The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-04
~. ~. ..1heafres

That gorgeous spectacle, Ben Hur."
which has long been looked forward to
with pleasurable anticipation by residents
in this section opens its widely-heralded
two weeks engagement at the Providence
Opera House tonight. The big caravan
arrived here yesterday at noon on two
special trains from Springfield and every
thing is in perfect readiness for the bril-
liant opening performance tonight To
meet the extraordinary demand for seats
the management has arranged with
Messrs. Klaw & Erlanger for an extra
matinee performance on Friday OF this
week and seats for this entertainment
will be placed on sale at o'clock tomor-
row morning.
Ben Hur" is accounted the most sue
cessful production on the American
stage. II holds the record OF attendance
everywhere and the advance demand for
seats here stands unprecedented in Provi-
dence.
or the original members OF the company
appearing In the first production at the
Broadway theatre Miss Mabel Bert, has
appeared over 1000 times in the role of the
mother OF Hur. OF the horses in the char
lot race. Monk" the beautiful black that
runs nearest the footlights attached to
Ben-Hurs chariot has appeared in the
race scene over 1000 times
There are some statistics in reference
TO "Ben-Hur" that are Of exceptional in
terest. There are 1880 words In the manu-
script which. Thursday evening, March
26th, had been read by seventeen princi-
pals 1000 times, making 1880. 900 spoken in
the eNresentation OF the piece. In Miss
BerVs part there are 1917 words, and at
the close of that performance she had
spoken, in playing the role of the mother
of Hur. 900 words. The actual time
occupied In reading the dialogue is one
L. 1farl,t \
1866 hours and 40 minutes or 81 days. %
hours and 30 minutes to present Ben
Hur" 1000 times. The chorus of $50 voices
sings "a minutes during each performance
and Thursday night. March 6th, had
sung 400 hours, or is days and 16 hours
The scenery and properties OF Ben
Hur." exclusive OF the chariot race APP
paratus. weigh ~. SOC pounds. or 21A TONS
Thirty-six men set and clear the stage in
26Ih minutes. the combined waits between
the acts OF "Ben-Hur." In 1000 perform
ances of this play. Sc men, in time equiv
alent to Is days hours and 40 minutes.
handled 81, $50 tons. There are 1900 16-can-
die power incandescent lamps and 16 cleo
trio calciums used during performance
OF "Ben-Hur."
The lamps burn 900 ampears and the
calcium 400 ampears. In 1000 performances
OF "Ben-Hur," 10000 ampears OF cleo
tricity were used. In the chariot race
mills. they practically cover n distance
OF 1890 feet The horse Monk" I'm 1900
performances OF "Ben-Hur" ran 100000
feet or $50 miles.
May II the Albee company at Keith's
will give n notable production OF Clyde
Fitch's famous society drama, THE
Moth and the Flame" The play will be
one OF the most sumptuously staged OF
f, a11
new scenery. elaborate costumes, and n
large number OF supernumeraries will be
employed
Mr.. and Mrs. William Collier, OF the
Weber e. Fields company entertained
Miss Reimer Of the Albee Stock company
at an informal banquet at the Crown
hotel Monday evening last. Mr.. and
Mrs Collier. and Miss Remer are
staunch friends. Miss Reimer having
played with Mr.. Collier in several OF his
former starring tours Mr.. and Mrs.
Collier attended the. afternoon perfor-
nance OF the Alhee Stock company at
Kelth's sending Miss Relmer a magnlh-
cent bouquet OF roses. and I'm the even
ing she was the guest OF honor at the
banquet at the Crown. Covers were
laid for twenty-four, including the prin-
cipals OF the Weber a Fields company
and several OF the members OF the Albee
company.
THE Moth and the Flame" an elabor-
ate production OF which Is now I'm prep
aration for an early date by the Albee
Stock company, was originally produced
at the Fifth Avenue theatre, New York
as a one act play. consuming but twenty
minutes and costing over 5000 before the
curtain was raised. 10 was staged bv
Mr. Percy Winter of tho Albee company
who was then stage director for the