The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-04-14
N LOCAL pIA1H0U5[5.
THE DETROIT.

The story OF "Ben-Hur," dramatized
from Lew Wallace's impressive Bibli
cal fiction. was presented In the De
troit opera house Monday evening and
will be seen there the remainder OF
this week. An unusually large audi
ence greeted the players and received
this sublime religious spectacle in a
manner BETTING the nature OF the
play.
The action Is laid In the scenes OF
the early struggle of Christ to spread
his message to the nations, and the
effect OF the new gospel on the people
of ancient days Is apparent through
out. The whole play is primarily a
Bible story and compares only with
the Passion play. 1t idealizes the first
principles OF Christ's teachings and
pictures the life OF his times most
deliberately In Ii Is shown the chariot
race with two drivers and eight horses
contrasting in full career In the Ro-
man circus, which is one of the most
successful pieces of stage mechanism
OF the present day. There Is also
shown the Star of=Bethiehem and the
Mount OF Olives, where the presence
OF the Savior Is indicated by shaft
OF bright white light. The scene In
the Roman galley is decidedly reals
tic, with the clanking of the chains OF
the oarsmen, the creaking and grind
ing of the oars, with three banks of
fettered oarsmen, swaying backwards
and forwards to their heavy task,
which can end only with their lives
The story in brief is Ben-Hur, the
Jewish hero OF the play, is made 4
galley-slave by the Romans when a
youth. In battle, the ship on which
he was rover Is sunk, and Ben-Hur
In escaping saved the life OF the ad
miral of the defeated fleet. This man,
Arrius, took him TO Rome. adopted
him as his son. and educated him for
the army.
After some three years, Ben Hur,
on the death OF Arrius, anxious to find
some ti6ings OF his mother and sister,
returned to Judea. Here he is found
secretly drilling legion of Jewish
youths to the use OF arms according
to the Roman method. intending TO
use them in establishing Christ or
his earthly throne Ben-Hur, In com
mon with many others, was a firm oe-
lever In this, but when the test came.
the soldiers deserted him. and he was
compelled to abandon his purpose.
The chariot race, In which he dc.
feats Messiah, his enemy; the waver-
ing of his affections between Esther.
the demure little Jewess. whom he
finally weds. and the Egyptian, Iras,
and the pleasing from leprosy Of his
mother and sister. Tirzah, are features
that stand out prominently In the play.
The Simonides of Henry Weaver
was one OF the features OF the pro-
duction. He invested the part with
all the dignity and reverence that II
demanded The Messiah of Wilmer
l.. Walter faithfully reproduced the
average persons conception OF the
naughty Roman soldier, while Conway
Tearle made much OF the exacting part
Of Bcn.Hur. While his acting was I'M.
usually fine. his enunciation was not
UP 10 the standard, aand q disagreeable
running together OF his words impair.
cd what would otherwise have been O
splendid impersonation. Other charac,
ters that stood out prominently were
Margaret Dilis, the mother OF Hur;
Helen Singer as frns; Stella Boniface
Weaver as Amrah and Gertrude Dial
ton, as Esther.
Theatergcers are reminded that dur
Ing this week the curtain goes ur
promptly At 8 o'clock IN the evening
and for the wednesday and Saturdsy
matinees. precisely at 9 O'Clock.