The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-05
ADJUSTMENTS
MetropoIitan-"Ben Hur,"

IHefe nave Deen lew more powerful
pieces Of fiction within the last quarter
of a century than Ben Hur," the dra-
matte version of which began a weeks
engagement at the Metropolitan yester-
day afternoon. After twenty-five years
General Lew Wallace's famous tale Of the
Christ has as strong hold as ever upon
the hearts of the people, The story of
the son of the house of Hur is one of
surprising interest told with rare skill,
and it's picturesque setting in the Holy
Land adds UNNECESSARILY to it's effective
ness.
AS placed upon the stage the fine old
tale is an elaborate series Of effective
stage pictures, by no means as powerful
as the book itself, but absorbing in in
terest and compelling admiration for it's
ingenious staging. The emotions awak-
ened by the play are not nearly as deep
or lasting as the effect produced by a
reading Of the book for the play Is at
best clever piece Of machinery depend
ing for it's effect upon elaborate scenery,
large choruses, rich and picturesque Co.'S
tunes, artistic light effects and ingenious
mechanical contrivapces.
In some scenes the machinery is too
apparent-the Illusion is imperfect. The
scene in the Roman galley is anything
but impressive, and the tableau of Arrius
and Ben Hur in the rolling sea Is almost
absurd.
Beyond question the greatest effect of
the play-the thing the spectators talk
about after they have left the theater-
is the chariot race. The mighty roaring
of the huge treadmills which fills the thea
ter, the swiftly running horses, the crack
| ing of the whips and shouting of the
rival charioteers, the gradual passing OF
| MESSIAH by Ben-Hur, the breaking of
Messalas chariot and his final DOWNFALL
| all these cannot fail to arouse the spec
| tator to a. high pitch of excitement. But
| the effect Is purely a superficial one-such
animal excitement as is caused by a foot
ball game or the rhythmical crashing of
| a drum corps. There are serious weak
nesses in the illusion. The moving pano-
rama of the crowded colosseum-which
| last evening stopped moving before the
horses were lost to sight-fails to produce
| the desired effect and the wheels Of the
| chariots hardly revolve. .-.r
While the ponderous scenery was han
died last evening with remarkable celer-
ity, yet there is apparent lack of atten-
ton to detail that detracts from the effec-
tiveness of the production. Several eli
makes might be made much stronger by
the exercise of more care. That "perfec-
ton consists of multitude of trif1es," is
nowhere truer than on the stage.
Turnout the play the semisacred at
mOSphere is well preserved, and the pOr-
! tons which introduce the story of the
Nazarene are conceived and arranged in
rare good taste. The incidental music
the motif Of the Starts impressive, and
the lines referring to the King, whose
kingdom is not Of earth, are beautiful
The prelude, illustrating the appearance
of the Star of Bethlehem to the three
wise men, brings the spectator into the
proper frame Of mind to appreciate what
follows. The shaft of brilliant white light
which indicates the passing Nazarene is
a particularly happy conception, intense
feeling Of sacrilege.
! AlphDnse Either Is manly, graceful
and convincing Ben Hur. His elocution
Is well nigh faultless, his bearing sincere
and his acting at all times judicious. AS
MESSIAH, julius McVicker presents strong
picture Of the brutal, arrogant Roman
| officer. The Simonides of Robert Nc
| Wade, Jr., is piece Of intelligent char
acter acting, and Averell w. Harris as
Malluch shows good judgment. Charles
Riegel is better in the character of Bal
thasar than in that Of Arrius. Henry
Weaver, who portrays the Sheik Ilderin
is hardly up to the standard of the
| company. More repose and a more ar
tistic makeup would make the character
a stronger and more dignifed one
Dorothy Rossmore rather overdoes the
character Of Iras, The Iras of the book
is a clever, imperious woman of won
drous beauty and enticing charm-hardly
as bold and cheap a wanton as Miss Ross
more makes Of her. The other characters
are portrayed acceptably. -
i Charles e. McMurdy.