The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-16
ADJUSTMENTS
Ben Huro

Ben Hur," as dramatized from Gen Lew Wallace's celebrated novel of that name. continues to be a splendid stage spectacle. The opening performance of three nights and a matinee at the Jeffer- son theatre last night was attended by one of the seasons largest audiences, and the play was thoroughly enjoyed It's pictorial magnificence has not deterio- rated with the passage of time and the generous scale on which the piece was originally mounted has been maintained to surprising degree, when 1t is re- membered how long Ben Hur" has been before the theatre-gong public.
 The presentation last night was even better In some respects than the first per- forinance seen at the Jefferson some years ago. This is particularly true as regards the chariot race, which is much more realistic now than formerly. There were at first only four horses used, and the panorama was not operated so skill fully as 1t might have been. This won derfully effective scene has been extend- ed until 1t is truly inspiring. Eight horses appear and improvements in the running apparatus make 1t possible Cor them to keep up full speed indefinitely. The illusion is strikingly realistic and the interest is enhanced by the fact that the race is of longer duration than for merly
 Ben Hur' is more of spectacle than | play although the well-known story Is very ably told on the stage and the di- vine element lends an atmosphere of awe and mystery that is singularly impressive at times. series of superb tableaux afford background for the adventures of the Prince of the House of Hur, his unjust condemnation to the galleys, where he labors three years, his ship wreck and rise to the favor of a Roman | decumvir, his victory over Messala Tn the chariot race at Antioch, his return to the home of his father and his meeting with his mother and sister, cured of lep- rosy by the Nazarene. All is set forth with splendid artistry in the matter of staging and fair acting ability by the | members of the company.
 Richard Buhler is Ben Hur this year. He is well fitted for the part in ohysique and is capable actor. He delivers his | tines well and is not too melodramatic for the requirements of the part Walter M Sherwin as MessaIa is sufficiently virile as Messala, Anthony Andre pre- sents Simonides not quite so impressiveIy as some of his predecessors in that part nave done. Helen Singer has had much experience as Iras and continues to make that daughter of Egypt as wicked as
 one could well expect. Alice Hayes has
 beauty to commend her as Esther, and
 Maud Ream Stover presented Amrah
 as bit of clear-cut acting. The com
 pany as a whole had a tendency to be
 a trife too melodramatic. but Ben Hur'
 IS melodramatic in theme, and it's stump
 tuousness quite makes amends for any
 shortcomings that may be observable
 among the players.
 performance tonight, a matinee to-
 morrow afternoon and performance to
 morrow night will conclude the engage
 ment- The present edition of Ben Hur'
 IS well worth seeing. even if you happer to have seen the play before. It has beer a great and unique success on the stage
 klaw & Erlanger deserve credit for main taln1ng It's good ol1aIftv