Smyrna times., 1883-11-07
The OratOriO of Queen Esther.
A GRAND MUSICAL SUCCESS.

The dramatic rendition of this beau
tiful biblical drama that will never
grow insipid or uninteresting, which
came off last night and the night before
at the Town Hall, was a grand success,
and spoken of on all sides in terms
most complimentary. By Saturday
last the larger part of the reserved
seats were sold at so cents each, and
before the exhibition, nearly all the
seats in the Hall were likewise held in
reserve. The sale of tickets was stop
ped for nearly an hour before the exer-
ciseS commenced and about u hundred
and fifty persons had to retire and
await their chances the following even
ing, which was little better, as the most
of the seats for it had been secured in
advance. After all the seats had been
filled, wherever there was standing
room it was taken. The number in
the Hall was 450, and including
| the drdmGtiS per some, about $50
On account of the crowded condition
of the stage and audience, there was
some delay, the performances com
mencing at 20 minutes after eight and
occupying two hours. The scene open
ed with a chorus of Persians singing
long live Hannah. The ambitious
courtier was represented by Walter r.
Massey, who took his character with
splendid conception, and sang with a
musical firm voice Scene second
opened with King Ahasucras repre-
scented by Walter o. Hoifecker in fine
regal bearing seated on the throne with
Hannah petitioning him for the over
throw of the Jews. The Duet between
them was sung with spirit and accuracy
Mr.. II. who has naturally a tenor voice,
in taking the character of the King
which requires bass, accomplished the
solos with ease, the lower notes being
clear, rich and full.
Miss Elva Carrow, who had the place
of Queen Esther, never fails wher.
ever assigned, and it was not feared
that she would, in taking the most diff
ficult role of Queen. The slight tremOl
in the supplicatOry passages produced
just the proper effect, and in singing
and acting there was both beauty anC
force. She was we'll supported in Nor
decai by l.. Moses Price who surprised
the audience with his impersonatior
of the defiant Jew in withstanding the
part to sustain which he did in q sof
full tenor that would have done credi
TO other than an amateur. The lamen
tatiOn, "WOe is me-" in act and vote,
was executed with fine stage effect, fol
lowed by the affecting Duet between
: him and the Queen and the full choru
= in lamentation of the Jewish people
God is the Refuge Of His People" wa
calculated to move the audience witt
its touch of woe and duplication.
Zeresh the wife of the proud Hannah
+ was splendidly unprecedented in Mis-
Mary &. Bell. Her bearing was tina
of one bred among cOurtly scenes, ant
in the difficult parts she had to assume
was natural, flexible and musica
throughout. Little Nellie Hustled tool
the part of Zeresh's child and in tn
; parting scene with Hannah acted Xix
, one in real sorrow.
! Miss Clara Wilson, as Prophtess, star
! tied the hall of banqueting by he
tragic entrance and prophetic bearing
sustaining her part admirably. Mis-
: Hettie Megear, as MOrdecai's Sister
i was a success singing with patio
, and sweetness. Miss Hannah Var
} Gasken, as Maid of Honor, sung with he
, usual ease and pleasantness. Zeresh
, Attendants, Misses May Martindal
: and Carrie Beck, sang their par
u u effectively. High Priest, VIM. II. Baggs
y Illegal, RObt. l.. Cummins; Scribe, ia
= H. Groves; Herald, Jos. L. Cavende
were characters excellently taken, an
i credit to themselves. The Queen
II Attendants, Misses Florence Beck an
= Rena Williams; Queens Pages, Mise
. Della Beck and Bertha Smithers
. Queens Maids, Misses Laura FariC
= and Minnie Allen, added much to IL
~ brilliant scene by their bright face
y and gay attire. The Guards, Jos. +
- Primrose, Harry Wilson, Thos. McCo,
~ Jr., and Clarence Smithers, sustaine
u their characters with military precisio
> and looked fierce with their battle ak,
! and coat of mail. The character
y Kings Pages were taken by Maste
y Paul and Townsend Jefferson, wit
- boyish grace and aptness.
= The chorus ofboysa as we'll as the choir
Ofgirls in the triumphal march attracte
the attention of the audience by the
music and the efficiency of the dril
IN We cannot speak too highly of IL
" choruses by the Persians and Jew
in which were enriched by the voices
ID Misses Sallie c. Hill and Edith H Be
I'd Soprano; and Misses Lizzie McDowe
of and Fannie Hill, alto. Indeed oil
st cannot justly discriminate, all did the
of part so excellently well. During Il
lis whole evening Misses Jennie Smithe
H. and Kate Douglass were adding the
at full share to the entertainment
IN Organists.
Prof d. p. Wyatt merits the than
Y, of the community, who in the space
he three weeks, out of our own hor
We talent, has given us one of the fine
he entertainments ever witnessed in o
Hall.
lis The OratoriO will be repeated aga
ct, on Friday evening by request. Dol
at fail to go.
IN, - ----.-------------