Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-01-20
THE VIRGINIA rRrr pRrss--rHE OLD FAMILY JOURNAL
Queen Esther.

/ The story OF Queen Esther is hardly sur
passed by anything in history in romanti,
I beauty and popular interest; and its dramati,
I presentation by adequate talent could hardl,
| fail 20 be an attraction to those who arc famil
lar with the Scriptural narrative of the beau
tiful Jewess' selfsacrifcing devotion to hei
people. Under the management OF Professor
C. W. Clary, the oratorio OF Queen Esther was
rendered last night, at Washington Hall by
Charlestown musicians. IL is impossible, with
the limited time and space at our command,
to name all who participated in the perform
ance. We may mention 4 few of the leading
characters. Miss Maggie Mcknight as Esther
was royalty digni6ed, sang her somewhat diff
ficult part admirably, and was realistic in her
sorrow at threatened destruction. T. NJ. Ba-
ker wore the royal robes and crown with dig
nifty and used his massive baSs voice most eff
iectively. 4. D. Barr was as pompous as the
original baman could have been in the high
tide OF prosperity, and tragic in his fall as if
the shadow Of the gal!Ows fifty cubits high
were actually upon him; while Miss Julia
Merchant, as Zerish, was equally proud or pa
thetic in sympathy with her lords changing
fortunes and her rich alto voice was displayed
Co advantage in twOor three solos. L. c. Ken
nedy Mordecai sang his part in q musical
tenor, and was sublimely scornful in the pres
ence of his enemy. Miss Anna Wyatt was
gracefully impressive as the Prophecies, and in
her solo her voice was exquisiteiy clear and
syve,. Miss Mary Latimer was Mordecais
sister and in several solos eXcelled in voice.
expression and manner. Miss Magma Moore,
one Of the Maids of Honor, sang, kneeling, a
solo that was sweetness itself ZerishS attend
ants. Misses Alice Taylor and Fannie Timber
lake, had parts Of very different character
and sang them well, and Miss Minnie Timber
lake, rs one of the Queens maids sang in
sweet voice, " God is the refuge of his people
I L. Shirley High PRIEST aud Prof Walsh
Chamberlain were excellent and the minor
parts were correctly played. A quartettc by
Misses Laumer and Merchant and Messrs
Kennedy and Taylor (Hegail deserves notice.
The choruses were particularly fine. The tri-
Umphal march in Mordecai's homer by the en-
tire company with the addition of well-drill-
Ell choruses of boys and girls, was pleasing
scene. The costumes Of the ladies were pref
" aud extremely becoming aud those of the
men were striSing-to say the least. Miss
Bertha Ruhl was pianist and Mrs. A. L. Ken
nedy stage directreSs.
Before the performance and between the acts
the audience was entertained with violin music
by Prot Clary and cornet solo by Prof Walsh
and duet by MessrS Walsh and Baker and
10 eveybody's delight-uearly eclip>ing the
main periounancc-Mi Miss May Handicapped
q violin solo accompanied by her mother) and
an obligato TO cornet solo bv Prof Walsh
1t was impossible TO complete the arrangements
for electric lights by last night, but it is conf
IDENTIFY expected thar this will be done in tin e
for tomorrow nights performance, and the
brilliancy of the scenes will begreatly increas-
Cd thereby.