The Washington herald., 1907-11-17
"Ben-Hur."

4 striking proof that the American
theater-goer is glad TO patronize the best
when il is offered was furnished during
the past week by the extraordinary bu-
siness done at the New National Theater
by "Ben-Hur" The play was not
doomed" or unduly advertised, and yet
from Monday night on throughout the
week there was not a performance given
NJ which every seat WAS not occupied
and numbers Of people had to be turned
away.
The success Of 'Ben-Hur" shows, also,
how unnecessary and false is the star
system that has become an obesslon with
many American managers. Since Ben
Hur' first started. some nine years ago.
there have been any number OF players
appearing i'm the name part, Of whom
the most prominent were Mr.. z. J. Nor
gan and William Farnum. To-day it is
doubtful whether most Of the people who
see the play can recall the name Of the
actor who plays the principal part. The
truth is that ii is the play that appeals.
and not the players.
"Ben-Hur' shows that In spite of our
love. as a people. for frivolity and fun, as
exemplified in the large success OF vaude-
Vile and the mereJricious musical COM
edy. We have at heart a deep and abid-
ing religious sense to which this beauti-
ful story OF Gen. Lew Wallace's appeals.
u is not the pageantTy, the realism Of
the shipwreck scene, or the thunderous
sensationalism Of the chariot race that
wins the sympathies of the audience
though these things help undoubtedly.
The fascination Of the play lies I'm the
fact that throughout it all. permeating
#. a very part Of the whole story, is
the personality of Jesus Christ; the in
carnate mystery that surrounds the Man
OF Sorrows. From the very first. the
fine tableau, which shows the three wise
men Of the East meeting in the desert
there IS an air of subtle mysticism and
awe and reverence, and in the action Of
The drama one seems to see that the
young Prince of Hur IS hedged about
with divine love and care and tender
ness. Here. somehow. as one character
after another talks of having seen Him.
the multitude following. the Bible his
tory OF His career seems to become actual
and vital, and when young Hur tells Of
having seen Him on the road, spea ks
of the radiance that shone from His
face, the feeling of wonder and rever-
ence that steals over the audience is
very marked.
And the browning glory Of the play is
not the chariot race. but that vision of
the Prince Of Hur in which he sees his
mother and sister-for long years lOath-
some lepers-kncel down I'm his pathway
on His way 10 Nazareth. and as His
light shines upon them they are made
whole and clean. 1t was a most daring
and hazardous thing to represent, in a
theater, the actual presence Of Jesus
Christ. and It was nothing short Of an
inspiration that led The maker OF the play
TO represent Him By a beam Of refulgent
light. AS it IS carried out It is reverent,
awe-inspirlnG and as realistic as so poeti-
cal conception could possibly be-more
realistic. in fact. and no less reverent,
than the actual representation and char
acteriZation Of Him as II IS done at the
Passion Play at Oberammergau.
1t IS fitting, too. that the beautiful story
should end with His passing: the re-
union Of Ben-Hur aud his mother and
sister Is but an incident The memory
that people carry away from the theater
IS the memory OF that light; it is as If
one had been very near 10 God. and as
the throng by the roadside leading to
Nazareth wave their palms and sing their
hymns Of praise. the audience files out
quietly and in peace with the strains OF
the beautiful Nunc Dimittis ringing in
their hearts:
Lord. now let,est Thou Thy servant depart in
peace, according 10 Thy word
For my eyes have seen Thy salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared. before the face Of All
people.
To be light 10 tighten the gentiles and 70 he the
glory Of Thy people Israel
SO instant, so universal IS the fine APP
peal Of ''Ben-Hur" that II seems likely
that It will retain a permanent place in
The American drama to inspire. uplift.
and to help generations yet TO come.