Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-23

Tirzah .......................-D Daisy Robinson
It's an oft-told tale, that OF Ben Hur"
Aside from the interest that attaches to the
drama because of its quasi-rehgious atno-
sphere, it has that everlasting element OF
human love, and passion. of the longing for
vengeance. OF disappointed hopes and of
surprises that comes as benehcence from on
high. and all woven together in a tale
simple that "he that runs may read" and
understand. II is this that holds US to wit
ness its unfolding. just as We have read and
reread the book, and never tired of the tale
that Is told. In it's present guise ben Hur"
! is become more or less familiar to US, but
! We still follow the fortunes of Judah, son
of Ithamar. with just as much anticipatory
| concentration as though their story was
| being unfolded for the first time. In sew
eral ways the present production excels
either of the others seen here. First. in the
4 construction Of the new stage settings.
made necessary by the ravages of time and
the stress of thousands of miles of railroad
! travel, the art of the scene builder has so
| contrfved that the Nnrious pieces are
handled with more facility. The time thus
| gained has been expended on the dramatic
aspect Of the play, and this is given with
more OF fullness. adding greatly TO the
charm of the evening. In addition to this
a company much better calculated to ex-
press the several situations intelligently is
employed. and the public is compensated
for the absence of some of the massiveness
Of the scenery by an added impressiveness
of the acting. Nor does the scenery lose
anything in effectiveness, for it still has
the quality Of solidity suggestive of the real
rather than the mimic world.
Alphonse Either, who is new to Omaha
in the role, is much the better of either
OF the Ben Hurs seen here. 1t has been
Omaha's strange fortune TO have a diff
ferent man in the part each time the
play has been offered at the Boyd. This
one in in all essential regards the best. He
has the physique and the bearing and
enters on the work with n sympathy born
of understanding. In the early scenes be
is the bright buoyant youth; then he is
the desperate slave. hoping against hope.
and finally the thoughtful purposeful man,
whose life is overshadowed by deep sor-
row, note of which sounds, even in his
hour of triumph. Mr.. Ethiers voice is the
least OF his equipment for the role. II has
a resonance that is peculiarly adapted to
the expression of his sorrowful notes, but
/ which fingers all too prominently at such
! times as he lifts II in exultation or when
, he is exalted by high determination. In
. his softer scenes he quite realizes the part
! but hardly does so well in his heroic ef-
forts.
Robert McWade, jr, gives us a carefully
, studied and well balanced Simonides, the
man whose fierce intellect has outlived his
bodily strength and whose brain is clear
and whose voice is firm, despite his
physical infrmities. Mr.. Rigelis Iderin
the Generous is also good. But the strong
shining effort is that of Mr.. McVicl1er a.
/ Roman noble with an exactitude thai
leaves nothing to be asked. Arrogant
, impudent, handsome, strong, brave, daring
careless and heartless, he seems the en-
: bodiment OF the qualities that marked tn,
patrician of the empire, whose proiigac,
led to its downfall.
Miss Mortimer is a charming and con
vincing Esther, and Miss Morse is a good
. mother. Miss Rossmore makes Iras a sor
of female Trampas. It is inconceivahl'
that a son OF Hur. with his Roman train
ing. could have been dazzled by her wiles
or that a Messiah who had had even
. wider experience with women of the class
could have been seriously interested in her
Her manner is not that of Cleopatra
i but rather of Phryne.
/. The tableaux are given with the same de
! lightful effect. The ballet is well trained
. and all the ensemble scenes are mad
quite genuine, while the great chariot rae
i is given with realism that is not reache
. by anything else on the stage. To simpl
e say it is thrilling hardly expresses tn
II effect II produces.
d The Boyd theater was filled last nigh
e with a large audience that followed IN
z piece with deepest interest from nrst I
e last. and expressed its approval from tim
e 10 time with applause. ranging all the wa
: from timorous 10 enthusiastic. The engage
n ment lasts till after Wednesday nigh
o with a matinee on "Wednesday Afternoon
II should be borne in mind that tn
curtain rises promptly at in the even
ing and at IN the afternoon. and this
those who are not in their seats when III
20 curtain goes up miss a beautiful tableaI
~ that OF the Star of Bethlehem.