The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-02
, tend the performances.

tend the performances. erC
Although Ben Hur is already we'll
known here. word regarding ITS con-
struction and detail will be Of interest at
this time. The production which comes TO
Providence is the same original klaw 4
ErIanger organization which was seen Ia
New York a few seasons ago with the
same cast scenery, equipment, horses
camels and ornate electrical effects. There
are few bars of music and when the cur
tain rises on the prelude. It discloses the
iliimitable waste OF desert; the tired cam
els. the three wise Men from Greece
Egypt and Hindoostan. to greet the ap-
pearance of the Star OF Bethlehem
focus of dazzling lustre"
Following the prelude comes the bril-
iiantly colored pictures of the house-tops
of Jerusalem the Terrace of the Palace
of Hur Next is one of the great scenes or
the play--the dim interior OF the Roman
rAlIey ship--the muscular. grim-VlsaBed
slaves tugging I'm rhythmic motion at the
oars. Then the wreck with Ben Hur and
his captain struggling in the waves. Fhen
comes the most thrilling and realistic CT
feet ever presented on the staEe-the
great chariot race. A rumble is heard IN
the BACKGROUND the hurrying clatter or
cIoeed The Roman chaTiots each drawn
nv four horses form the centre Of the
marvellous picture The animals with far
stretching necks and dilated nostrils run
nke mad urged on by the whips OF the
charioteers-B Hur and his enemy Mes
saia. The wheels OF the charots rumble
and sway now Ben Hur is ahead, now
Messaia, then Ben Hur and the race is
ended.
The last scene is one OF ftting beauty
and impressiveness revealing the Mount
OF Olives. where a great multitude gather
10 greet the Nazarene and where the Sa-
viour performs the miracle of cleansing
the leper. Christs personality is never
represented I'm the flesh but His Presence
IN indicated by a ray or marvellous brii-
liancy which Is reflected by a shaft OF
white light from the halo over His head
The music OF ben Hur is feature
which has attracted professional as well
as popular interest Edgar Stillman kel-
ley the composer. Is an authority on this
eide OF tho Atlantic on ancient and orien-
Stai music. His score is one Of the most In
teresting features OF this most eNtraordl-
nary production Speaking OF the music
Mr. Kelley said: "When | read Ben
Hur'' for the first time, I wrote down IN
my sketch book the theme OF the Star. OF
course. had no idea u would be used m
this connection. but the theme was relig-
ious I'm character. and l merely designed
n for oratorio. when spoken 20 in regard
20 writing the music for Ben Hur' ! al
once thought OF 10 in this connection. II
the music is rendered I'm its entirety, as Il
Is this season, with twenty-four musi'
clans Il is the unifying theme"
Much interest has been manifested IN
Providence concerning the mechanical
methods employed I'm the thrilling chariot
race in the nth act, for which twelve
millwrights and mechanics have been pre-
pairing tho stage at the opera house. In
this great arenic contest the spectator
s>es eight horses galloping az hreaknech
speed and straining every muscle 10 gain
an advantage IN the race within the am
phitheatre Rehind each team OF horses is
Roman chariot. The wheels revolving
rapidly. the chariots lurch and sway and
the flaming be-ribboned garments OF th,
drivers rutter behind them adding in
tenseiy 20 the realism OF tho scene Tht
Illusion Is still further increased as tn
interior wall OF the amphithoatre move
along and the dust flies in binding cloud
from beneath the crushing wheels OF IN
chariots
The clatter OF the rushing hoofs OF th
horses and the rumble OF the chsriots ar
distinctly heard The mechanism OF IN
three cradles. twenty feet IN length an
fourteen feet wide. and which are nova
BILE back and forth on railways. is sur
ported by a bridge structure capable q
holding twenty tons. The tops Of IN
crsdles are two inches above the level 4
the stage OF the opera house. Each Grad
bears the four horses and chariot Of eac
contestant. on each cradle there are fot
run-avays or treadmills of hickory slat
two inches wide and covered with rul
ber. They are twelve feet long and w
and one-half wide. on each ~ the'
treadmilis n horse is secured by steel r.,
Die trace. which holds him In place an
prevents him moving forward or the rur
avsys.
As each horse sailops. the treadniil r
Opives under his feet. thereby eimina