Tuesday, June 19, 2007
German town approves plan to move Passion play into evening
OBERAMMERGAU, Germany (AP) - Residents of Oberammergau on Sunday approved plans to move the Bavarian town's famous Passion play into the evening hours, the mayor said Sunday, prompting the production's director to say he would stay in the job.
Christian Stueckl, who is to direct the play for the third time when the once-a-decade production is next staged in 2010, had said he would step down if the referendum went against his plan.
Productions of the play previously have run from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a three-hour interval. Stueckl, citing artistic reasons, wants to start in the afternoon and have the play run into the dark evening hours, finishing at 10:30 p.m. The town council approved the idea, but some 600 residents signed a petition to force a referendum on the plan. Opponents cited concerns including the defense of tradition and higher costs.
However, Mayor Rolf Zigon said Sunday's referendum ended with 64 percent voting in favor of Stueckl's plan. He said 65 percent of Oberammergau's 4,000 registered voters turned out.
«I am very happy _ now I know that I can carry on,» Stueckl said. The play has been performed since 1634. Actors must either be born in Oberammergau, or have lived there for 20 years.
Christian Stueckl, who is to direct the play for the third time when the once-a-decade production is next staged in 2010, had said he would step down if the referendum went against his plan.
Productions of the play previously have run from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a three-hour interval. Stueckl, citing artistic reasons, wants to start in the afternoon and have the play run into the dark evening hours, finishing at 10:30 p.m. The town council approved the idea, but some 600 residents signed a petition to force a referendum on the plan. Opponents cited concerns including the defense of tradition and higher costs.
However, Mayor Rolf Zigon said Sunday's referendum ended with 64 percent voting in favor of Stueckl's plan. He said 65 percent of Oberammergau's 4,000 registered voters turned out.
«I am very happy _ now I know that I can carry on,» Stueckl said. The play has been performed since 1634. Actors must either be born in Oberammergau, or have lived there for 20 years.
