The hot phase begins: Passion actors meet for the first reading sample - clear corona rules

Created: 01/03/2022, 07:30 AM

From: Manuela Schauer

It starts again: As here in 2020, on January 6th, the participants will come together for the first reading sample with director Christian Stückl.

© A. Stückl

The choir and the workshops have already started work, now the Passion Play participants are on their way: The first reading sample with Christian Stückl is on the program.

Oberammergau - Opulent pictures, tremendous orchestral music, hundreds of people on stage: Although the mutant Omikron is once again making planning difficult and those responsible for the Oberammergau Passion Play grow worried when it comes to the premiere on May 14th, the hot phase of the Preparations. "We all don't know what is happening," says game director Christian Stückl about the corona situation. But: "We will start with the rehearsals now - and then work and hope."

On Thursday, January 6th, all those who have a main or a minor speaking role will meet for a first reading sample.

In January you only get together in very small groups, according to a letter - signed by Stückl and plant manager Walter Rutz - that flipped into the mailboxes of the participants last week and is available to the daily newspaper.

Folk, Romans and other larger groups follow - if possible - in February and March.

Text can still change

In 2020, the actors had crammed for weeks.

"I am sure that text learning will probably go very quickly," says Frederik Mayet, who is giving Jesus for the second time.

“I recently picked up the text after almost two years and read it into it.

I was amazed, some things are somehow still saved. "

However, the text for Stückl is not a fixed construct. The work on it is "an ongoing process". Almost until the last day before the premiere, the director and director of the Münchner Volkstheater fine-tuned it - a lot could still change. "I've just read the text and I think half of it is such that I think about it again a lot."

The second Jesus actor Rochus Rückel has to learn twice. He is studying aerospace engineering, and there are exams running until early February. Everyone's hope: that the Passion can take place. "The worst case would be a renewed rejection," emphasizes Rückel. "We are happy that it is finally starting again," says Maria actress Eva-Maria Reiser. “These Passion Play will certainly be different.” Just because of the experiences with and in the pandemic. “They will definitely have an influence.” The second “Maria” Andrea Hecht - all 20 main roles are cast twice - sees the mood “already more subdued than the last few times”. Nevertheless, she hopes that the Passion will have a good star in 2022. “You probably won't have to learn a lot of text yourself, unless there are major changes. "Some scenes are still very present to me,especially those from the last rehearsal in 2020. "

New motivation through rehearsals

The actors last practiced in March 2020. A few days later, Stückl stepped visibly agitated and with tears in his eyes in front of the Passion Play Theater and canceled the premiere. It was the first shift in 100 years - and the fourth in almost 400 years of history. On the streets of Oberammergau you can now see that the world-famous event is approaching again. Flowing hair and beards characterize the picture. But the mood in the village is mixed. “Some are still waiting and don't want to be disappointed again,” says Mayet. "I am personally convinced that we will premiere the Passion Play in 2022." Not everyone shares this conviction. It is not easy to keep motivation high, admits Stückl. He relies on the start of rehearsals - trying together will motivate you again.

The 60-year-old, who is staging the Passion for the fourth time, is faced with completely new difficulties.

He wants "no untested person to be on stage".

That is why there is a strict strategy with daily, free rapid tests.

The measure is necessary "because it is impossible for us to adhere to distance rules," said Rutz and Stückl in the information letter.

Without a test, no participation in the rehearsal.

Around 2100 people from Oberammergau, and thus more than a third of the 5000 residents, take part in the performance, and up to 800 are on stage in the folk scenes - a logistical challenge.

No compulsory vaccination in the Passion Play Theater

Those who have not been vaccinated or recovered must also submit a PCR test twice a week. Since the municipality is an employer, 3G applies. Stückl warns: "For me, a wrong vaccination certificate would be a reason for immediate exclusion." That would endanger everyone else - there are also some very old people on the stage. There will be no compulsory imprisonment in the theater, it says in the letter to the participants. However, if a general vaccination obligation is ordered by the state, this also applies to participation in the vow game. Those who cannot or do not want to miss the syringe have to show two PCR tests a week - and bear the costs themselves. There are other regulations for children and young people, but these are yet to be announced.

Now the stage sets are being built. “Two years ago we left everything where we are, now we're going to continue,” says Stückl. The costumes are already adjusted. "In the last few weeks we have dressed the entire people." It's not just corona bacon: Young people have grown, such as the Caiaphas servants who are now young men.

The Passion Play is an enormous feat of strength, but also an important source of income for the place.

The production costs millions.

The fees for the approximately 2100 players alone amount to a good 20 million euros for the five-month season.

A hurdle could be the current regulation, according to which only 25 percent of the seats in theaters may be occupied (we reported).

75 percent of the cards have been sold, and a large part might then have to be returned.

With this regulation, the passion cannot be made, says Stückl.

"It's not profitable."