Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-01-09
"Ban Hur.n

Klaw and Erlanger's original production
of s'Ben Hur,n with cast, scenery, equip
ment, horses and camels, begins limited
engagement at the Chestnut Street Opera
House, Philadelphia, Tuesday, January
IA. This imposing spectacle is sermon in
varied speech, illustrated by art and music.
| Its trend of suggestion is forward and up
ward. 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 dreamy
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 Roman galley ship-the muscular,
grim visaged slaves Juggling 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, a moment later comes the
vision of the sunlit Grove Of Daphne with
the Superb temple, reared to the God
Apollo; Roman maidens dance joyously,
but the central figure is Ben Hur, the
soldier, stern and unrelenting.
Again the scene changes, and we are at
the Fountain of Castalia-a lake dancing
in the pale moonlight, with gliding boats
and fowery shores in the cool gray shad-
ows-with Iras, the Egyptian, trying the
wiles of Cleopatra on Ben Hur.
After this is the chariot race, probably
the most wildly thrilling moving picture
that the stage has ever known. A rumble
is heard in the background, the hurrying
chatter of horses feet. The chariots, each
drawn by four horses, from the centre of
the picture. The animals, with far stretched
necks and dilated nostrils, run like mad,
urged on by the whips of the characters,
Ben Hur and his deadly enemy, Messiah.
The wheels of the chariots rumble and
sway. Now Hur is ahead, now MESSIAH,
then Hur again, and the race is won.
The last scene is fitting climax to the
brilliant stage pictures. Il represents the
Vale of Hinnom, which becomes trans
parent, revealing the Mount of Olives and
the City of Jerusalem. Great multitudes
hymns of praise and alteration. The
miracle of the cleansing of the lepers is
performed, but the Christ's personality is
not represented. His presence is indicated
by great shaft of white light, which
GTdulblOH says WdS foHoctCU 1IOm Ills
person. Ben Hur, his mother and sister
are united amid great chorus of thanks
giving, swelling out from the hillsides all
around, as the final curtain falls.
The music, which Edgar Stillman Kelley
has composed for the production, has much
to do with the success of "Ben Hur." 1t
is scholarly and creditable alike for its
dignity and serious purpose.
To present the remarkable play no less
than $50 people are required. In the
chariot race there are eight horses contest
ing, but four more trained animals are
always kept close by in case of accident.
Patrons of this fine dramatic spectacle are
earnestly requested to be in their seats
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 it will be impossible to
seat anyone until after the prelude is over.
'Ben Hur'' will remain at the Chestnut
Street Opera House, Philadelphia, for a
limited engagement only. The manage
ment will fill orders for seats for any of the
performances of the first two weeks, if
by check or money order, in
the order of their receipt. The box Office
sale of tickets opens Monday, Jan. 6. The
begins Monday, Jan. ID.