The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-11
RACE IN BEN HUR''
Practically a New Stage Built at
the Lyceum to Accom-.
modate It.
The Great Production Requires 100
Stage Hands to Handle
Scenery Alone.

Carpenters have, been at work on the
stage of the Lyceum theater for the past
three days making preparations for the
forthcoming production Of Ben Hur,"
which will be presented at that playhouse
New Years week. An entire new stage
has been constructed underneath the
present stage floor The flies have been
strengthened to enable them to carry the
immense weight of scenery required for
the production. Two immense traps have
been cut IN the stage to accpmmod the
facing machines used in the chariot race
scene and. as the dimensions of these
traps are six feet six inches by twenty
seYen feet eight inches, their construc-
ton alone was a ia SIX Of no inconsiderable
magnitude The Lyceum stage, at PIE
ent. is Tong enough to carry train OF
cars. 1t Is built or a heavy wooden tres
tie. the piles Of which are; SO close to-
gether as to transfer M the under stage
into veritable labyrinth. This great
strength is necessary. as the strain on the
stage. floor during the racing scene is
tremendous. = - l. : q, =. p
The racing machines are an improve
ment on the device first used by Neill
Burgess in THE County Fair They are
operated by electric motors, located IN
the basement of the theater and when
they are started the audience is shown
two four-horse chariots in mad career.
the animals on dead run. The machines
are operated Independently OF each other
and are moved back and forth so that
first one and then the other chariot is III
the lead. Meanwhile panorama Is
moved along the back Of the stage, the
effect being that gained by spectator
who is himself accompanying the horses.
The scene is the most elaborate or lts
kind known to the modern stage.
All this. however. costs money, and
Manager l.. N. Scott will have spent con-
siderably more than s.. 900 before the cur
tain is rung up on the first act Of the
Lew Wallace drama. Every bit Of house
scenery will be removed before the ben
Hur'' production arrives. The property
room will be cleaned out. and 1t has been
found necessary to rent an adjoining
bu..ling for storage purposes.
Some idea of the size Of the Production
may be gained when it is said that Der
FIur' is travelling around the country IN
special train made up in three sections
Twelve baggage cars are used. and sleep
ers sufficient to accommodate 800 people, al
of whom are used on the stage with the
exception Of the electricians: even the
stage hands being utilized as extra peo
ple'' in the great leper scene. TO han
! die the scenery and effects OF Ben ttur
1GO people are required. OF these, seven
ty-three are carried by the company
| while the theater is called upon to furnish
eighty-seven more. The usual compile
ment of stage hands does not exceed tel
or twelve. An augmented orchestra O.
twenty-five pieces Is employed to interpre
| the Ben Hur' music.
Ben Hur' was originally produced a
| the Broadway theater some two years agt
| by Messrs. Klaw and Erlanger, who spen
|: s75. 900 upon the production before the frs
night. The play was an instantaneou!
success; and since that time has been pre-
| scented in most of the large cities of thu
country although this will be it's first visi
| to Minneapolis. 1t was originally staget
| under the personal supervision of Bel
| Teal the foremost stage director Of thu
| country, and who will superintend the 10
| cal production. = d, .,-> -,
| THE play was dramatized by William
Young from General Lew Walaces book
and only after the. scenario had been sub
nitted to General Wallace for his approx
! al. Several other managers had atternpte,
to secure the dramatic rights to the story
| but heir plans did not coincide with Gen
eral Wallace's ideas and he had steadfast
| ly refused to permit a. drama tization t.
| be made. However,: he was so delighte
with Mr.. Young's work that he at ono
consented to the plays production. Sine
then he has received something like $50, 90
in royalties and the payments are sti
! going on. The incidental music is by Ed
gar Kelly. ~ r.. ~.
| The drama is to be presented at the I4y
scum theater not because the Metropolita
stage is too small to accommodate it, bu
because the Metropolitan Is to present 9TH
Suburban. the following week and it wa
found to be impossible to get Ben Hur
out and The Suburban. in with out miss
ing a performance. With THE Primo
Of Pilsen" at the Met Christmas week
the local theaters. will present the tire
biggest attractions upon the road this sea
son within as many weeks.
While Ben Hur' is at the Lyceum, tn
Ferris company will occupy the Metropoli
tan; and will probably produce, for: tn
first time on any stage. a drama tizatio,
of McCutcheon's "Graustark." The boo]
is wonderfully rich in dramtic possibilitie
and its production in dramatic form vii
be awaited with interest. With good at
| fractions at the other houses it may b
seen readily that the holidays, from
theatrical standpoint are to be mos
| eventful.