The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-12
THE ENGAGEMENT OF
"BEN HURv AT THE NEWARK.

ben Hur," the novel of General Lew
Wallace. dramatized from the master work
of the distinguished scholar and statesman,
is announced as next weeks attraction at
the Newark Theatre.
1t is now eight years since the first pres
entation of this Biblical pageant, yet the
pristine success of the drama is still its
own Never in the history of the play
house, it is said, has there been anything
to equal Ben Hur as an amasser of money.
The demand for its performance is so
great that even the largest theatres are
taxed when it is announced, and many
are turned way.
The appeal of the story Is universal. for
in its unfolding It touches on many OF the
worlds questions which are as much alive
today as they were 1900 years ago, the
period of the plays action. Ben Hur is
made up of pure romance, adventure, saw
age intrigue, reverent comment on Christ,
Vivid realism in the chariot race. and an
interesting love story. Beauty of scenic
setting and the gorgeous Eastern garbing
Of the characters are characteristic of the
Klaw & Erlnnger production of the play.
Nothing more sensational than the char
lot race. when the play first appeared, had,
perhaps, ever been attempted on the stage.
When the horses, driven by Hur and Mes
sala against one another, come into view,
the audience is invariably aBed and ex-
cited. The chariot race more than any
thing else has contributed to make the
play famous, but there are many features
of greater legitimate interest The dra-
matte element is quite as strong as the
pictorial, though it must be confessed that
the stage pictures OF Old World life, in
which the color and the splendor OF the
orient is crowded against the opulenee OF
pagan Rome, appeal most 10 most people
There is the beauty OF the Grove OF
Daphne where moonlight lends its at
fractions to the scene; there is also the
storm which sewers the galley and gives
Hur his chance TO escape from the thral-
dom of slavery. The panorama ol
Jerusalem seen from the roof of th'
Palace of Hur; the luxury of the Roman
life; and, last Of all. the scene when th'
Christ is about to make his entry into Hi,
own city and the people flock outside tbs
walls to welcome Him with songs Of praise
and thanksgiving. are all impressive,
Klaw & Erlanger have given the drama
an even more expensive production thii
year h heretofore, they say. Since thu
announcement was made some weeks age
1t was TO be the attraction at the Newark
Theatre for the week of October Ia. will
Wednesday and Saturday matinees. pub
lie interest and advance sales rave in,
dicated that crowded houses will be tn
rule during the entire engagement.
The Interpreting cast this season in
cludes: Ben Hur, Thurston Hall; MESSIAH
Wilmer L. Walter; Simonides, Henri,
Weavers Sheik Ilderim, William Leyden
Arrius and Balthasar, Alfred Holdings
worth: Malluch. Charles Al. Harris; Hor
tator. Chester A. Lee; Sanballat, DAME
=. Hanlon; Iras, Helen Singer; Esther
Frances Dodge; Mother Of Hur, Margare
Oils: Amrah. Stella Bonifaee Weaver, an
Tirzah. Meta Green.
The attention of theatregoers is calle,
to the rise of the curtain on Ben Hur
performances promptly at eight o'clock Il
the evening and at two o'clock at tn
matinees. The drama opens with a pre-
lude. 1.-The Star of Bethlehem accom-
panied by the orchestral and vocal scor
OF Edgar Stillman Kelley, in the natur
of an o%ratorio, and late Corners will no
be seated until the conclusion in order no
to mar the impressiveness of this scene.