The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-13

Syss1sIs u Tie Sceses thst Arc to
.s q Be Portrayed.
7ABlEAux AND LIVING PICTURES.
The Entertasnm WIN ne . Grand
spectacular Persermascc-Thosc
who VIII Take Part.

Tho 'Ben Hur' entertainment that is 10
Ae given It the opera house for two nights
ana matinee this week has attracted uni
versal attention and promises to be the
leading event or the season. A great many
people seem to be in doubt, however. as
10 the exact nature OF the performance
and for their benefit the following is repro
duced from the Saturday Review of Calves
ton. where ben Hur'' had q very success
full presentation during the past week:
To thoroughly understand and appreciate
tho pantoniime work and tho ,ableaux. or
living pictures. the spectator should be ia
1niliar with the book. In most dramatiza-
tions Of novels scenes are changed and
there Is a good deal that is not 10 be recog-
nised. In tho pantomime and tableanx,
however the text of the book IL strictly
adhcrd 10. In fact. the Inherent charac-
ters speak to themselves the words of the
book. guiding their movements accord
ingly.
The first scene shows the lonely desert
in tho midst OF which the three wise man
meet Bsithazar is there. spreads the
cloth in the tent and prepares for Mel
chior and Casper. who come later Tney
embrace In the manner described in the
book and set themselves TO satisfy their
hunger. for ''they were hungry and ate
heartily. and after the wine they talked
A living picture follows. showing Joseph
and Mary, the mother of Jesus. without
the Joppa gate. and with them the Rabbi
Samuel. These living pictures are all
upon raised stage at the back OF the
stage and show off very prettily.
The next pantomime shows the three
wise men without the Damascus gate.
gives their barley with the guard and
their dnal passing in TO see iierod who Is
greatly persurbed over the rumors OF a
king OF the Jews in tho Christ child, The
next scene shows them bcfouc Herod,
their explanation Of what they are seek
ing and the bestowal OF gifts. The three
wiso men make their final appearance in
the next scene. following the star to the
KHAN wherein lay the son OF Mary and
Joseph.
Now occurs a lapse OF twenty-onc years
The scene is laid in the imperial garden
and shows the quarrel between Judah-of
the house OF Ben Hur-and Messiah. in
which Messiah. returned after five years |
naughty with learning and ambition |
sneers at the jew, his boyhood friend and !
companion. Scene seven shows the house
top on tho Hur palace, with Ben Hur'h |
mother, his sister Tirzah and servant |
Amrah. Tho street scene lis then given
IN which a stone falls upon the head OF |
Valerins Gatus. the new proourator OF |
Stone must be imagined Tor all the audi |
once sees is a pageant in which Cratus
suddenly falls Into the arms OF two |
guards and ~ carried away. tableau |
follows showing the arrest Of Bcu Hur
and his farewell to mother aud sister. |
This Is very effective
I. ~ this point is introduced a number of |
me dances In the imperial garden, ia |
piean shows Ben Hur rs % galley slave.
Three years now elapse and the next
taplcau shows Ben IIur saving the life |
OF Quintus Arrius, for which act ho IL |
made a legal adopted son of this impor- |
tant parsonage and heir to his vast cs. |
tates.
The new life q Ben Hur IL now depicted !
b. scene showing tho beautiful grove
OF Daphne, into which como the priest
esses OF Apollo and the Naiads
In the book the dance or the priestesses
OF Apollo In the grove OF Daphne Is thus
described: Tho hair of the dancers float
cd Tree, and their limbs blushed through
robes OF gauze which scarcely drapeu
Them Words may net be used TO tell OF
the righteousness of tho dance" The
iair priestesses who Will take part In the
Houston production need not be
alarmed. Their costumes are not mod
eled after COPIES OF the original. Quickly
the scene is changed TO the Orchard of
rains and the entertainment of Ben IIur
Dy me Arabian girls. with solo dance
by lennetta. A pretty tableau shows peu
Hni and Iris on the lake
the house OF Smonides. the trusted
servant OF the father Of Ben Hur is next
SHOWN. Smonides is with his daughter.
Esther. when sheik llderim admits hen
nur. Simonides renders his account 10
Dch Hur who refuses II. Simondes re-
fuses TO take back tho paper and hands
uim another, statement of servants.
containing tho names OF himself and his
daughter Esther. The son Of Hur refuses
ms also. but is shown the awful mark In
his his ear, which made him a servant for
life. Simonides then asks simply Tim, No
~ continued In the capacity he had
served, that - steward of the proneri~
This is granted. Esther asks 10 be al.
lowed TO care for her father which re-
Iuosl also granted. and the curtain
goes down with pretty tableau
INC flrst act closes with the reading a,
me chariot race. during which a tablpn,,
SHOWS Ben Hur driving his chariot.
me sprltes' fantastic and statuary omen
s1o second act, after which the palace OF
Iha!ia and the dance OF the nymnhs y,
daphne. Ben Hur is lured TO the palace
py q messenger from Iris and kills tha
companion OF Thord, which greatly
pleases that individual ""v
Inc desolato home Of the Hurs Ia newt
SHOWN. ben Hur approaches and hurls mo
eslgn q the emperor into the stree, ~, ia
tnen throws himself upon the tloorsten and
AiinWs sleep to drive away his anger and
his bitterness, White he is asleen M.
mother and sister appear. Tho son Is rec
Sxnaaed Amfan, the servant, appears,
Two enter the house. ~
LII ne next scene shows En- Rogel wen
win AmMh and the lepers. The lattar
sss {. arlven away Simonides and his