Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-04
IMMENSE SCENIC AND DRAMATIC
PRODUCTION MAKES PRO-
NOUNcED HIT.
FAITHFUL AND EXCELLENT
PORTRAYAL OF GREAT BOOK
Most Elaborate and Exquisite Scenic
Production Ever Staked in Local
Theater-Hish Class Cast Tells In
tenseIy Interesting Story Of Import
ant Parts of the Book.

tised "Ben-Hur," the mammoth klaW &
Erlanger production, dramatized and
arranged for the stage by William
Young from Gen. Lew Wallace's fam
Gus book of the same name, opened
with the first of four performances at
The Odeon Monday night. Probably
40 more in praise of this grand drama
tic scenic production can be said than
that it satisfied practically every mem
Der of the big audience that came
within approximately 100 of filling the
seating capacity Of the place.
OF great dramatic strength, and hav-
ing a scenic magnitude and splendoc
that has never before been equaled on
the local stage, it pleased in every par
ocular those who even had meas ser
idea OF what "Ben-Hur," staged, might
! be like.
Grand Play of Grand Story.
The story of 'Ben-Hur' Is so well
known, by the very wide reading that
this work of historical fiction has at
tracted, that it is not necessary that
it be, retold for the purposes of brief
synopsis reviewing the play. Sufficient
it is to say that the stage story holds
reasonably close to the written story
and it follows it very closely in all the
more important parts that the stage
picture attempts to show.
The continuity of the play is made
complete by connecting the climaxes of
the book either by dialos explaining
the missing chapters, or the action OF
the play or scenic effects that have
the same result.
Put On Without Hitch.
With production so new locally, and
so large in proportion, it appeared
natural for some to presume that the
first nights performance might be
barred by unavoidable incidents or ac-
cidents. None such, however, occurred
save a little one at thrilling moment
and it was soon over and was probably
not noticed by many in the audience.
1t emphasized the thoroughness of the
organization and the training OF all
concerned even to the horses in the
| chariot races
| AS the drop" lifted that revealed the
horses racing III the closing scene OF
the fifth act, fold in the canvas
| caught under the jaw of tho horse
nearest to it. Unvexed by the fold that
was being lifted higher and higher the
amin al continued to run. the last stride
! or two being made on its hind legs,
until it shook its head free and came
down on all fours to race on, unmind-
full OF the interruption.
Is Powerful Drama.
Those who were familiar with the
/ book needed not to be told of the
dramatic possibilities that it contained
of which the most have been made.
Altho it is an old story. of an o1den
time, it contains the intense dramatic
! interest and basis elements Of human
| interest to make it great and lasting.
| The stage version has been divided
/ into a prolog. a tabieau. and six acts
Of thirteen scenes. 1t begins with the
! star in the east that guides the three
wise men to the manager IN Bethlehem,
! and the curtain rings down on the
happy reunion Of the Hur family. The
action of the play is continuous and
! connected making a completed whole;
! aud the scenic embellishments are
+ real:st;r almost beyond what might be
/ tho - POSSIBLE for the stage. The
| musical accompaniment successfully
tends to add to the realism.
Scenic Settings Superb.
The scenic settings. accessories,
wardrobe. and properties Of the piece
are superb. The prolog or prelude
Z! shows the desert shrouded in the gloom
of night while high overhead the star
(, family CLOVIS, but grows brighter and
brighter until it floods. the stage with
| radating light
| The first act takes place on the house
top of Ben Hur, showing Jerusalem in
the distance. The third act is In the
interior Of the Roman galley, which
changes into the wave-swept sea and
the ship wreck and rescue.
/ The luxurious home Of Simonides
| the good friend of Ben Hur, makes the
setting for the first scene Of the third
act, with the grove of Daphne and the
fountain of Castalia, elaborate settings
for the second and third scenes.
The tent of the sl1eik is the scene
that introduces tine fourth act. with an
exquisite moonlight lake scene follow
ing it. The exterior, followed by the
interior and the great chariot race
scene make the fifth act.
The palace of Fur, the vale Of Hin
nom, the refuge of the lepers, Mount
Olive. ard the healing of the lepers and
the closing scene enblernat Of the en-
trance of Christ into Jerusalem close
the act and play.
Is Strong Cast.
Il Most Of the more important speaking
parts demand dramatic excellence and
fine cast has been chosen thruout
The part of Ben-Hur is a long and
difficult one, and at times intensely
emotional and dramatic. Richard
Butler carries it splendidly Messala
the Roman. another hard part was well
taken by Walter w. Sherwin. Other
important parts, all or them hard and
exacting, were well handled by An
thony Andre, as Sfmonides: Frank
Weston, as 1lderin; Miss Alice HAYNES
as Esther; Miss Helen Singer as Iras
and Miss Loyola O'Connor as the