Passion Plays

The U. S. has no Oberammergau, nestling among mountains and presenting every decade a Passion Play to commemorate its deliverance from pestilence.* But many a Roman Catholic parish offers some kind of play or pageant. Jesuits and Franciscans have given performances in San Francisco. Chicago has an annual and Milwaukee a biennial sacred play. A nine-act drama, The Passion, is given at St. Xavier College in Cincinnati. Last week as Lent opened, pious spectacles began to appear.

In Brooklyn and Boston was performed Pilate's Daughter, an all-female play based on the life of Claudia, who is supposed to have cast a rose at Christ's feet as He passed to His crucifixion. The rose kept its fragrance and Claudia lived among the Christians in Rome, was received into Heaven at her death. Written 32 years ago by the Rev. Francis L. Kenzel of the Redemptorists and performed annually in Boston since then, Pilate's Daughter has traveled far: a nun in China asked for a copy last fortnight.

Nearest thing to a U. S. Oberammergau is a grimy, ugly town across the Hudson River from Manhattan called Union City. This New Jersey municipality has two sacred dramas, both 20 years old and both celebrated.

Veronica's Veil, performed at St. Joseph's Auditorium, was written by Father Bernardine, Passionist. It tells how Christ paused on His way to Calvary, dried His face on Veronica's veil, left His features impressed on it.* Veronica took the veil to Rome, heading a band of Christians. Veronica's Veil is performed by two alternating casts of 150 amateur players, many of whom have played various parts from the beginning. One of the Veronicas, plump Louise Monaco, parish secretary, started out 19 years ago as a child actress. A salesman named Leonard Mathews has been Caiphas the High Priest for twelve years. Tall Paul Mallon, 22, jeweler's clerk, plays Christus. He is the only actor who speaks no lines. Costumed by women of the parish, paid nothing for their work, the cast of Veronica's Veil rehearses three months every year, goes into a retreat to prepare spiritually for the 25 performances. As "America's Passion Play" opened its 630th presentation last week it was estimated 1,000,000 people from all parts of the world will have seen it before its current run closes.

The Passion Play, called "America's Oberammergau," opened last week at Union City's Holy Family Church. It was translated and is still directed by 79-year-old Rev. Joseph N. Grieff. Last week Father Grieff was officially hailed as "Union City's Most Useful Citizen" in honor of the 75th anniversary of his parish's founding, the 50th of his pastorate. The Passion Play, in six scenes and ten tableaux, departs from tradition in letting Christus talk. Attracting smaller audiences than its rival 20 blocks away, it presents a good Judas, a Caiphas who has played the part 18 years, a noteworthy Christus (Arthur Frech, bank teller). During Christus' soliloquy at Gethsemane a tinsel angel hangs over Him. The Crucifixion, lit with lightning flashes, is effective with Christus attached to the Cross as if by nails for a good five minutes.

*Scheduled for this summer is the 300th anniversary Passion Play. The "German Christians," however, are seeking to have it cancelled as too Hebraic.

*Venerated as a holy relic, the reputed original veil is annually exhibited in St. Peter's in Rome during Holy Week.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.