Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
BEN-nUR
The ers"dest Spectacle Of the Century
will b Presented at tho Metro
politan In St. Paul,

The ers"dest Spectacle Of the Century
will b Presented at the Metro
poIits" In st. Paul.
Klaw & Erlanger's massively ornate
spectacle, "Ben Hur," is to be staged
at the Metropolitan Theatre, St. Paul,
for New Years week, December % to
January 2, with special m atinees on
Wednesday, New Years Day and sa-
turday. Following the St. Paul en-
gagement the spectacle will be trans
ferred to the Metropolitan Theatre,
Minr eapolis, for the week of January
4 with matinees on Wednesday and
Saturday.
The dramatization OF Gen. Lew
Wallace's great novel when presented
In this vicinity last season scored
tremendous success. William Young,
who made the dramatic alton, succeed
ed most admirably in the production
of drama which not only retains the
most absolute fidelity to Gen. WAL
lace's great book, but VIII ch does not
offend the most devout Christian.
Professor Edgar Stillman Kelley has
heightened the so.emnity Ct "Ben-
Hur" with music that is q positive de-
light to the ear. The stage settings
provided by Klaw & Erlanger have
never been equalled in this country.
The pictures of THE Star of Bethle
hem," 1.-THE City of Jerusalem from
the terrace garden Of the palace of
Hur, =" 1.-THE Interior of Roman Gal
ley, " 1.-The Grove OF Daphne" 1.-THE
Fountain of Castalia, - 1.-THE Chariot
Race, " The Vale OF Hinnom and the
Mount of Olives" are remarkable ex-
hibits Of the best scenic art To these
are added some wonderful effects in
lighting, as the Star of Bethlehem,
and in stage mechanics, as In the fam
GUS chariot race. The contrivances
used to make the chariot race cost no
less than s15, 900. Eight horses race
in full view of the audience. Each an
imal runs on separate tread-mill,
and the effect of Ben Hur's quartet of
horses winning is produced by electric
power concealed beneath the stage.
An immense cyclorama representing
the Interior OF the arena with it's null
titude of painted people is whirled
across the stage in the opposite direc.
ton from that which the horses are
beaded, greatly increasing the Illus
ion, as the audience is apparently 60
ing with the horses. This is not only
q spectacular but dramatic success
as we'll.
The great scene which closes the
play is the healing of the lepers on
Mount Olives. Here hundreds Of peo-
pie are arranged in picturesque group
ings, the whole forming one of the
most beautiful pictures which has ever
been put on stage. The personality
Of the Nazarene is not shown in the
play, but In this scene the nearness OF
His presence is indicated with the most
intense impressiveness by shaft of
the purest white light The dramatiza-
ton is carefully constructed 80 as to
remove 1t from the domain of the So
called Passion plays, and while the
Saviour is only referred to, yet His
tremendous dominating power is felt
with thrilling effect.
The advance sale of seats for the
"Ben Hur" engagements will open in
St. Paul on Dec. "a, and in Mnneapo-
lis Dec. 81. The management of each
theatre will fill orders for seats for
any OF the performances, IN the order
OF their receipt, if accompanied by
postal or express order and self ao-
dressed stamped envelope for reply.