The Greeley tribune., 1903-10-01
Amusements
Ben HuF."

Ben HuT.
Klaw & Erlapger's massively orn-
ate spectacle, Ben Hur,' is to be
staged at the Broadway theatre, Den
yer, for two weeks, Oct. u to "a,
with matiuees onWednesday and Sat
urday each week.
The dIamatization Of General Lew
Wallace's great novel has been seen
only in New York, Boston, Philadel-
phia, Brooklyn and Chicago during
the past four years. William Young,
who made the dramatization, has
succeeded most admirably in the pro-
duction Of drama which not only
retains the most absolute fidelity to
General Wallace's great book, hut
which does not offend the most de-
vout Christian. Prof. Edgar Still
man Kelley. whose Macbeth score is
remembered with pleasure, has
heightened the solemnity of "Ben
Hur" with music that is positive
delight to the ear The stage set
tings provided by klaw & Erlanger
have never been equalled in this
country. The pictures Of the Star OF
Bethelem, the City OF Jerusalem from
the terrace garden Of the palace Of
Hur the interior OF Roman galley,
the grove Of Daphne, the fountain of
Castalia, the chariot race, the vale of
Hinnom and the Mount Of Olives are
remarkable exhibits Of the best scenic
art. TO these are added some won
derful effects in lighting, as in the
Star OF Bethlehem, and in stage
mechanics. as in the famous chariot
race. Ihe cont -ivances used to make
the chariot race cost no less than
$751; Eight horses race in full
view of the audience. Each animal
runs on separate tread mill, and
the eject Of Ben Hurs quartet of
horses winning is produced by cleo
trio power concealed beneath the
stage. An immense cyciorama repre-
senting the interior of the arena
with its multitude Of painted people
is whirled across the stage in the
opposite direction from that which
the horses are headed, greatly in
creasing the illusion, as the audience
is apparently going with the racers.
This is not only spectacular but
dramatic success as well.
The great scene which closes the
play is the healing of the lepers on
the Mount Of Olives. Here hundreds
OF people are arranged in groups, the
whole forming one of the most beau
tiful pictures winch has ever been
put on the stage. The personality
of the Nazarene is not shown in the
play, tut in this scene the nearness
OF his presence is indicated with the
most intense impressiveness by a
shaft Of the purest white light.
The dramatization is carefully con-
stlucted so as to remove it from the
domain of the so-called Passion
plays, and while the Saviour is only
referred to, yet His tremendous
ting power is felt with thrill.
ling effect.
"Ben Hur" has played to larger
receipts 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 a
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
Broadway Theatre, Denver, for two
weeks only. The management Will
, fill orders for seats for any OF the
performances Of the two weeks, if
accompanied by check or money or
der, in the order of their receipt.
The box office sales open Thursday,
October 3. Address all communica-
tions to Peter McCourt, manaee eer
Broadway Theatre, Denver.
The Joseph Newman Company.
.