The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-06
AN EVENING WITH BEN HUa.
Lew walIacss' Famous Tale Beauti-
fully Illustrated by Tsbleau.

/
fully illustrated by Tsoleau.
San Evering with Ben Hur" at the thea
ter last night was a thoroughly delightful
entertainment Lew WallAcs's starry Of the
/ Christ was made more vivid by the tab
/ leaux which illustrate Il from its inception
70 It's close by just the real pictures
which the word painting Of the author pre-
sents to the mind.
Mrs. Bradford, under whose direction the
entertainment was given, has seized the
vital points Of the wonderful story In her
| illustrations. The scenery was adequate.
The costumes were appropriately varied
and beautiful
At the left Of the stage sat the slocution-
ist, Miss Msrchand Of Washington, who
read the story during the tableaux, ena-
bling the audience 10 follow it closely and
relieving the mind Of the strain Of explain
ing the scenes as they were presented.
Miss Marchands recital Of the
chariot ra e was feature Of the entertain
ment During the recitation the dropping
of pin might have been heard, 90 atten-
lively quiet was the audience At its oon-
clusion Miss Marchand retired before .
shower Of applause.
The characters in the tableaux were adj
mirably presented. Mr.. Fred Myers made
a statuesque ben Hur." Mr.. T. Lloyd
Owens was the patrician "Messala." The
first scene represented the wise men before
Herod in reverential attitude, having just
come TO announce the coming Of him
that was called the King of the
Jews. A garden scene introduced
"Ben Hur," and his old-time friend
Messiah. Dependent and gloomy at the
falseneSs OF bis friend. and wounded in his
pride for the country Of his birth, he seeks
the seclusion Of his chamber, where subSe-
qnent interviews with his mother take
place. All these scenes gave a splendid op-
portuuity for artistic groupings and gest-
ures, and were arranged to give expression
TO the words plsced in their mouths.
Following tbs dramatic story the audi
ence saw the Mother" and "Tirzah," soon
10 meet their terrible fate, and then leaped
over the black abyss of years which the
hero spent toiling on the galleys. his wan
behring's, and, finally, his appearance before
''Simonides" aud Esther" This scene
monidesn reclining his helpless shape
in the chair, and with his devoted
daughter at his side, both listening in
tently to the story which "Hur" Is unfold
ing, made striking scene.
The meeting Of ben Hur" and his tempt
ress, the beautiful Egyptian Iras, on the
lake, called forth applause from the audi
ence. From behind the scenes the song Of
the Egyptian was sung, and met with an
One of the triumphs OF the arrangement
y as the balcony of ''Simonides," at the
Circus Maxinus, the day of the great race.
As Miss Marchand stepped to the center
Of the stage and began the description of
the race, the audience recognized her pow
ers and followed her round and round the
circus course until ben Hur" appeared
holding the ivy wreath Of victory In his
hand.
The second part of the tableaux dealt with
'Hur's" life after the downfall of his enc
mics, his diligent searcn for his mother, and
their eventual liberation with the dreaded
disease clinging to their bodies. A scene
full Of life aud color is presented when ben
Hur" tells the story of the Nazarene TO
''Simonides, . est her !" "Balthazar, "Iras''
and "Amrah." Touching and tender were
the representations of the meetings
between the faithful "Amrahn and the
mother and "Tirzah." The meeting Of the
two lepers with son and sister while he is
sleeping was effective. Finally, in the re-
union OF the "Hur family" the very excel
lent entertainment comes to a fitting close.
The tableaux will be repeated this after
noon at O'Clock. The cast of the tabieaux
was as follows: