The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-12
MUCH GOOD ACTING SEEN IN BEN HUR" Farnum in Title Role is Very
 Strong. THE OTHER FINE PLAYERS In Watching the Spectacular Part of the Show Many In the Audience Forget to Study the Work
 of the Actors.
THE OTHER FINE PLAYERS

Ben Hur," drew another packed house at the Jefferson theatre last night ana one which was even more enthusiastic than that on the opening night Many of those present last night were also present at the opening performance and they. were prepared to study the produc- ton more closely and to follow the minor details which make up the perfect whole.
 In wondering over the spectacular, studying the scenery, the music and the mechanical part of the play many have failed to note with the usual care the actors There are several of them of more than ordinary ability, and without whose acting the production, as wonder ful as it is. would be almost blank. This is true of the work of William Far mum, who has the title role of the play. If he failed in any of the scenes they would be ruined. He is good alike as the son, the rover, the Roman, the lover, and through it all he Is the proud Jew. He has a pride that is equal to that of Messala, the Roman, played by Basil Gil, and the two stand side by side in the minds of the public as having presented an almost fiawless piece of acting.
 The Burden of Acting.
 The burden of the work falls on Far mum, and there are few men who would bear it as well. Dodson Mitchell, as Simonides. the Jew of Antioch, Is an- other strong actor. Although unable to utilize much that Is most effective in acting, still by his facial expression, and the perfect control of his voice, he brings his work to the forefront, and impresses his audience. He never forgets that he is the cripple and bound to his chair, and through all he leaves the impression that he Is a helpless man with nothing but his brain to depend on.
 Henry Weaver, Jr., as Ilderim, is weak. His acting lacks expression and force al- most the r+ire way through His facial expressions and his eyes are, however, good at times. He seems to be too ner- vous, and restless. His make up Is also bad. His face bears the tan of the desert, but when he strokes his beard his hands show lily white beside 1t. They should be but little less If any, darker than his face. William Kelley, as Mullach, the messenger of Simonides. is good.
 The Women.
 Among the women the work of Miss Mabel Mortimer as Iras, the Queen of the Nile, stands out, and so, too, does that of Miss Stella Boniface Weaver. As bewitching woman weaving a net around a man. and then drawing the meshes to- gether to crush him, Miss Mortimer is natural and effective. .uIss Weaver, as Amrah the servant in the home of Hur, has many effective lines and she acts them. Mabel Bert, as the mother of Ben Hur, is singularly earnest Her entire manner is that of a mother In the time of the play, and she never forgets and lets the least sign show that she is merely acting and has different personality.
 Ellen Mortimer, as Esther, is very weak. She had neither expression of face nor voice to aid her, although she is very pretty. In scenes which should have been effective she would almost cause laugh ter. In organizing such company it is hard to fill the caste entirely with people who are equal to their parts, and as a whole the company Is unusual.
 The Friday matinee commences at 2:15 o'clock instead of ? o'clock and the en- gagement closes with the matinee Satur- day