"BEN HUR."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1492, 15 July 1912, Page 6

"BEN HUR."

The wliolo of the monitors of, J. C. Williamson's large dramatic organisation, together with the balance of the scenery ami effects for "Ben Hur," arrived from Palmerston Saturday, and a. full rehearsal wilPtakc place to-merrow. The following is a brief outline of the plot of General Lew -Wallace's famous romance, γ-hicii is to be staged hero for the first time on Wednesday night next. Ben Hur, son of a princely house of Jerusalem, is convicted without trial on the false- evidence of hk traitorous friend Mcssaln, of assassinating the Procurator, and, after being torn from the crms of his mother and sister, is sent to serve in the Soman galleys as a slave. For three years he labours thus. At last ho brings himself under the notice of the Tribune Arrius, who believes the story of his innocence, and orders him to be left unchained. He saves the life of Arrius after the shin had been sunk in battle, and is adopted by. the Tribune, who eventually dies and leaves him his fortune. "While in Rome Ben Hur becomes celebrated as a charioteer in the sports that lako place there, but his identity is known to none save Arrius. At the death of his benefactor, he determines to return to Jerusalem, in order to discover thb fate of his mother and sister, and, during the journey, stops at Antioch, where he encounters his 'father's former steward and slave, Siuionides. Hero nlso he meets Simonides's daughter Esther, for. whom he acquires a great love, but he is lured from liis duty to her by the enticements of Iras, the Kgyptdan. He discovers that his enemy Messala. has entered for the forthcoming chariot race, and has staked his fortune on the outcome of the. contest. Ben Hur secures a team of horses, and,' in an exciting race, he defeats ilessnla and ruins him. Meanwhile his enemy has gained the love of the vain and wicked Iras. Eventually the Prince of Hur reaches the palace of his fathers at Jerusalem, and here hp returns to his first love and drives out the .Egyptian woman. Hero, too, the Biblical strain that runs through the play conios into prominence. Seats in. central positions tor Wednesday night can be selected at the 'Dresden.