Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-03-07
The
Theatres

KEITH q PROCTOR'S SHOWS.
Fifth a~anua Theatre.

the Olu SJOck company AT hellu o.
Proctor's Fifth Avenue Theatre. The
inaugural week was marked by
crowded and enthusiastic audiences,
and the subscription list pleasing
innovation at this house was increas-
ed most encouragingly. Early ap-
plicants were fortunate in having Sc
cured choice seats which will be held
for them every week throughout the
season. Leah Klesehna, Mr.. G. M.
S. McLellan's remarkable four-act
drama, will be the attraction next
week. This is the play In which Mrs.
Minnie Maddern Fiske made the
greatest triumph in her professional
career and which brought Mr.. Nc
Lellan to the front as one of Ameri-
cas- foremost playwrights. The piece
will receive the same careful presen-
tation, characteristic of the manage
ment at this popular amusement tenn
pie, and the cast is so evenly balanc-
ed that the performance is certain to
bear favorable comparison with the
original production. Miss Henrietta
Browne, a young and clever actress,
will play Leah while Alphonz Eth
ier will be seen as Paul Sylvaine, ;"
Mr. John Mason's original part. 9th
ers in the cast are: Wilson Melrose
as Kleschna, Eugene Shakespeare as
Velentin Favre; Fannie Marinoff as
Sophie Chapponniere, Emelie Melville
as Madame Burton. and James A.
Bliss as General Burton. AS is GUS
tomary at all of Keith & Proctor
stock houses vaudeville novelties will
be introduced between the acts. The
repertoire OF plays at the Fifth Ave-
nue. for the first few weeks includes
The Pit, Mar. IL Raf1es, March IS;
Little Gray Lady, March 25; Heart of
Maryland, April 1; Dorothy Vernon
of Haddon Hall, April 8, in which
Miss Beatrice Morgan, of Harlem
Company, will appear specially as
Dorothy.
"Ben-Hur."
'Ben-Hur" still remains one of the
most stupendous dramatic produc-
tions of the decade. On Monday eve
ming of last week the new and great
er production was unfolded at the
Academy of Music, New York city,
and a pronounced success was scored.
At the Academy it Is seen as on no
other stage in the United States. Its
spaciousness behind the footlights
makes possible, pictures, groupings
and effects that are not to be obtain
ed elsewhere. AS a result the pres
ent revival is on a scale of colossal
grandeur eclipsing all former efforts
of the producers, Messrs. Klaw &
Erlanger Every art of the costumer,
the stage mechanic, the electrician, is
taxed in its presentation. Its real
ism is up to the minute, accomplish
ing pictures that in the period of its
first presentation would have been
deemed too difficult to essay, and the
entire arrangement of the new equip
ment has been made with view of
creating a beauty and magniticence
of production that would add solidity,
dignity and worth.
Wallace had few peers and no
superiors in the art of presenting to
the eye the imagery of scriptural
scenes. In "Ben-Hur,' his master
piece, he gave the life, the color, the
feeling, of the time of Christ. With
these he presents an intense heart
story, heroic drama, filled with the
tenderest emotions, tinged with the
romance of love and war, exalted by
the evidence of divine miracles per-
formed by the Nazarene. Although
the sacred presence is not shown, 1t is
felt; and throughout the play runs
the strong current of religious feeling
which distinguishes 'Ben-Hur" from
other dramatic offerings based on
Biblican themes. The symbolism of
Rome and Jerusalem, of Jew and
Gentle. of peace and war, are shown,
surrounding the great mystery of the
presence of Christ. Each scene un-
folds as a perfect picture, the whole
blending into a living pageant.
The big scene of the performance,
the chariot race, is made especially |
thrilling through having five chariots
and twenty horses. The difficulty OF
practically developing this wonderful
feature was one of General Wallace's
reasons for so long Withholding his
permission for a dramatization of his
story. In its elaborated form, this
scene is the greatest achievement of
American stagecraft. But, it is
noteworthy confession of most people
who sit through performance of
"Ben-Hur" that in the religious inn
pressiveness of the scenes which fol-
low, the theatrical charm of the
chariot race is obscured. AS the big
mechanical effects have been ampli-
fed, so too has the scene depicting
suggestiyely the journey of the Naz-
arene to Jerusalem. and the great
throng of palm-bearing worshippers
who went forth from the Holy City
singing "Hosannas" to meet Him on
the Mount of Olives is portrayed with
awe-inspiring realism. More than
400 people are employed In the pro-
duction.
HippodrOme.
The most enterprising chorus girl
in the world has been discovered at
the New York Hippodrome. She is
called Miss Mildred Bernhardt-com--
monty called Sarah" Bernhard
and in addition to appearing twice
day at'the Hippodrome, sne has open
ed restaurant across the street from
that institution and serves two meals
q dav IN ova,. fE0 ChnriIs girls and