Evening journal., 1902-01-08
@, TNGEANDN
B& SP1

manifested tine utmost interest and en-
thusiasm in the program. IL was a
well-divelsifed one. and dharmlngly
rendered
Charles H. Yale and Sidney r. FL
lis newest extravaganza. "The Evil
Eye" or THE Further Funny Franks
of Mid and the Continued Comic Con
tortlons of Nod" will make a return
visit to us at the Opera House on Fri
day night lt comes with new scenery.
lnew costumes. new mechanical effects
and new faces. The electric ballet. the
lrevolving windmill, the Victoria
Troupe Of Royal English Singers and
Dancers. Mamie Mayo and Charles A.
Loder are among the many features.
"San Toy" will open at the Grand
Opera House on Saturday. January IL.
The entire production as seen during
It's long run at Daly's Theatre. New
York. will be given here with cast
that includes Samuel Collins. Paula
Edwards Marie Celeste. George *.
Fortescue. Melville Stewart and others,
Iinclding a chorus of seventy-iiye and
Jan augmented orchestra which will be
under the direction Of John Braham
Il requires two enormous sixly-foot
baggage cars to transport the scenery
and baggage of "The Miss Bob White
Company. which appears here at the
lGrand Opera House on next Monday
might. Il will doubtless be the higgtst
thing in a scenic way that has been
lseen here in many years. The COM
lpany numbers eighty people among
whom are Ethel Jackson, Richard r..
lCarroll. Frank DeshOn. Thomas Whit
fen. Nicholas Burnham. William T.
Philip, Alice Campbell and Mathilde
lPrevllle. Besides the two baggage cars
Iit requires two passenger coaches to
oarry this organization, which is one
of the largest and most complete In
THE country. Miss Bob White" will
lassurediy attract the great majority of
Wilmington theatregoers if the in
Quiry for seats Is any indication.
Klaw & Erlangers original produc-
ltion Of ben Hur.' with cast, scenery,
equipment. horses and camels. begins
la limited engagement at the Chestnut
Street Opera House Philadelphia Mon
day. January 13. This imposing spec
tacle is a sermon in varied speech, IL
lustrated by art and music. It's trend
of suggestion is forward and upward,
The curtain rises on the tableau Of the
Three Wise Men in the desert and the
flaming Star of Bethlehem. the mems
hands raised in awe and reverence as
they group about their camels. The
ldreamy waste Of aridity Is wonderfully
impressive. Then comes the brilliantly
cOlored pictures Of the house tops OF
Jerusalem. the terrace OF the palace OF
Hur. Next is one of the great scenes OF
the play--the dim interior of the RO.
man galley ship-the muscular grim
yisaged slaves tugglng in rhythmic
motion at the oars. then the wreck
Ben Hur and his captain struggling In
the waves The scene changes to the
home of Simonides. q moment later
comes the vision OF the sunlit Grove OF
Daphne. with the Suberb temple, rear
ed to the god Apollo; Roman maidens
dance ioyously, but the central figure
is Ben Hur. the soldier, stern and un-
relenting
Again the scene changes, and we are
at the Fountain of Castalia-a lake
dancing in the pale moonlight, with
gliding boats and flowery shores in the
cool gray shadows-with lras, the
Egyptian, trying the wiles Of a Cleop-
atra on Ben Hur
After this Is the chariot race, prob
ably the most vividly thrilling moving
picture that the stage has ever known.
A rumble is heard In the background,
the hurrying clatter OF horses feet.
Two chariOts. each drawn by four
horses form the centre of the picture.
The animals. with far-stretched necks
land dilated nOstrils. run like mad,
urged on by the whips OF the chariot
leers. Ben Hur and his deadly enemy,
Messala. The wheels of the chariots
rumble and sway. Now Hur is ahead,
now Messala. then Hur again. and the
race is won.
The last scene is fitting climax to
the brilliant stage pictures. 1t repre-
lsents the Vale of Hinnom, which be-
comes transparent, revealing the
Mount of Olives and the city of Jeru-
salem Great multltudes come out to
greet the Nazarene. singing hymns of
praise and alteration. The miracle of
the cleansing of the lepers is perform
ed. but the Christ's personality is not
represented. His presence is indicated
by great shaft of white light, which
tradition SAYS was reflected from His
person. Ben Hur his mother and sis
ter are united amid a great chorus of
Thanksgiving. swelling out from the
hillsides all around as the final curtain
falls. The music. which Edgar Still
= man Kelley has composed for the pro-
duction. has much to do with the sue
cess of ben Hur." 1t is scholarly and
creditable alike for it's dignity and
serious purpose. To present the re-
= markable play no less than $50 people
are required. In the chariot race there
are eight horses contesting, but four
! more trained animals are always kept
close by in case of accident.
ben Hur" will remain at the Chest.
nut Street Opera House, Philadelphia
for a limited engagement only. The
management will fill orders for seats
for any Of the performances of the
first two weeks. if accompanied by q
, check or money order, in the order OF
\ Nan HTrI.