Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-07-29

-. approaching theatrical season
IN h. full 81 interesting and untrleu
..,sts but probably none Is exciting
,,,,sh curious anticipation as the
..,suetlon OF Hen Hur It has always
- found a dangerous proposition TO
lent the savior on the stage ana
y natter how well tho character was
...,.t,.d the average thcatcr goor-at
~, An England and America-ahowed
~. ,.,urrnncc OF the idea by remain
,.g away from the theators where the
,.ls.ptatlon was attempted. The fate
\, 49,. Passion Play ~ n case well IN
-, II was successfully brought out
Z, GERMANY. where It had n long run
,u, in this country though James
o.Ssi was employed 20 M tho role
y, inc Savior. and the most lavish pro-
aystion was employed. people simply
....,i5 NOT encourage II by their pres
80 In San Francisco II had a par
,''t succcss, but elsewhere II was
failure.
4, spsaklnF about the dramntization
- apsn Hur' General Lew wallace
r,eentiy made this statement though
n Win be seen that he does not say now
hts long rooted objections were over
come -, -...,, -.
,ylsts because OF the subject Of tho
ts1k IL la religious In It, tendency,
aud goes 10 the extent Of making christ
a character. I presume every CHRISTIAN
r.atsr feit tho reverence and at times
H. awe which / myself was conscious
of during the writing. II has scented
10 me that the book WIS not adapted
10 the stage unless It's production would
h rogardful Of the feelings and senu-
nfnts " its friends. In the no1t place
there were certain points In the nature
Of the climnNca necessarily Impossible
u rendition Electrically, except with
an outlay OF money which few man
ayers would dare attempt. such ~
the sea hight a never could see how Il
was 10 be produced with cmoopi next
the chariot race ana lnhty, inc
rrucinxion. In my limited knowledge
Il stage effects could not comprehend
how these cllmaNca could possibly De
presented. have also had fear
nat whoever should undertake the pro-
auction dramatically would fail to treat
n m the proper spirit OF reverence. a
number Of persons wen known In the
hstrlonlc world have applied TO mo FOR
he dramatic privilege. Some OF them
fro dead now, but | think | may men
ti5n n few OF them without shocking
anybody. Lawrence Barrett was very
terrlstcnt. | mot him often. and Ia no
Instance did he fan TO insist upon IT,
The last time I ever saw him was AZ
he Fifth Avenue hotcl In New York.
lie had invited me to dine Win him.
4. a 10 a NHFa
and spent the evening trying 70 COM
yIncc me that there was In the book
O theme FOR great play without
trtnthlng upon any OF the parts made
tacfgd by the appearance OF the savior
RuI I declined. The younger Salvini
vas also persistent In his requests, He
had the idea that he would make an
excellent ben Hur. and l was OF the
same opinion. a number OF other per-
tods who sought the privilege % pro-
dgelng the book ARE Htill living, and,
o. their requests were refused, puhllen-
ton 90 their names In connection with
lhs might be Offensive. think how
ever. ! may. without Improperly, re-
isf 70 the KlnlfyH, who had "a prodlgl-
uis scheme. the main point OF which
tas the chariot race, They proposed
lildng thirty acres OF ground on stat
On Island. OF which two acres were 10 be
reserved nr fitted up for the exhibition.
Ne privilege has also been asked by
tawr.ghts IN England and also IN
Germany i have acccded finally TO the
request II Messrs klaw 4 Erlnnger.
hdr representation " their design or
Production was altogether new and at
,flcted me at once. The dignity OF the
Ii0fy, ne conceived Il 10 be. was care
illy preserved. and due regard was
lAlgn Tor the religious opinion OF all
lho might be Induced to attend per-
lamanct."
Passing the Salt Lake Theater yes