Roughly the same size as Ben Hur | October 2010 |
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We went to see a production of Ben Hur at the Olympic Park stadium. It's not something we would likely have gone to see except that we scored some free tickets. Also, Robert's gymnastics teacher Andy had landed a part as one of the gladiators/soldiers/etc, which added more interest.
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The big stadium had been covered by sand or something with life-sized statues standing on a wall around it. The premise was that we got the Ben Hur story with the "good bits" acted out in spectacular size. It was, of course, described as being "Bigger than Ben Hur".
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Here we have the legionaries (including Andy, presumably) lined up for the Emperor Tiberius (off-stage to the right). They showed the Emperor on the big TV screens and he did look suitable dissolute.
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Sets were wheeled in in setions by the legionaries and assembled in situ. This is the galley for the big naval scene.
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And, of course, no epic is complete without the chariot race. This, I have to say, was well done, complete with six quadrigas. I understand the drivers needed a lot of training as four horses in a line is not a system used any more.
Robert got a bit upset by the story at times (which is a little unpleasant in parts) and I had to take him outside occasionally so I missed some of it. But, apart from a couple of good bits like the chariot race, I wasn't that impressed. There were a lot of boring bits where you sat around waiting for the next spectacular. I guess that's what happens when you try and tell a story. I think if we had paid actual money for it I would have felt we didn't get full value.
In summary, not bad but not bigger than Ben Hur. Roughly, about the same size.