Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-10-24

in praise OF Ben Hur' Nothing In
theatrical annals in our city has equal
led the interest felt In the approaching
event and without doubt the financial
record when the season closes next FIJI
day night will stand as the high water
mark at our box office for years to
come. Nearly every good seat for the
six performances has been booked, and
an extraordinary crush for the top
gallery and the standing space is looked
for when the doors are thrown open.
IL will be well for the public 10 re-
member that the curtain rises at 3
o'clock promptly, and that no one VIII
be admitted during thu action OF the
prelude, There win he no opening
overture, but the curtain rises after
few bars of music, revealing the wise
men following the star of Bethlehem
across the desert on their camels. No
word II spoken In this prelude. but the
story is told IN dramatic effect In pan
tomime, accompanied by appropriate
music The spoken play begins In the
second tableaux which shows the roof
terrace OF the palace OF Hur, The third
tableaux shows the galleys TO which
Ben Hur has been condemned for life.
The celebrated chariot race occurs In
the fifth act. The sixth relates to the
healing OF Ben Hur's mother and sis
ter OF leprosy, by the touch Of the Mas
Ter. The last scene IL laid on the
Mount of Olives where Ben Hur has Il
tender reunion with hts mother and
sister "a thanksgiving which could not
be put into spoken words, the white
light of the Divine presence resting
upon them as benedictlon and bless
ing, and the curtain falls"
The dozen horses carried for the pro-
duction are said to be very highly
trained They have filled their parts
no long that they know their cues as
accurately ms any OF the players and
II il said to be an almost terrible sight,
TO sec them held IN the wings paving
and champing as their ears tell them
that the time IL approaching for them
TO make their entrance. When their
cue arrives they do not need a single
word Of urging. but dart AT once upon
the stage and take their places night
after night, with scarcely q word OF
direction.
The Jessie Shirley company comes to
the Grand for a weeks engagement be-
ginning Monday evening. Miss Shirley
comes with very strong endorsements
from the coast press, herself as an ex-
ceptionally clever actress, and her sup
porting company more than above the
average, many OF whom are well known
In their connection with some OF the
biggest travelling attractions. The two
plays In which the Shirley company APP
pear are 'Trilby" and "A Modern Mag
dalen."
mat about a Ioa.dn az, IN, Ntau,io,t,
"Trilby,h that exquisite little tale of
Partisan student life, written by mas
terhand, caught the popular fancy in
England and America, The dellcacy
and truth of its sentiment its gay
humor, It's simple, and therefore the
more artistic, style, caused Il to COM
mand instant attention; "Trilby" be-
came the rage. or course Il was drama
tlzed, though In that day the drama
tization OF popular novel was a new
thing, The critics proclaimed before
hand, that In the making over OF the
story into play the great charm of
the story would be lost, but II wasn't.
SO well was the playwrights work
done, that the play OF "Trllby' was an
equal success with the novel. A. NJ.
Palmer was the first to exploit II.
Virginia Harmed created the role, and
Wilton Lackaye who was seen here
recently I'm THE Climbers" created
"Svengali," and scored his first great
hit. Then ''Trilby" companies by the
score sprang up, and the pretty play
was played TO death. Now comes an
excellent revival of the piece with
Miss Jessie Shirley, now on her flfth
visit TO the Pacific coast. but who
makes her first appearance az the
Grand theater Monday evening, as
Trlby. Her company are all commend
ed for good work, while Mr. George ID.
McQuarrle Is particularly spoken OF for
his performance Of Syengali.
"A Modern Magdalen" which fills the
last half of the week at the Grand Ia
wen remembered from It's recent pro-
duction here by Amelia Bingham and
Wilton Lackaye. 1t scored a fine linz
preston then and viii doubtless do 80
again Miss Shirley has bought the
western rights 10 the play and will
produce II with the original scenery