Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-02-22
| SPECTACULAR PLAY.
"Ben Hur" to be Presented in
Baltimore Next Week.
AN ELABORATE PRODUCTION
Three Hundred and Fify People Required to
Present This Great pIay-Mcsi Brilliant
Effects "A Sketch Of The Play.

Efects-A Sketch Of the Play.
Klaw and ErianGer's original pro-
duction Of ben Hrr", with cast.
scenery, equipment, horses and cam
els. began a week 8 engagement at the
N ational Theatef 10 Washington, last
right and wilt begin limited engage
menf al cbe Academy OF Music, Ba.ti-
more Mouo.,v, FEB. ava Thisln-
posing spectacle is sermon IN varied
peech iliostfaed ~ att and music.
Its trend OF suggestion is forward and
upward. The curtain rises on the "a
bleau OF Three Wise Zen in the Des-
ert and the flaming Star of Bethlehem,
the mems hands raised in awe and re-
verence as they group about their
camels. The dreamy waste of aridi-
ty is wonderfully impressive. Then
comes the brilliantly coiored pictures
Of the house tops oil Jerusalem. the
ten 10 Of the Palace of Hur. Next
is one Of the Great scenes of the plav
the aim inferior of the Roman gal
ley ship--the muscular, grim visag-
ed slaves tugging 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, moment later
comes the vision o. the sunlit Grove
OF Daphne with the superb temple,
reared TO the God Apollo; Roman
maidens dance iovously, but the CEN
trail figure is Ben Hur. the soldier,
stern and unrelentIng.
Again the scene CHANCES, and we
are at the Fountain of Castalia--
lake dancing in the pale moonlight,
with gliding boats and fiowery chores
ia the cool gray shadows-with Iras,
the Egyptian, irving the wiles of
Cleopatra on Ben Hoe.
After this is the chariot race, prob
ablv the most wildly tnrilling moving
picture that the stage has ever known.
A rumble is heard 10 the backgrcuut.
the hurtving CHATTER OF be eet
Two chariots, each drawn bv four
borses, form the cener of the picture.
The animals with far stretched necks
and dilated nostrils, run like mad,
urged on by the whlps of the Chariot
GERS, Ben Hor and his deadly enemy.
MESSIAH. The wheels of the ohariots
rumble and sway. Now Hur is ahead.
now Messiah. then Hu" again, aud the
race is won.
The last scene is fitting climax to
the brilliant ge pictures. 1t rel re-
sents the Vale of Hlnnom. which be-
comes transparent, revealing the Mount
of Olives and the City of Jerusalem.
Great multitudes come out to greet
the Nazarene. singing hymns of praise
and alteration. The .miricale of the
cleansing of the lepers is performed,
| but the Chrlst's personality is not rep
resented. His presence is indicated
by a great shaft OF white light,
which tradition say was reflected from
His person. Ben Hur, bis mother and
sister are united amid great chorous
of thanksgiving, swelling out from
curtain falls.
The music, which Edgar Stlllman
Kelley has composed for the produc-
ton, has much to do with the success
of Ben Hur." 1t is scholarly and
creditable alike for its dignity and Sc.
rious pufpose.
10 present the remar kable play no
less than $50 people are REQUIRED. In
the chariot race there are twelve
horses contesting. but four more tram
ed horses are kept close by in case of
an ACCIDENT.
Patons of this fine dramatic suecta-
Gle are earnestly requested to be in
their seats promptly at eight O'Clock
in the evening and two O'Clock in the
afternoon.
The spectacle of the appearance of
the Star of Bethlehem requires the
entire auditorium to be darkened. and
II will be impossible to seat anyone
until after the prelude is over.
"Ben Hur'will remain at the Ma
tional. in Washinton, all week, giving
matinees on Wednesday, Friday and
Sasurd day afternoons and will be at
the Academy Of Music, Baltimore, for
u limited engagement only. The man
agement will fill orders for seats for
any of the performances, if accompa-
died by check or money order, in the
order of their receipt after the open
ing Of sale. The box Office sale of
tickets began Tuesday. February IS.
The engagement will begin Monday,
February "a.
PACIFIC COAST WITHOUT CHANGE.
In new Poullman ordinary" sleep
ers. wide vestibuled and with every
modern convenience in charoe nj