The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-22
AS QUEEN OF SHEBA.
The Great Role Assumed BY
Mile. Rhea.
STORY OF THE NEW PRODUCTION


Judging from reports which come
through the Eastern press. Seattle theaser
eoers are to have great treat on Monday
ana Tuesday Of next week. when Mile.
hnea, supported by . strong dramatic
company, viii present 'The Queen Of
sheaa. superb spectacular production
IN four acts. BY M. Adrien Barbnsse. OF
Paris. No pains have teen spared to
make the production Of Mile. Rhea's new
play genuine success. and THE Queen
OF sheba" promises to become almost rs
famous IN the dramatic world of today az
SEE was IN the history Of Solomon's time.
The company II the largest Mllel Rhea has
ever carried. and includes Nr. w. s. Hart.
who VIII sustain the character Of Hiram
OF Tyre. The music includes choruses,
dances, and several beautiful arrange
ments for quartette. The latter will be
sung by four wsll-known artists
The story Of the play opens in the hall
OF solomon's temple. II Is the day Of the
Inauguration of the temple, about 900 B.
c. Everybody Is filled with delightful ex-
pectation except Hiram. the chief builder
OF the temple. Solomon offers him fabu-
lons rewards, but he refuses them. craving
only portrait of . woman, which the
king has in q casket. The king, having
first intimated that the original of tho
portrait is dead, complies with Hiram's
request on condition that ne shall leave
Jerusalem and remain absent four days,
the duration of the beautiful queens visit.
This is agreed TO by Hiram. As the lat
ter is about to leave the gate of the city the
queen and her court approach. Balkis.
the first maid Of honor to the queen, has
-.
him leaving the city. She greets him with
love, but BOON discovers his GOODNESS. He
tells her he is in love with the portrait.
Balkis, on seeing the picture. recognizes
the queen as the original.
Hiram soon after sees the queen on the
throne. He recognizes the resemblance to
the portrait. but believing the original to
be dead he thinks it may be o vision he
sees upon the throne and falling upon his
knees he exclaims in a sort of ecstaey, az
love thee" Jabez, Prince of Ophir. the
eetrothed of the queen. resents this decla-
ration as an Insult and he and Hiram then
engage in conflict. Jabez is wounded.
In the second act the queen becomes
aware by degree that she loves the auda-
cious Hiram. Jabez and Balkis have also
discovered the state Of affairs. Jabez seeks
to put an end to Hiram by offering him .
poison which he claims to have been sent
by the queen. But sleeping draught has
been substituted for the poison By Balkis.
Hiram falls into deep sleep which bears
the sembIance of death. He il placed in
scpuichcr which is visited by both Balkis
and the queen. The unhappy infatuation
of Balkis for Hiram il revealed before the
queen. who has by this time rejected the
suit of Jabez and acknowledged her love
for Hiram. A few drops Of q magic elixir
bring Hiram back to his senses. and the
lovers are brought face to face. There Is
scene Of intense dramatic force when
Hiram decides to forego his happiness
rather than that the queel should leave
her high station to marry him. But for
tunate thunderbolt kills Jabez. and Hiram
is named Prince of 0phir In his stead.
This brings the play to happy climax.