Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-27
rHEArRrcAL GOSSIP.


The dramatization OF Gen. Lew Nallace's
Intensely interesting religious romance
-E-n Iur" viii be seen for the first time
a. the broadway TheatAr. New York. next
Wednesday night. when it VIII he produced
fy Nl---rs. KI3w & Granger after many
v---k- Of she most careful preparation The
scenic costume and mechanical effects will
b. unique and elaborate, and the produc-
tiou viii undoubtedly mark an epoch in
theatrical representations.
Tho story has been arranged IN fifteen
tabIeaux. The first scene shows the meet
!ug Of the Wise Men in tie desert. As tbs
Csrt1in rises BaIthazar. the Egyptian. and
NsIchior the Hindoo, have already come
They await Gaspar, the Greek. He enters
on his great white camel The three go
through their Solicitations and relate in
luuJomims the divine inspiration which
drew them together. The star OF Bethle-
hem appears and, guided by its wondrously
brilliant rays, they go 70 see Him VINO Is
Il be born in the city Of David. In this
Scene three real camels, fitting the de-
scriptiOn Of the story, are used.
The dramatic action Of the play begins in
The scene which represents the roof-terrace
Of the palace Of Ithamar, the dead Prince
OF Hur. the home Of Ben Hur his mother
and his sister Iirzah. Ben Hur, tainted by
MESSIAH. the Roman youth. once his friend,
but whom he nov deSpiseS. has determined
DIRE On the palace roof, watching the pro-
!ession pass IN The street below through
which Valerius Gratus, the new procurator
OF Judea, Is ma king his entry into the
city. Ben Hur leans over the terrace wall.
aud accidentally dislOdges a tile, which
f,llis on the head Of the powerful Roman.
Guided by MESSIAH, who is an officer Of
Gratus. the palace Of Hur IS attacked. Ben
Hur and his mO,he- and sister are arrested
the former 10 be condemned TO the galleys
for life and the latter incIccerated in a
Ieprosy infected dungeon where ali trace
Of them IS lost for years.
Ben Hur Is next seen as \ slave az an oar
On the Roman triIeme Of Quintus Arrius
lilo tribune, who commands an expedition
sent 70 eSECrIniuate the Aegean Dira tes
Tho battle between the triremes and the
p fteN takes place at night Arrius' ship
+ boarded and sunk. Ben Hur saves the
HE Of the tribune il the fight, the sink
ing galley leaving them afiOat on a spar in
Roman galley on the rising Of the sun.
The scenes described make up the first
Two acts. The third act opens III the house
CT SInontdes. the steward of the father of
Ben HuT. in Antioch. Ben Hur. now an
adopted Roman. the fOster-son of Arrius,
meets Esther. the daughter Of Simonides.
They are mutually attracted. He fails 10
hear anything Of the fate of his mother and
.-;e-ar from Simonides, but learns that Mes
SJit, his enemy. Is TO be contestant In
The coming chariot races and Is training
goes there, believing that only through Mes
sHla can he discover the wherea bouts of
Iru;her and sister. Two hundred people will
o. utilized In the professions which Ben
IIur encounters IN mis- wanderings through
the grove dedicated to the life of pleasure
led By the deVotees Of the goddess. Ben
Hur saws Balthazar and his daughter. Iras,
from death under the wheels Of the chariot
Of Messiah. for which he Is thanked by
She!k IIderim the Generous. the host Of the
Esvptians For this act OF heroism nderim
prtrTers to grant any favor asked OF him.
Ben ifur asks permission Of the sheik 70
drive his horses in the chariot race ia the
circus against Mcssala. and IL IS granted
The fourth act il presented in two scenes,
In. interior OF the tent of Sheik Ilderim In
fake i'm the orchard of palms. Balthazar.
the Egyptian, relates the story Of the star
or Bethlehem end the Nazarene, now born
some thirty years Iras, the fascinating
daughter of the Egyptian. lures Ben Hur
frum his love of Esther and his duty, and.
in tho barge. charms him from the sheik's
other CUES by the beauty of her voice in
song. Simonides and his daughter witness
Ihr conquest Of Ben Hur by 1raS, to The
grief and mortiica tion of Esther
The fifth act shows the exterior If the
Circus Maximus ar Antioch. Crowds
thr'ug the corridors. laying wagers on the
Chariote-rs. MESSIAH Is the favOrite San
blllat. the secret agent of SimOnides. IS
placing wtEers ON the Arabian chariot sn1
former wears the cOiOrS Of MESSIAH and is
unveiled. contrary TO the custom Of modest
Women If the time. Ben Hur contrasts the
bold Iras with the gentle Esther. sees the
eITDr Of his Judgment and his heart re-
turns 70 its allegiance to the daughter Of
imAnidCs.
Trumpets summon the people to the