The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-03-13
QUEEN ESTHER.

Those who participated in the pre-
sentatlon of the Cantata of Queen
Esther at the Opera House last Thurs
day and Friday evenings, have just
cause for self congratulation on the
achievement Of great success. The
public has reason to thank them for
atfordng a most delightful entertain.
ment. The Cantata was given under
the auspices of Trinity Reformed
Church, and it is a pleasure to record
the fact that the result has been net
profit of $a6o, the total receipts being
$500.
Rev. w. T. Auman was the origin
ator of this presentation, as a means
for raising money to pay off an old
church debt. He readily secured the
assistance of members of nearly all the
choirs in town, and did all the work of
organization. No one can have any
conception Of the amount of labor and
patience that is required to get up an
amateur entertainment but those who
have had the same experience. Mr.
l.. S. Wintersteen consented to act as
musical director, and the preparation
of the singing was conducted bv him,
assisted by Mr.. Auman. Upon these
two the greatest labor and RESPONSE
bility rested and it is only necessary to
say that the Opera House was filled
both nights with delighted spectators
to show how we'll they did their work.
The cantata contains no very diff
cult music, but it is full of pretty solos,
duets, quartettes and choruses. The
solos OF Mordecai's sister, Miss Vida
Miller,j of the Prophecies, Mrs. l.. S.
Wintersteen,) of the King, (Mr. L. S.
Wintersteen,) of Haman, (Mr. A. N
Yost,) Of Mordecai, (Rev w. T. Au-
man, of Illegal, (Mr. Oval, Yetter,) of
the High Priest (Mr. S. MKillip) and
Of the attendants, were all we'll
sung. The Queen, Miss Annie Miller,
and Zerish, Miss Ella Fox, were the
bright particular stars of the evening.
Their singing was fully up to their
usual high standard, and their acting
was excellent. Both were the recipi-
ents Of handsome floral gifts, and were
called before the curtain by the ap-
plauding audience. The voice of Mr..
Auman was we'll adapted to the part
Of Mordecai and he sang and acted
with much spirit, though he was suf-
fering both nights with a difficulty in
his throat. He has delightful tenor
voice. The duets by Esther and the
King, by the King and Haman, the
quartette by the guards. Messrs. Col
ley, Bidleman, Brady, and White, and
the quartette by Mordecai's sister,
Zerish, Mordecai and Hegai, were
we'll rendered. The latter is one
of the gems Of the Cantata. The
choruses are all pretty but the best Of
all were "Trust ye in the Lord" and
the finale in which the melody of Old
Hundred is carried by the tenors,
while the other voices sing an ac-
compartment.
The action all through was good.
When the Queen entered the presence
of the King unbidden, not knowing
but that death awaited her, and fell at
his feet, there was strong dramatic
situation. And again, when Haman
parted with his wife and child, and was
led out to be hanged while the death
knell sounded, it was we'll acted and
was truly pathetic.
The choruses by the boys and girls
were well worthy of special mention.
The costumes of the leading char
acters were procured in Philadelphia,
and were very rich. Those of the
choruses were provided by themselves
They were very attractive and ap-
propriate. That of the high Priest
was made by Mr.. M'Killip, and tol-
lowed closely after the dress of that
official as described in the Bible, and
as seen in pictures. 1t was we'll got
ten up.
Miss Maude Runyan presided at
the piano and led the orchestra. Her
skillful playing was a great assistance
to the singers, and held them up to
the proper tones without flat from
beginning to end. The orchestra also
did its part we'll and discoursed sweet
music between the acts. But we have
gone more into detail than we intend
ed, although too much cannot be said
of the excellence of the production.
1t was the best entertainment of
the kind ever given in this town, and
the frequent encores showed that it
was fully appreciated.
The names of the participants are
crowded out this week for want OF
space. They will appear next week.