ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 316, 4 July 1912, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

"BEX HUR." This morning at 8 o'clock the box plans will be opened at Collier's for the production of the great spectacular religious romance, '-Ben llur," which is to be staged here by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd.'s dramatic company on Monday night next. In Auckland, the -whole of the dross circle and reserved stalls was booked up within six hours after the box plans were opened. Apart from the magnificent scenery, wonderful effects and brilliant dressing and mounting, "Ben llur" is one of the most inter-' esting dramatic productions yet staged, and its tragic story is interpreted by an exceptionally powerful combination of artists, including Mr. Eric Maxon, who plays the title-role. "Ben Hnr" is a most admirable and appealing character, sincere and strenuous; he never poses for applause, he never tears an emotion to its tatters, he never does anthing with a conscious smirk. The heroine, differently conceived, is in every way worthy of the hero. The story of their love is essential, though subordinate, to the purpose and vitality of the drama. In all, there is n.o suggestion of the problem play, no obtrusion of mechanical moralities. The characters tell the story of the play simply, never stepping aside to point the moral or attempt adventitious adornment of the facts. Naturally such a story is rich in opportunities of striking and excellent stage pictures. The circus scene is superb, and so are many of the others. The dialogue, without archaic affectation, is true to the time. The characters are so presented and so grouped that they are never Anglo-Ame-rican travesties of bygone Eastern people. There is not a single lapse to morbid sensationalism. It is a drama whose enthralling interest is fashioned of absolutely legitimate materials.'