The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-03-02
Queen Esther.

queen EStnors
The Cantats Of Queen Esther was pre-
seuted TO the people of our town on last
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
evenings by Prof. w. H. WEEDEN, as
sisted By 4 ilnauoer OF the ladies and !
gentlemen iof this place. Ths Cantata
is one Of ahe NEST charmiag prodnc
tions it has ever been our good fortune
to witness here. and was, greeted by an.
audience composed of the most cultured
and refined Of our citizens, some of
whom had been over to Bellaire and had
taste of Prof. WEEDEN's quality in
Queen Esther and, like oliver Twist
were deslrous for more. 1t was an au-
dience that expected to- be pleased. and
it was not disappointed.
Prof. WEEpEN assumed the role OF,
King and acted it as one 10 the manor
born. Miss HATTIE DIEHL, as Queen
Esther, was superb Both her singing
and sciing we're 50. nearly perfect that II
would be hard to improve ON it. In
Scene First Of Act II where she promis-
ed "to go unto the King, in behalf Of
her people thoagh. she perished," was
sang most beautiiuily, bringing tears in
to the eyes of many. Miss HATTIE is
indeed an accomplished vocalist, and,s
entitled to generous credit for the, emil
nent success of the performance. Prof.
WEEpkNs remarked that Miss JDrEHL
made the most perfect Queen he had
ever met with yet. II vi !. T. 10
w. S. HEArRERiNaroN, OF Bellaire,
grew immensely in favor With the audi
ence. His Mordecai the Jew was tho
roughly good piece Of acting and his
singing was commendahle indeed. Miss
I,MAkr i. MoRRr., Jas hlordeca2s. sis,et,
sang her part admirably; her solo sing
ing on Wednesday evening especially
wac grand. Mrs. O. O. .ALExANDER
acted the part Of Prophecies and exlib-
tied rare dramatic ability; she sang her
solo we'll and was of great assistance to
the troupe in her chorus singing. T.
o. CASTLE appeared ae Haman and did
some good sins sipg and acting aihescene
whste y bad farewell to bis wife md
hdie dadghtet, bssese being lead 70 the
scaffold, was very affecting.
Mrs. T. y. CASTLE, as Zsresh, Haman's
wife, sang her music excellenl1y, and
played very neatly and intelligently, ana
rishly deservsd the eSogiss thai have
bsep bessoyed upon her. sDAlsy VIII
iIxks acted Che part sok Hamans little
daughter and did we'll. The High Priest,
J.W gHxwKrxs. did someggood sole
siugines the music be had TO sing was
quite fificult beng written very low and
required deep bass voice just such 81
one as Mr.. HAWKINS has. W. VEBNoN
WALroH as scribe was good selection
as he Is good render aud ID his read.
ing to the King every word was distinct.
1 ly heard.
The Kings Guards were E K Nor.
Ris, W. QLUrroN, AsHER okEr and
FORREST HAYDEN, they sang Quartette
in good style and were highly coupli.
meptea BY tbe audience. Tie Queen
maids we're RENA WAY and ADA LITTLE
zeresh's inside we're LUcr MAD and
ANNIE SPAsGLER, the young ladies &C.
Quilted themselves Gredisably The
Kings Pages were little ALLIE WALLAcE
and ANNIE CARTER they appeared on the
stage bearing wine to the King. looking
like two little fairies. The Herald was
T.C SELBr, who sang his part very well
indeed. -, 8 - -. !, -,
The first scene Of Act v was 'magnifi.
cent, about ffesen litile beys appeared
on the stage singing and we're followed
by the same number of little girls all
dressed in white who marched in front
Of the King forming figure eight and
casting bouquets at the feet Of the King
aud Queen, they we're encored each even.
ing and loudly applauded. The music oi
the cantata wss light and evaneseent bul
delicious Nifhal Iss strength was in ID
choruses, which were -saperb. and in tht
fact that among. its cast were bevy Of
sweet faced, fresh young girls, whose
youthful ways and charming naivett
were enough 70 carry any piece to sue
cess. ~ . &k e
The performance was made peculiarly
cnjoyable by ahes extreme accuracy q
the piano accompaniment by Miss MAT
TIE 0KEy which never for one momen,
was permitted to obscure or mar ths
beauties Of Che soIo par.s bus alNsys as.
sisted and Increased them. =
Prof WEEDEN labored very hard te
make the entertainments q success and
deserves the highest commendatien for
the able manner in which he presented
ltho Hantata - ~,
4 NJ The New York Herald is tn,
cbeapest snd best newspaper in the Uni