Ben Hur by Lew Wallace

Ben Hur - Lew Wallace

Lew Wallace's epic tale, first published in 1880.
Dramatised in four parts by Catherine Czerkawska.

Music by Wilfredo Acosta.
Director: Glyn Dearman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1995.

Introduction:
Judah Ben-Hur lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the first century. His old friend, Messala, arrives as commanding officer of the Roman legions. They become bitter enemies. Because of an unfortunate accident, Ben-Hur is sent as a slave in the mines, while his family is sent to leprosy caves. As Messala is dying from being crushed in a chariot race, he reveals where Ben-Hur’s family is. On the road to find them, Ben-Hur meets the Christ as he is on the road to Golgotha to be crucified. That day changes Ben-Hur’s life forever, for that is the day he becomes a believer.

CAST
Ben Hur ...... Jamie Glover
Messala ...... Samuel West
Angel ...... Deborah Berlin
Amrah ...... Phyllis Calvert
Mother ...... Margaret John
Arrius ...... Derek Waring
Tirzah ...... Natasha Pyne
Chief of Rowers ...... Don McCorkindale
Man 1/Servant ...... Joshua Towb
Man 2 ...... Michael Tudor Barnes
Man in Boat ...... Gavin Muir
Simonides ...... Bernard Hepton
Ilderim ...... Freddie Jones
Balthasar ...... Michael Hordern
Drusus ...... Ian Masters
Esther ...... Deborah Berlin
Iras ...... Natasha Pyne
Passenger ...... Michael Tudor Barnes
Malluch ...... Gavin Muir
Iras ...... Becky Hindley
Pilate ...... Neville Jason
Balthasar ...... Michael Hordern
Assassin ...... Oliver Senton
Roman 1 ...... Joshua Towb
Guide ...... Neville Jason
Man at Inn ...... Joshua Towb
Man 1 ...... Don McCorkindale
Man 2 ...... Derek Waring
Gesius/Man 3 ...... Peter Yapp
Man 4 ...... Peter Whitman
Michael Gambon reads from the Bible.

1. A Friendship Betrayed
Two men's lives run almost in parallel. One is a prince of Jerusalem, Judah Ben Hur.
The other is known as "He that was born to be King of the Jews."

2. Son of Arrius
Judah Ben Hur has been falsely accused of attempted murder, sent to the galleys and rescued by Arrius of Rome.
He now returns in search of his mother and sister.

3. The Chariot Race
The biggest day of Ben Hur 's life dawns -the chariot race with Messala.
Each has staked his fortune on the outcome. Each has everything to lose.

4. The King Comes into His Kingdom
After the prince's victory in the chariot race, news arrives of his mother and sister.