The Portland daily press., 1889-04-25
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
BEN HUR.

bA4N hOAs
An audience, far too small in numbers, but
not wanting in enthusiasm, witnessed with
interest last evening, Lew Wallace's wonder
full story of Beu Hur, depicted in life-like
representations of many Of its characters
and situations.
Mrs. j. A. Bellows read condensation of
the story so clearly that her voice was easily
heard in all parts Of the hall, and as each
scene was reached, the curtain rose and the
characters, appropriately costumed, were
presented as in life.
To all who witnessed them it was an en-
joyable series of tableaux descriptive Of
Eastern manners and customs. Many of the
scenes were exceedingly effective, as for in
stance, Judah and Tirzah on the house.
top" "Ben Hur and Iras on the Lake." on
which the curtain was called; and ben
Hur in the palace Of Ilderim."
Most of the principal characters in the sto-
ry were represented. and even to one who
has never read the book, the portion of the
narrative presented was sufficiently full to
keep up the interest throughout.
The exciting account of the chariot race
was admirably rendered by Mrs. Bellows,
and quite won the enthusiastic plaudits Of
the audience. The waits were not long, and
the time necessarily required for re-setting
the scenes was filed to the full acceptance
of the hearers, by appropriate selections
rendered by Grimmer's orchestra and the
Portland Male Quartette.
Mrs. Hayes is to be congratulated upon
the very effective manner in which the tab
leaux were arranged and conducted.
The performance will be repeated this
evening. and the hall should on that occa-
sion be filed; for, aside from the object for
which the entertainment is given. 1t is one
which will be sure 10 please those who have
read the story Of Ben Hur. and those who
still have that pleasure before them.
If suggestions may be made, we would
say that the tableaux would have been far
more effective If the hall had been darkened,
and clear as the readers voice was, 1t was at
times almost smothered by the too excessive
noise Of scene-shifting behind the curtain.
MURRAY AND MURPHY.
Tonight and tomorrow night, Murray and
Murphy will appear in "Oui Irish Visitors"
at Portland Theatre. An exchange says:
Those sterling, and popular, and irresist-
AbiJ Adhh1 SOnCAlduos murray anu
appeared on the stage at Havlin's last night
and achieved brilliant success They ap-
peared in their "nOndescript" comedy enti-
tied "Our Irish Visitors" and they kept the
large audience present in a continual uproar
OF laughter. The play has been reconstruct
ed and enhanced in value as fun-producer
by the introduction of new and humorous
Irish situations. In short, the play, as now
produced, is happy conglomeratfon OF all
sorts of refined fun.
THE SPANISH STUDENTS.
The seventh popular entertainment under
Mr.. Stockbridge's auspices, viii be given at
City Hall Saturday evening, by the Span
ish Students, assisted by Prof. Ryerson, the
humorist. Good seats can now be obtained
at Stockbridge's. There will be special
matinee, just the thing for the children, Sat
urday afternoon.
ONE OF THE OLD STOCK.
Mr.. Davis, whose impersonation of calvin
Joslin' is well known in Portland, will ap-
pear Monday and Tuesday evenings, in a
new play at Portland Theatre, called Zone
of the Old Stock" The tickets will be for
sale at the box office today.
THE BARRETTs' ENTERTAINMENT.
Tickets for the Barretts' entertainment
are selling rapidly, and II the sale continues
as large Kavanagh Hall will be crowded TO-
night. The members who are to participate
are rehearsing daily, and the committee give
assurance of most entertaining programme.
Tickets may be procured at the book store
Of MCGOWAN q Young. G. d. Cunningham (,
Co., and several of the drug stores.
PUPILS OF HARVEY MURRAY.
Mechanics Hall was filed last night by an
audience assembled to hear the musicale
given by the pupils Of Mr.. Harvey Murray,