The times., 1899-12-03
ben BUR" A SUCCESS
DramaiizatiOn Of Lew Wallace 5
Novel Presented in New York.
Daniel Frohman's stock Company
Has an Attractive Vehicle In THE
hnn"uvres OF Jane" Hut Fred
Whitney's Production of THE
Greek slave Is Not Wen Received.

~ IN Stst : e As NeA ~ c4t hecelYeu.
NEW YORK, Dec 2.-Tbere have been
three important productions here this
week and two of them made hits On Non
day night an English Importation The
Maneuvres of Jane" was offered by Dan
iel Frohman's Stock Company at Days;
on Tuesday Fred Whitney regaled Goth
antics with his rendering Of The Greek
Slave" at the Herald Square, and on Wed
nesday evening KIaw & Granger af-
forded an opportunity for witne ssing the
long -talked-of Ben Hur" All of these
events proved interesting. and each was
attended by a concourse of the citys fash
ionables. The first and the last mentioned
probably viii have long runs here.
The Maneuvres of Jane" was written
by Henry Arthur Jones and originally
staged at the London Haymarket, where
Cyril Maude was seen in the principal role
The piece was severely handled by the Brit
ish critics but was accorded the support OF
theatregoers. For this support there seems
to have been considerable reason. In the
hands OF the competent cast gotten together
decidedly entertaining To be sure, tn plot
IS a trife thin, but this deficiency is more
than atored for by the wit OF the lines and
the novelty Of the situations. The story
concerns a certain Jane Nangle, a wiilfui
young woman, who, despite pat5rnal oppo-
sitiOn determines to marry poor man Of
her acquaintance. The paJer aforesaid
makes an effort 10 g-t his daughter into the
family Of an idiotic nObleman. The Ma
neuvres of Jane, however. result so well
thai, having managed 20 wed her suitor 70
best friend the girl in question contrives to
gain consent 10 her own matrimonial plans.
Mary Mannering scored unquaiifedly in
the 'Itle role, while Ferdinand Gottschalk
failed 20 get all the humOr possible from
the part OF Lord Bapchild, but pleased not
withstaudiug. The company included. be-
sides ihese two. Charles Walcot, William
+. C0urtenay, Charles Harbury, George
BOnifsce. John Findlay, Elizabeth Tyree.
Mrs- Charles Walcot Jessie Busley Mrs
Thomas Whiffeu and others.
Unfortunately one cannot speak with
equal assurance Of the impression made
by The Greek Slave" The musical com
edy ran nearly a year in London. but hard
ly seems likely to come anywhere around
that record here. Comparatively little of
the book is either new or clever while
score and lyrics occasionally are very te-
dious. Whatever degree Of enthusiasm
the premiere may have awakened may be
put at the door of the presenting organi-
zatiou. Minnie Ashley a mere slip of a
girl who never before has been seen in
Gotham. made an especial hit her charm
ing personality marking her for attention
that would not have been, commanded by a
dis2ley of art far greater than any of which
she is capable. Dorothy Morton did ex-
eeedingIy well with the role originated by
Marie Tempest, while Richard Carrie Al
bert A- Parr, and others were app,auded.
Hugh Chilvers sang a tenor part effec-
lively. but, as usual. his acting was afro
ciOus. The scenery was admirable and the
chorus. though more extensively clothed
than Greek slaves pOpularly are supposed
to be, showed TO good advantage The
Greek Slave" may be made valuable
piece Of property.
But the greater part of the enthusiasm
Of which I was possessed when l sat down
for the purpose OF beginning this letter
has been reserved for Ben Hur" Will
liam Young's adaptation Of Lew WalIace's
famous tale of Christ" has been much
talked of for several months, and it was
7uly natural that the crowd assembled on
the occasion Of the first night should have
been unusually large. Excepting in the
play itself, however, there was no reason
WHY tll- EtLl4E4l 4ll4E 5AAuulA nave Bt@L NDGil-
erously commendatory. There were curtain
calls after every act, and the ehari-
Ut race at the end of the fifth, literally
brought the house to its feet Women
waved handkerchiefs and men yelled
bravo Finally. after this had been
continued for three or four minutes,
General Wallace was persuaded 10 make
a brief speech. Mr. Young's presence was
demanded, but he had slipped away, and
rfafa -lrT
ing the man whose theatrical knowledge
and endurance had made possible the tri-
umph.
The story OF Ben Hur" has been ar
ranged most logically The drama is begun
with sort OF pantomimic prelude in which
is shown the meeting of the three in the
desert. Then. in due sequence, is exhibited
the roof Of the palace in Jerusalem, from
which the young prince lets fall the tile
that is destined 20 wreck the fortunes OF
bis house. The arrest. trial. and condem-
nation OF the family close the act Next.
Ben Hur is seen at his oar on the galley OF
the Roman tribune and the rescue Of that
official also is brought out in detail The
third act takes place in the home of Simon
ites and the fourth in the tent of Shiek
lldermiE Here occur the final events
leading up 20 the great chariot race. which.
in the fifth act. is reproduced in a manner
t1aL tatis into play every possible ingeuui-
ty of stage craftsmen The spectator sees
the crowded circus. the endless track of the
arena. the strain.ng fours OF Hur and Mas
sala, the humping vehicles, and the excited
drivers, hears the patter of horses hoofs
the cheers OF the multitude and the crash
0f the c5liiding chaFiots; almost smells the
dust and blood. The last OF the piece is
purely explanatory. though interest is not
lost until the final curtain has fallen and
the audience has risen
Ben Hur" was admira bly, acted. even on
Wednesday. In the title role, E. j. Nor
gan displayed force and discretion Of which
few thought him possessed. He looked
manly and courageous. There can be no
doubt that his impersonation Will add
much To- his reputation. The Simonides Of
Henry Lee proved carefully studied char
acter bit, while Edmund Collier as Ar
rius Frank Mordaunt as Balthasar; EN-
NETT Corrigan, as the Shiek; Frederick
Truesiell, as Malluch; Gretchen Lyons, as
Esther; Corona Riccardo, as Iras Mabel
Bert, as the mother Of Hur: Adeline Adler.
as his sister. and Mary Shaw as his nurse,
all We're excellent AS / have said the
piece was enthusiastically received, and
there is little question but that it will last
through the remainder OF the season in
New York
Faust is being sung by the Castle
Square opera Company this week at the
American. JoSeDh Sheehau W II ClarLa