Passion Play: Ticket sales are picking up - Corona failures among the performers

Created: 06/21/2022, 08:00

By: Manuela Schauer

The people of Oberammergau have been bringing their passion plays to the stage since mid-May.

© Mayr

The utilization of the Passion Play in Oberammergau is improving.

We are now approaching the 85 percent mark.

This was calculated in advance.

Oberammergau – The pressure has dropped from Walter Rutz.

The Passion Play is going well, he says.

All the tension in advance – gone.

Now, a good month after the premiere, he knows that the grueling work in advance has paid off.

And above all, "that my numbers fit," says the plant manager of the in-house culture business and managing director of Vertriebs-GmbH.

In the business plan he calculated that 85 percent of the tickets would be sold.

A brand, says Rutz, “that we are currently launching”.

Ticket sales for the Vow Game are picking up.

This is confirmed by Mayor Andreas Rödl (CSU).

"But we probably won't make more than 90 percent," he admits.

This is also Rutz' prognosis, although he tends to exercise caution with predictions - among other things with a view to the Ukraine war.

"We're getting tickets back from America for September."

Although the final result has more to do with it than the number of visitors, it is already becoming clear to the head of the town hall that the passion will not plug all of the community's financial holes.

"We have to prepare for the fact that we won't have a lot of money in our coffers," he announces.

A small calculation example on his part: If 25 million euros are left over, eight million are to be deducted from this for the loan and probably another eight million as pre-financing for the next passion.

In addition, there is the necessary investment in the fire station, for which a site analysis is currently being carried out.

Cost: estimated up to ten million euros.

"Then the money is gone," says Rödl.

No frills, without even considering the deficit of the wave crest.

Nevertheless, Rutz, master of numbers, remains calm.

"Economically",

Incidence leader in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Those responsible are still relieved that the performances can go ahead at all this year.

Corona made her afraid for a long time.

Just last week, the virus struck again among the contributors.

Apostles, members of the high council and people, technicians and executioners are said to have become infected.

Rutz confirms failures, but emphasizes: "We can compensate for them well." Through flexibility.

Someone else then jumps in and takes over the respective role.

"If you're always there, you'll know the text at some point." The cohesion is strong, the change of line-up is not a problem.

However, one consequence of the corona infections is that the incidence in Oberammergau is increasing.

Last week it was the highest in the district with a value of 1697 (calculated per 100,000 inhabitants), Murnau came in second with 578. No surprise for district office spokesman Wolfgang Rotzsche, after all the participants undergo rigid tests.

"If it were done like this in all other places," he says, "the numbers would look the same."