The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-05-14
HACKS HAPPY HITS.


Queen City Choral Society.
The Queen City Choral Society rendered
the cantata of Esther, the Beautiful Queen,
at Robinson's Opera House last Friday even-
ing, before the largest and most hadsomely
dressed audience of colored people ever
gathered together in this city. This society
had made its announcement some weeks
previous, and the presence of so many hand
some silks, magnificent hats and bonnets
and the dress suits of the gentlemen proved
that the Cincinnati people had determined
to look well on that occasion. Such was
the elegance of the audience in dress, that
one ofthe city reporters was moved to say
it resembled "a Bernhardt audience" In
speaking of the success of a concert or dra-
matte presentation, colored people are as a
rule, apt to take financial view first If
the concert made money, the concert would
be success. We, in speaking of this can
tata-and Judging by the audience-could
very truly say it was financial success,
but then We also look at it from musical
stand point, and will attempt to show
whether it was musical as well as inan-
cial success.
The story of Esther, the Beautiful Queen,
is known no doubt by both saint and sinner,
so we need scarcely repeat it here in full,
though in describing the rendering of the
cantata, we will be compelled to give n
skeleton sketch of Esther At about half
past 8, the curtain arose showing Haman,
surrounded by number of court attendants
and maids of honor, who sang the chorus
"Haman, long live Haman, in greeting to
him. Just then Mordecai, the Jew crosses
the stage without greeting Haman, who be-
coming incensed at the Jew-sings angrily
concerning Mordecai and determines to ob
tain permission of the King to be revenged
upon Mordeca. The character of Haman
was personated by Mr.. j. P. Morgan, and
Mordecai by Mr. j. NJ. Lewis.In the second
scene, Haman is in the presence of the
King, Mr. p. j. Ferguson, and obtained
from him permission to authorize the kill
ing of all the Jews, in the kingdom at
certain time. The next scene presents
Queen Esther, Miss Ella Buckner, sur
rounded by her maids of honor and attend
ants. Mordecai enters and exhorts the
Queen to go to the King and ''make sup
plication for her people" This Is a most
beautiful chorus. Mordecai and the Queen
sing solos and Duets together and fin
ally the Queen goes unto the King. In the
third net the King is surrounded by his
Court attendants and the Scribe, Mr.. Theo-
dore Wilson, is reading to the King the
record of good deeds, and reads concerning
one Nlordecai, who has warned the King
of some intended violence on the part of
some of his courtiers. The King asks, What
has been done for this? The scribe answers
- sl
advancing toward him asks him: "What
shall be done unto him whom the King de-
lighteth to honor" Haman, thinking the
King referred to him, advised the King to
have the royal apparel brought and the
Kings horse, and to put these into the pos
session of him whom the King desired to
honor. The King then orders Haman to
| get those things and to give them to Nor
decai, the Jew. Meanwhile Esther, who mad
gone to the King, requests the King and
Haman to come to n banquet, which she had
prepared. The King complies, and in the
next act the banquet scene was presented.
This scene was indeed the most beautiful of
the whole cantata. A procession of Court
attendents, soldiers, and maids of honor,
headed by five young ladies bearing floral
wreaths performed several evolutions on the
stage. The colored lights of a calcium light
were thrown upon them as they went
through the motions, and 1t produced a most
magnificent effect. Then arranging them
selves on each side of the throne, several in
troduced solos and choruses were sung. Miss
Mary Fowler sang "Mandolita, Miss Hattie
Holmes sang SOFTLY, Softly" and Miss
Hattie Harper sang Meyerbeers gem, "Ro-
bert Poiquijaime," each one doing exceed
ingly well. Miss Mary Garret, NJ IS Mary
Fowler and Charles Henson sang trio en-
titled Father, Guide u.s." These "outside''
songs were put in to make the banquet scene
more interesting, and after these were
finished the cantata was continued. Esther
discloses to the King the schemes of Haman,
and the King, becoming enraged, orders
Haman to be hung. Mordecai enters at this
moment, and is clothed in royal apparel,
and sisgs, "Am L awake, or am / dream.
ing," which turns into quartette, and was
sung by Mordecai Zerish, Mrs. Ferguson;
Mordecais sister, Miss Hattie Harper, and
Hegai, Miss Thornton Smalls. Hamap
begs to be spared, but is lead out and Nor.
decai takes Haman's place in the esteem OF
the King. The last act closes with mag.
nifcent and joyful choruses which were ad.
mirably rendered both as to time and man
ner.
| COMMENTS.
1t would hardly be just, if we did MOI
speak of Mrs. Ocia Young, who had charge
OF the costuming department. The silver
shields, words and spears, the golden instru
ments, and the dresses ef the gents and Ia
dies were made by Mrs. Young; and she
deserves great credit for her magnificent
work. The costume Of the Queen was par
ticularly elegant. The Misses Cora Wat
son, Ida Liverpool, Ida Gray, Ada Luker
and others were very elegantly dressed, ant
made fine appearance on the stage. The
majority of the costumes were appropriat,
to the time and age of Esther, yet several o.
the gentlemen wore suits never known il
the time of Esther. One gentleman wore
dark, French or Spanish cavalier suit, O
about the 10th century. One of the King
attendants wore an English tabard, or her
AIDS mantle, which had engraven in gold
on its front, the insignia of the Englisl
crown. These suits contrasted strangely
and it would be we'll for these gentlemen
to get suits nearer to Esther's time-whel
it is presented in Louisville. Aside from
these, the elegance of the costumes was yer,
noticeable, and contributed considerabl,
toward the grandeur of the rendition. o
the gentlemen who took parf,i is universal
ly conceded the Mr.. John Lewis, as
MoRDECAI,
| excelled all others. In voice. in gesture