The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
.BEN-HUR" BOOKED
FOR THREE SHOWS
Elaborate Klaw & Erlanger Produc-
tion to Be at jefferson December
s and 8 With Matinee

I When Gen. Lew Wallace penned his inn
mortal "Ben-Hur' he little thought, or
not at all. of its possibilities as drama.
In fact, it was the significance of the liv-
sng Christs influence on the people of
His own time that General Wallace
wanted to show. However in writing his
masterpiece the Indianian 'builded better
than he knew" for, when dramatized,
fs'Ben-Hur'' scored the geratest triumph
keyer known in an American theatre. To-
day it is as powerful in its appeal and as
undoubted in It's sway over spectators as
on the night of its first presentation in
New York, November 49, 1899.
From the moment when the curtain
rises on the impressive tabeau of the Star
of Bethlehem to the final scene, when the
drama ends with a burst of triumpnal
music, the action moves with a sweep
that reaches its elimination in the great
race scene. In this superb picture of
hRoman luxury in the most Romanzed of
ANY city in Asia Minor (Antioch), the two
men who are the central figures of the
STORY, the Prince of the Judean House of
Hur and the Roman Messala battle for
life, love and honor, and Ben-Hur wins
the terrific struggle, completely destroy
Ing the power and influence of his enemy.
.'Ben-Hur enjoys the distinction of be-
Hng indorsed by ministers of every denom-
1nation and of receiving the patronage of
,nen and women of the church, people who
hhave never before entered a theatre sit
ting in rapt and awed reverence as the
drama is unfolded before them in its
wonderful series of pictures and its abb
eorbing and exciting action. The regular
Itheatregoer is thrilled by it's realism and
lcharmed by the love story that runs
Through the play, and the religiously in
lclined draw Inspiration and moral
lstrength from the subtle influence of
Jesus which pervades every line and scene
of the drama.
The story of Ben-Hurs love for Esther;
the fascination of Ben-Hur by the Egyp-
ltian lras, and the rivalry of the Roman
iMessala for her favor, the hatred which
lsprings up between the two men; the
lchariot race and the triumph of Ben-Eur
lover his enemy. make up a tale of intrigue
land power such as is seldom seen within
1.-THE walls of a theatre. The realism of the
lchariot race Is wonderful. Ben-Hur and
lMessala, each driving four horses, contest
lfuriously.
Among the members of the company as
tsembled to present Ben -Hur" at the
Jefferson theatre Monday and Tuesday
levenings, and Tuesday matinees, Decem-
her SO, are Thomas Holding, who has the
title role; Arthur Linden, as Messiah;
Walter M. Sherwin, as Simonides: George
Sydenham as Arrius. Others are Leslie
Stowe. Theodore Hardy, Noel Leslie, cas-
sius c. Quinby, Edmund Daiby, Virginia
Howell, Muriel Godfrey-Turner Mary
Condor, Roberta Bremen and Frances
Won Waldron.
1t is well to bear in mind the fact that
the curtain rises on the evening perform
ances of "Ben-Hur" promptly at 8 o'clock
and at O'Clock at the matinees, and that
no one will be seated during the prelude,
which shows the appearance of the Star
OF Bethlehem to the three wise men,
and should be seen by all who would thor
oughly enjoy the performance of Ben
Hur."