The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1893-04-24
THE FLOW ER QUEEN.
AN ARTISTIC PRODUCTION OF
TIE CANTATA.
More Pleasing Entertainment
Was Never Witnessed
in this City.

This lotus-land OF Hawaii, with its
never-ending beauty and its boundless
hospitality, well nigh makes repara.
ton for the losses we must feel in
being so far away from world centers.
Keenly do we realize our isolation
from the myriad opportunities of cities
for broad culture, at the same time
artistic, dramatic, musical and intel
lectual-opportunities which we try to
replace in part by our amateur at
tempts. Of these many are ambitious,
and some are attended by a measure
of success, but for a long time there
has been no artistic and musical affair
more daringly attempted or more bril-
liantly executed than the eantata OF
the "Flower Queen" given Saturday
evening in the Old Stone Church by
the girls of Kawaiahao. 1t was great
event in the annals of the Seminary,
being the first operate music ever
attempted. For weeks and weeks it
had been anticipated, as early in the
school year Miss Burgess began the
daily drill which she so patiently and
thoroughly continued until suddenly
O,S SIChUtSS. oUe Will U0
greatly missed in our little musical
world, but it is most of all matter of
regret that she could not be here to
see so rich realization of her hopes
and reap the well-merited reward of
her labor. In her absence, Professor
Berger, ever g good friend of the
Seminary, has given his services for
the drill of the last few weeks, declin-
ing any remuneration. 1t is further
evidence of the genial musicians
goodness of heart that he willingly
forfeited a lucrative engagement at
the Opera House for the sake of help
ing in this benefit. Miss Kenwill has
done valiant service in obtaining solo
lists and helping whenever help was
needed.
The graceful costumes of the girls
representing wild flowers of every hue
were designed by the teachers, and
were made of the cheapest possible
cheese-cloth and cambria; they were
fashioned under the direction of Miss
Van Anglen and finished in the school
sewing classes. Besides the gowns,
there were wreaths and festoons and
bouquets of flowers to be made; but
these and the dresses were all in readi-
ness when the long-expected evening
had come at last.
Through some misunderstanding as
to the hour fer beginning, the large au-
dience had its appetite well whetted by
the time of waiting, but it's eyes could
we'll FEAST on the decorations before
them. The back of the platform was
the very similitude of green noun
tain wall with countless ferns clinging
to every Granny, while at either side
were seeming entrances to leafy grot-
toes or distant glades surrounded with
the verdure of palm and spreading
fern and waving jessamine. But all
was green. Miss Winter was far too
wise to detract from the refresh
ing GOODNESS of the leafy bower
by any further touch of color. But
by s O'Clock there was no lack of bril-
liant hues against this soft back
ground of green, for from the leafy
openings at the sides of the stage
poured in the 'iowers, the fair young
flowers that come at the voice of
spring,n-and in graceful grouping
and pleasing harmony of bright
colOrs, the cantata began in an out
had met in a secluded dell to choose a
queen and were interrupted by foot
steps, atwhich with some natural con-
fessiOn, they hied them to their forest
glade to wait in silence. There, in
pilgrims garb, came Mr.. Wakefield,
as the recluse who was weary of the
world, and sought repose in the
messy cell far from strife and care. A
semi-chorus by the hidden flowers,
which he could at first scarce believe
he heard, bade him stay, and in a
well-rendered recitative he demanded
who they were. Then came the rose
and lily (Flora Smith and Eliza Ke-
leaa) who with timid mOdesty told
him that he heard the music of the
flowers from Natures artless min
strels, and as they stepped aside, he
acknowledged himself a willing cap
tive to the flower spell, and gave |
place to the flowers again. With |
fiutterings and swayings the chorus |
clearly sang "Who shall be Queen,n |
and turned to look upon the first |
aspirant, the crocus, whom the audi |
greeted with applause. In her trail |
flowers about the neck and caught in |
clusters on the front, she sweetly set |
forth her claims as the first flower of |
spring. The occasional Interruptions |
by the full chorus, but setting for |
her clear notes made this one of the |
most pleasing parts of the even
ing. Before her claim could be |
decided, in came the dahlfa, with |
"her beauteouS bloom" - Miss |
Rhodes, taller and slenderer for the |
high puffed sleeves of red abon long
sleeves of spangled white. and the long |
dahlia- trimmed robe of red looped up |
over a skirt of the same spaDgled |
white. Her proud demand for queen |
ly honors was met disdainfully, in |
spite of the melodious tones in which !
her claim was preferred.
Two little girls, Helen Desha and |
Abbie Kuhanu, as Heliotrope and |
Mignonette, came forward to proclaim
to the imperious Dahlia that goodness
and gentleness, with temper serene,
were qualities for their Flower Queen.
The quiet ease of the girls and the
blending of their voices called forth
round of applause from the ever in
tent audience, who then gave heed to
the plea of the Japonica. This was
Miss Won Holt, who came forward in
soft iiower-trimmed white, bearing
bouquet in her hands. Soon the fine
contralto was thrown into higher re-
lief by beautifully sung chorus,
staccato and at the same time piano
qlIncult combination for chorus.
:, Who was coming next? Evidently
!ne flowers were all expectation, to
Judge by the eager faces and question
ing glances. And it was someone to
hhonor, for they began to make low
BOWS before tall, queenly figure,
Ioned in black, with Sunfower crown
Enq garland. 1t was Miss Eva Parker,
m sne sunfiower, and her charms won
al unti! her song commanded instant