The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-02-11
BEN HUR DRAWS q
A GREAT CROWD
Spirited Steeds and Roman
Chariots on Stage
GRAND SPEC TABULAR PLAY
Lew Wallaee's Drama Attracts People,
Though Rain Pours In Torrents.
Sacred story Strongly
Presented.
GRAND SPECTACULAR PLAY


Messala-Basil gill;
Simonides-Dodson Mitchell
Arrius, the Tribune. and Balthasar--
Charles j. Wilson.
Ilderim-Henry Weaver, Jr.
Mallnch-William Kelly.
Hortator-H. DeForrest.
Metellns-William Roberts.
Drusus--George l.. Seybolt.
Cecilius-Henry Devere
Sanballat-Ben S. Mears.
Khaled-George Wilkes.
Centurion-A. Forrest.
Officer of the aGlley-Walter Mark
ham.
Esther-Elen Mortimer.
Iras-Mabel Mortimer.
Mother of Hur-Mabel Bert.
Tirzah--Heen Prindiville.
Amrah-Stella Bonifaee Weaver.
The Wallace novel came in tableaux and
acts to the jefferson last night, and al
though the weather was detestable, every
seat was filled. People armed with UNI
brellas fiocked TO box and tier, even the
upper gallery being full. Many who are
not habitual theatre-goers went last night
from a desire to witness this dramatiza-
ton of love for home and family, with all
it's dignity and spiritual atmosphere.
Those who think that the noble King
James version has lost its hold upon the
affections and minds of the people should
have witnessed the audience that braved
a cold rain In driving wind last night.
But the beautiful prelude, showing the
Star In the East together with its fine
choral and instrumental music, was
ended before the great house was fully
seated. And there were many faces there
that are rarely seen In the Jefferson
faces from all parts of the state that had
come UP to the chief city to see with
their own eyes scenes drawn from the
loves and hates of conquering Romans
and conquered Jews. The play was pre-
sented in six acts and in those acts we're
seventeen tableaux, each recalling the
times and events of two thousand years
ago.
The play opens on the roof of the pal
ace of Hur In Jerusalem, and there we
see Ben Hur, a handsome stalwart young
Jew, surrounded by his mother and sister,
and In the bright sunlight the roofs of
the Holy City and the green hills about
1t. Massala, a Roman, visits Ben Hur,
and a quarrel springs up. Then comes
the blare of Roman trumphets on the
street; a section of the parapet falls;
the procurator is killed, and Roman
soldiers, commanded by Massala, rush up
and carry away as prisoners Ben Hur, his
mother and his sister
The second act is full Of dramatic
force and beauty. Three years have
passed and the Prince of Hur Is seen
still in a war galley as a slave, a rover.
The scene is between decks and three
tiers of rowers are shown, and the man
ner in which they act together and the
vessel is controlled, The scene Is real
istic and instructive. A galley slave be-
comes In this way actual, and In the
battle that ensues the Trireme is sunk,
In the second scene Ben Hur and Arrius
the Tribune are seen on raft. Ben Hur
has saved the latter. and Roman galley
rescues both. This frees the hero of the
play.
The third act reveals the home of
Simonides, a merchant prince of Antioch
and also Esther his daughter, and this
brings into the play much sentiment. Ben
Hur is still seeking, however, his mother
and sister. Then we have In a scene the
Grove of Daphne, in which a great
chorus Is introduced, In which, too. the
Temple of Apollo Is disclosed and the
play takes ON the color and music OF
Greece. The Fountain of Castalla sup
plants the Temple, and we have Egypt
ian scenes and camels, and above all
else Iras, who becomes the evil genius
of Ben Hur. The beautiful Egyptian
oIl MaGGala
appears drawn by span Of white horses,
and Ben Hur decides to defeat him In a
chariot race This entire act is full Of
sensuous poetry and beauty.
The fourth act is devoted largely TO
preparations for the chariot race. Esther
and Iras appear and disappear. In this
act comes the beautiful scene on the
moonlit lake, where Iras plies the arts
of Cleopatra. Ben Hur is her victim The
color and atmosphere Of Egypt is felt in
every part of this act. The barge scene
Is surprisingly beautiful.
Then comes the fgth act, with ali the
preparations for the chariot race, the
hatred of Jews and Romans coming out
prominently, and the whole eliminating
in the wonderful circus scene at Antioch
Ben Hur and Massala are pitted against
caCn Ot1er. Inc stage ~ udihtHths dHu
all at once we have before our very eyes
the noise and dust and action of the
arena. The blooded bays, driven by Ben
Hur, draw ahead, at breakneck speed. of
the whites and blacks of Massala, and
the latter is ruined, and disappears from
the scene. Ben Hur receives the plaudits
of the people and is crowned victor ne
audience was breathless while the race
went on, and curtain calls followed In
quick succession.
In the final act there are three scenes.
1t should be remembered that the per-
sonality of the Holy Nazarene has not,
as at Bayrenth. been presented Mr..
Wallace insisted that the King shdhld be
seen on the stage as a bright and healing
light and this the playwright has very
skillfully accomplished. The first scene
discloses an apartment in the Palace Of
Hur in Jerusalem Ben Hur and
Simonides and Esther are there and Ben
Hur relates the wonderful acts of the
Divine One that he himself has seen. Then
In second we have the lepers vale
where the mother and sister OF Ben Hur
are confined. They are unclean. Ben Hur
falls asleep In this vale. tired out In his
long search for his mother and sister
Then there is put before MS a beautiful
vision-a tableau-the stage being filled
with a vast multitude that have come
out of Jerusalem waving palms to well
come the Nazarene. 1t is Palm Sunday.
The lepers appear-the mother and sister
and they are healed by wondrous shaft
of light personifying the Great Healer. In
the final scene Ben Hur and Esther and
the mother and sister are united at the
foot OF Olivet, and the double chorus
sings In canon form. This is Jesus Of