish leaders Are still not satisfied. This also is the year of a $1.2 million ticket scandal a Black Eye for the town Oberammergau hotel owner Alois Lang is accused of promising 20,000 tickets to two British travel firms tickets that did not exist. When people arrived they discovered they had no tickets and were turned away. Quot it s a horror Story Quot says Juliane Margraf who Heads the passion play press office. Quot there were old people who you know won t have another Chance in their lifetime to see the play Quot the Community of Oberammergau Sells 450,000 tickets annually through its own Agency. All but 150,000 include hotel arrangements. Forty percent of All tickets go to foreigners most of them american or British. A demand by some for the actors to perform on tuesdays and thursdays their Days off was rejected. Most of the 2,000 villagers have regular jobs and take pay cuts or work different hours to participate in the play Margraf says. A suggestion that the play be video transmitted was also nixed. Treating it As a religious event the Community has turned Down commercial film and television offers. The cast cannot go on tour. Although the entire play is in German the actors transform the open air stage into a visual feast that transcends the language Barrier. Live goats sheep chickens a Donkey and a flock of pigeons color the landscape. Margraf says Oberammergau receives Many letters from visitors who have seen the play. Quot very often someone says it was one of the greatest experiences of their lifetime Quot she says. 12 stripes Magazine july 26, 1990