Favorable

Wharf.co.uk:

A live action spectacular brings the iconic chariot race to life with an impressive sense of realism and excitement.

The Independent

It is an epic show beset by financial troubles and the scepticism of a great many nay-sayers, at one point it even seemed to producer Franz Abraham that it would never make it. But yesterday, Ben Hur Live’s 46 horses, 20 lorries-full of sand and 140 doves thundered, rolled and flew into London for the first time.

Unfavorable

Guardian.co.uk

I’d hoped against hope that Ben Hur Live would deliver the holy grail of epic theatre – thrilling, large-scale live performance. But these gladiators get two thumbs down.

Telegraph.co.uk

If I have failed to mention any of the actors it is because none of them establish any personalities at all. And though the show may be called Ben Hur Live, I’m afraid it left me bored to death.

Additional Reviews

• BBC – List of other reviews.

Video:

• BBC – Video of the performance.

Dubbed by its director as “the biggest arena show ever”, Ben Hur is just three weeks from its world premiere at London’s O2 Arena. The production, which after London will embark on a 17-city tour, requires 500 tons of sand, 400 cast and crew and 46 horses for every performance.

Director Franz Abraham has been planning this monumental show for 15 years. He told The Times: “Now we are almost through to London and with all seriousness… this can be the most successful show on Earth”. Confident of the show’s credentials, he added: “It can run for 50 years”.

Kinda makes me want to visit London. 🙂

But then again, I’d be scribbling notes down incessantly while I watch (like with what happened with the Passion… heh).

[The rest of the article here.]

-Steve