The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-30
Draws a Big House at Grand
Last Night.
Production Given on Magnl1i-
cent Scale.
GREAT CHARIOT RACE.
Still the Growing Feature Oh
Spectacle.
Scenic Effects Elaborate ana
Perfect in Detail.

L-1ar. e. E,r1anger's stupendous pro-
ductIon Of the late General Lew wal
Iaca,s drama. Ben Hur, is here again
after an absence of two and nan
Years having opened a three DAYS
apsaeement of four performances aI
the Grand last night. 1t is the same
,retentious and spectacular prouuc-
+ion thar appeared here once before
every feature being worked out with
ar+istfc care. 1t is well worth seeing
&c spectacular production, although
+bera are honest differences of opinion
about this drama outside OF the
staging.
Rem Hur doesn't bid for fame as a
nroduction calling for acting OF the
highest type. This is minor mater
II r. the wonderful staging of the play
mat causes crowds to line up and pay
good prices for seats at the first OPEN
ing of the chart
The scenic features of the play are
marvellous and manipulated on d IA p
scale TO carry the scenery ana tue
Dersonnel of the troupe 20 cars -~~
Hsed There are 1873 people in the
comDanv. and at one time during the
performances between rs and lOV APP
pear on the stage. This Is the laI
troupe which has ever mace 1oPeha1.
ThlTlN-InIEG stage
all the time and three hunoreu ooiAoi
is spent in extra wiring: -,v,,.
Outside of the wonderful staging
and scenery of the play, the auolence
Is one feature that appears 70 III
spectator. 1t is an audience unusual
in makeup, which one sees oniy at q
Ben Hur production, one whch -
cosmopolitan. Few faces seheIals
seen at the theater are seen at pen
Hur. The clergy is represented the
I,rominent educators who consider any
fhinp outside of Shakespearldn pro-
auctions light. attend. 1t is play 1or
the masses not the regular patrons,
and for the masses 1t is an oVera Ho US
spectacle 1t is interesting TO COM
pare the attitude of Ben Hur auul-
ence with the regular crowd OF pa
irons A Ben Hur audience Iorsels "
applaud 1t is overawed by the spec.
facle and sits spellbound. only once
last night was there any nouceaDle
outburst of applause and this greeteu
the thrilling chariot race. :.
What makes Ben Hur so popular Is
an oft repeated question. ~ Isn &c &c
acting. which is of minor importance
nor does 1t all rest with the grandeur
There Is something else that Ias-
cfnates 1t is the sacred atmosphere
which enshrouds the entire perform
ance The stage setting and every fea-
fI5Te carries one back to the jewish
times at the time of the dawn OF the
Christian era 1t is a spectacle over
awing and impressive.
Conway Tearle who plays the title
role is a finished actor but ne rams
short of the physical standard one
expects In the six acts he Is COM
PEELED to run the entire gamut OF
human emotions and he does II with
an ease and grace, which betrays no
forced emotions. Others who help to
make the play interesting are Charles
NJ Harris as Messiah, Anthony Andre
as Simonides, and Edna Conboy, as
Iras.
There are many thrilling situations
and spectacular scenes in the pre-
sentation of this masterpiece. The
chariot race is the headliner and there
is something captivating about 1t.
The horses are straining every nerve
as they gallop on the treadmill. 1t is
all cut and dried beforehand, who
will win and there is no element of
chance. but just the same it is un-
usual to see such a scene on the stage,
and it thrills. The final climax where
Ben Hur FORCES in ahead and the
wheel falls off Messala's chariot is
little short of the real thing as far as
effect goes
The star of Bethlehem, the miracle,
the revels of Daphne, the rescue and
the lake are the strongest scenes.
The musical numbers rendered by
the chorus and the orchestra are good.
The orchestra of fifteen pieces plays
we'll and the chorus sings well. The
musical measures are effective and the
ensemble well balanced. And the
chorus with it's ancient Jewish garb, is
well worth seeing.
on the whole 1t is a grand effort and
worth the price. The management
fulhlls its promise and the curtain
rises promptly at o'clock. The play
is over by 1916. The house last night
was well filled although its capacity
'ras not taxed. Ben Hur shows to-
night and tomorrow with a matinee
touorroU afternoon