The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-11
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.


Thomas Holding playing the principal
part, and with an admirable east sup
porting him. is perhaps the best pro-
duction OF the season on the Detroit
opera house stage. and this is not to
praise other meritorions offerings
less. but "Ben-Hurp more
From curtain To curtain. the audi.
ence is held spellbound by its mag
niticence. by its stupendousness. by
Its grandeur; and by the compelling
nobility of It's theme.
The story ttseif-alleged 10 be the
late Gen. Wallace's reply 10 the In
fidelity OF the brilliant Ingersoll--is
probably known to all. How Ben
Hur. after long absence from his
family, returns home, only TO acci-
dentally injure Roman officer by
knocking piece Of tile from his roof
upon the officers head; how he was
sent 10 the gaileys without trial;
how he met there a centurion who
later. his life having been saved by
Ben.Hur, gave to him rank and
money; how he went to Simonides, a
friend of his father, and received ala
from him: how the charms Of Iras,
tHS uduSHttT Oh Tic Wlrc-ludAl, Ddieho
Ear. made him leave Ilderim, the Arab
whose horses he drove In the race.
and alone. waiting for him. while he
went out with Iras, Simonide and his
daughter Esther; how Ben-Hur won
the chariot race. in which he wrecked
the chariot OF Messola. formerly
friend but now an enemy and manned
him for life. are known to most every
one. And also. when Ben-Hur tells
of the miracles Of the NaZarere. when
Amrah, servant to the Hurs. tells or
the leprosy Of Hur's mother and SIS
ter; when Ben-Hur. searching for
them IN the Vale of Hinnom, falls ex-
hausted and dreams he sees them
cured, and, awakening, finds that the
Nazarene has cured them and they
are whole again, are instances which
send the thrills through ones veins.
These are but few of the inspiring
parts OF the play-it Is impossible TO
describe them all.
But the story itself Is not the whole
play. The beautiful scenery ana
stage mechanism have as much to 40
with the success of "Ben-Hur.' as
the wonderful acting and lines. me
moment when Ben Hur saves the life
of the centurion, the sea tossing ana
rolling and pitching. the moon gleam-
ing almost too peacefully, and the
two men swaying on the raft in the
midst OF the tempest, forms a picture
impossible to describe or paint. The
scene when Ben-Hur let's out his Ara
bian steeds and catches up to Mes
sola and wins the race, Is perhaps, the
most exciting OF the whole produc-
ton. II would be tmpc ssibfe to get
more perfect representation OF
chariot race. They seem TO be actu-
ally In an arena, going nip and tuck.
At the time in the Vale OF Hin
nom, when Ben-Hur. exhausted by
his efforts to find his mother and Sis
ter. falls asleep and is found by those
whom he sought. the curse of the
leper Is clearly shown. Though they
had not seen him for many years, the
mother and sister refrain from touch
ing him, for this would give him the
disease they all dreaded. And at the
end of the play, after the family mas
been cured by the Messiah, the CROWD
following him, lift up their voices
I'm praise to the Master with The
Palms"
Many plays endure for year some
month; and some survive severai
years. but Ben-Hur will last forever
There is vitality In it that other plays
lack. There seems to be more toucn
Of human interest. II the writing OF
this story could make the author q
Christian, there surely must be some
good, deep and everlasting, that Will
keep 1t before the public.
All the week with an extra Friday
matinee to meet the heavy demand
for seats-cheering evidence that the
public will respond to the loftiest
themes whenever stageland sees fit
which Ia too seldom--to let IT look
upon the wholesomely viva ana Gu
nobling.