Gilpin observer., 1903-10-01
"Be'n r1ur"

''Ben f1ur"
Klaw & Erlanger's massiyely ornate
spectacle. "Ben Hur," is to be staged at
the Broadway Theatre, Denver, for two
weeks, October IL to "a, with matinees
on Wednesday and Saturday of each
week.
The dramatiza.ion of Gen. Lew Wal
lace's great novel has been seen only in
New York, Boston, Brooklyn and Chi
cago during the past four years. Will
lam Young, who made the dramatization
has succeeded most admirably in the
production OF a drama which not only
retains the most absolute fidelity to Gen.
Wallsce's book, but which does not Of
fend the most devout Christian. Pro-
fessor Edgar Stilman Kelly, whose
Macbeth score is remembered with pleas
ure, has heightened the solemnity of
"Ben Hur" with music that is positively
a delight to the ear. The stage settings
provided by Klaw e. Erlanger have never
been equalled in this country. The pic
lures OF the Star OF Bethlehem, the City
OF Jerusalem from the terrace garden OF
the palace OF Hur, the interior of Rom
an galley, the grove of Daphne, the fonn-
tain Of Castalia. the chariot race, the
vale Of Hinnom and the Mont OF Olives
are remarkabie exhibits OF the best
scenic art. 70 these are added some
wonderful effects in lighting, as the star
of Bethlehem, and in' stage mecanics, as
in the famous chariot race. The con-
trivances used to make tire chariot race
cost no less than $4,000. Eight horses
race in full view OF the audience. Each
animal runs on Heperate treadtnill, and
the effect of Ben Hur's quartet Of horses
winning is produced by electric power
concealed beneath the stage. Az i'm.
mense cyclorama representing the in.
terror of the arena with its mutitued of
painted people is hurled across the stage
in the opposite direction from that which
the horses are headed, greatly increasing
the illusion, as the audience is apparent
ly going with the racers. This is not
only a spectacular but dramatic sue
cess as well.
The great scene which closes the play
is the healing OF the lepers on Mount
Olives. Here hundreds of people are
arranged in picturesque groups, the
whole forming one of the most beautiful
pictures ever put upon the stage. The
personality OF the Nazarene is not shown
in the play but in this scene the nearness
OF Ills presence is indicated with the
most intense impressiseness by shaft
of the purest white light. The dramat-
ization is carefully constructed so as to
remove it from the domain of the so.
called Passion plays. aod while the Saw
ior is only referred to, yet His tremen-
dous dominating power is felt with thrill
ling effect.
ben Hur" has played to larger re-
ceipts and to more people than any
theatrical production either here or
abroad. 1t has been on the stage but
little more than four years, which were
exhausted in runs in the five cities named
above, and it is fact worth recording
that the last week in each of these cities
was among the biggest of the engage
ment
ben Hur" will remain at the Broad
way Theatre, Denver, for two weeks
only. The management will fill orders
for seats for any of the performances of
the weeks, if accompanied by check or
money order in the order OF their receipt
The box Office sale opens Thursday,
October 8. Address ali Communications
to Peter McCourt.. manager Broadway
Theatre, Denver.