The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-01-31
An1usenenfs



Grand Theatre. truly from pit to
DOME" the frst OF the fvo perform-
ances of General Lew Wallace's Ben
Hur" in dramatized form, was present.
ed last night. There can be no doubt
OF the appreciation Of the auditors.
In the presentation Of this splendid
story. It 10 as important to have an
intelligent and efficient force of stage
carpenters and mechanics, as It Is to
have capable players. Messrs. Klaw
q Erlanger have enlisted the services
of both, when 1t Ia considered that this
mammoth production Is transported
from city to city for two and three
night stands. Its equipment in detail
IL astounding. True. the scenery bears
the marks Of much handling. Of being
transported in all kinds Of weather and
IL some instances Of almost total d.
lapidation, but the effect Is produced
for which the author and scenic artist
seeks.
me $500 seats which have already
been sold for this production testify
how weil-known Is the story of the
dramatic incidents in Ben Hur's life.
The story IN reality was enacted be-
fore the gaze of those who sat through
the flrst performance, and william
Young has, indeed, followed wonder
fully closely the authors narrative, ana
has interpreted much of the ancient
customs that go to make the play even
more intense than the book.
From the time of Ben Hur, head OF
-ona OF the leading families Of Judea
in the years of the ministry OF the
Master, to the present day, no land
has changed less than the Holy Land.
General Lew Wallace selected for the
hero of HIS famous story Q character
whose status was similar to that OF
the Duke Of Orleans in France. For
"a nrlAanM family
has either had one OF its members on
the throne Of France or a claimant
when revolutionists or defeat drove
tn to exile. General Wallace did
not make Ben Hur claimant TO the
throne OF Judea az q descendant OF
David and the Shepherd Kings, but his
waa the right.
there isn't a doubt but that Rome
and Bethlehem has each stamped It's
ideas and ideals upon the texture ana
the temper OF our western world.
Each as representative Of its land, italy
and Palestine, had its striking charac-
teristcs and supreme ambition. Rome
liked knowledge. but did not love 1T
While she had scholars and orators,
other people furnished her the models
from which she copied. No one 20
original as Homer or 30 illustrious as
aocrates Is to be found among her
meets and philosophers. The great men
Of Rome were not lovers OF WISDOM,
but were ambitious to conquer and 70
rnle. Caesar. the great conquerer. the
man who compelled nations to pay
tribute to Rome--he II was whose name
naturally represented the ideal OF
wreatness and the ambition OF Rome.
paiaatfne also had an ambition.
Strange n does seem Knetimea 70 US
that she never produced a Michael An
gelo who could give to this world
David in stone. or q Tissot who could
paint a Madonna or a Christ; or
Caesar who could subdue Kingdoms
and rule with an iron hand-yet, she
produced men who outranked any and
an OF the poets and painters and phil.
osophers. because her men were men
of character, and when He. who was
the consummate flower OF Palestine,
came, We see Christ, the man OF men.
1t was this land of Palestine, sacred
to all the world because OF Jesus Of
Nazareth. the Star of bethlehem ana
the Three Wise men. that gave birth
to the most widely read novel ever
written by an American Some one
has said: "A great historical romance
is not to be made with reference to the
square and compass. It must be q
vivid historical Impression, and at the
same time a wisely considered story OF
Iife." The success Of "Ben-Hur" stamps
II as an ideal SIX acts and thirteen
scenes are necessary to properly por-
tray theJatory. The cast presented here
was az large as can we'll be accommo-
dated on the average stage. and the
principals were adequate.
Thurston Hall. cast as Ben Hur. suf-
fered terribly with cold. but SO pleas
ing was his playing that this was not
offensive. or splendid physique, and
possessed of a pleasing stage presence.
he gave to every emotion it's full OF
expression. He was popular from the
moment he made his first appearance
until the last very tense scene.
Wilmer l.. Walter as Messiah was
capital. A hard part. without the
smallest part of sympathy from audi
tors, yet so natural and artistic that he
was applauded.
Gertrude Dalton. and Meta Greene as
Esther and Tirzah. respectively, were
most lovable. Margaret Dills as che
mother OF Hur was no less competent,
The other principals were uniformly
capable.
The galley ship, the shipwreck, the
chariot race and the miracle were
splendidly staged. During the chariot
race many in the audience were so en-
Unused that they rose to their feet and
shouted in their excitement
There will be two performances to-
day, one at 2 O'clock this afternoon and
one at this evening. The curtain will
go up promptly at the appointed hour
and no one will be seated during the
opening scene. THE Star Of Bethle-
hem"