Rock Island Argus., 1906-09-19

scenes are laid in Vienna and Prague
during the latter part of the 18th cen
tury and form a setting for the most
interesting episodes in the life of the
great musician, particularly the period
during which "Don Giovanni and
The Magis Flute" were composed and
his last requiem finished. Mozart was,
at that time, in the prime of his life.
His career was fraught with incident
and disappointment and magnanimity
so much so, in fact, that he came to
hate the petty injustice and meanness
of which he was so often the victim.
1t was this, perhaps, that prompted
him to sacrifice his personal comfort
to accomplish noble deeds. His love
of fellowship, his generosity and kind
ness and above all his sweetness of
mind and nobility of character, have
been the themes about which Ivy Ash.
ton Root has woven her story.
Ben Hur at Chicago Auditorium
Conspicuous among the many splendid
offerings that will mark the current
theatrical season in Chicago will be
another production of General Lew
Wallaces stirring religio-histOric ro-
nance. Ben Hur" which has hereto
fore been so brilliantly and spectacu-
larly staged in the western metropO-
/ lis. Two seasons ago when the idea
of presenting this play at the big Audi
torium was conceived, the Klaw & Er-
langer company imported from London
the production used at the Drury Lane
theater This equipment was the most
massive and costly, as well as the
most beautiful. that had ever been con-
structed for the setting of General
Wallace's drama. for it marked the ad
vent of its producers in the English
metropolis, and as a matter of mana
gerial pride they were anxious that
the production should impress. even if
the play did not from a dramatic
standpoint 1t is now on record that
not only did Ben Hur" score as a
drama, but the production eclipsed ev-
erything that had Heretofore been
seen on the Drury Lane stage, which
has for more than a hundred years
been noted for the greatest spectacles
of Great Britain. When this produc-
ton was being adjusted to the Chica-
go Auditorium stage, many opportuni-
ties for betterment and elaboration
were discernible, for no stage in the
world present as great opportunity for
massive and magnificent stage settings
as this temple of amusement. There
upon Klaw & Erlanger decided to
build a production adapted to every
opportunity permitted by this vast
stage For several months past a |
staff of artisans have been engaged in |
constructing this wondrous spectacle, |
which it is claimed will overshadow |
everything that has gone before, and |
which is of such colossal proportions
that it cannot be used on any other |
stage in the world in its entirety. The |
first unfolding of this new and greater |
Ben Hur' will take place at the Chi |
cago Auditorium on Monday evening. |
Oct 10. when a limited engagement |
will be inaugurated. During the run
no Sunday performance will be given,
but matinees are scheduled for Wed
nesday and Saturday of each week.
Novelty seldom, if ever, accrued from |
constant repetition of any drama eX
cept those of Shakespeare, but this in
structive spectacle of dramatic and
4
virtue.
Business Still Poor.-Another small
house attended the presentation of
Dora Thorne" at the Illinois last even
ing. The company was only fair.
Kelly Stock Company on Rocks
The Kelly Stock company, which
was to have been here today, has gone
10 the wall or somewhere else. So far
as has been learned by the local man.
agement it never got further than OF
-umwa.
Two Good Attractions.-Two of the
best attractions that patrons of the IL
inois will see this season will be Hell
en Byron in Sergeant Kitty" and Miss
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