Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-08
HOME TALENT SEEN
ESTHER, THE BEAUTIFUL
QUEEN" PLEASED MANY AT
GRAND LAST NIGHT.

Some of ottumWa's Best Talent In.
cluded in the cast--WiII Lowry Elk.
! cellent as "Haman, the kina's
Councillor and overseer Of Realm"
From Fridays Daily
Esther, the Beautiful Queen" elab-
orately staged, handsomely costumed,
and given In its entirety by $50 people
under the auspices of the Epworth
league, Chapter No. 491 of the First
Methodist Episcopal church. delighted
Il large audience last evening at the
Grand Opera house. The production
was the elimination of four weeks Of
hard practice and that it was sue
cess was made conclusive by the an
nouncement last night that by request
the cantata would be reproduced
sgain this evening.
Delightful presentations Of the prin-
cipal characters, which were left in
the hands of capable artists, smooth.
ness of action and the handsome cos.
/ tuning of the cast, marked the pro-
duction as one of the best ever staged
by home talent in this city. In each
1 Of the five acts, some new surprise
would be given the audience and in
the final act, when the flower, tambou.
rine and ribbon drills We're given by
innumerable children prettily attired
in white frocks. the most appreciable
| portion of the program was seen.
The Principals.
/ Miss Sadie Robertson, who assumed
the role of Esther, the Queen" sang
her part in an inilnitable manner. She
was graceful. never nervous and in her
! most trying scenes, she carried her
self and rendered her lines in re
markable manner. "Ahasuerus, the
King" was done by G. G. Keyhoe and
4 he, too. did excellently. Will Lowry
perhaps. is entitled to bulk of the
favor, inasmuch as his portrayal Of
Hannah, the Kings Counsellor and
Overseer of the Realm was splendid
ly given in every instance. His deer
i bass voice was heard to a good advan
4 tage in the chorrses and when per
forming solo work, he surpassed him
self. Frank Daggett as "Mordecni,t the
Jew" displayed his true ability, while
Miss Maud Edmunds In the role d
"Mordecai's sister" did equally as
we'll
Miss Sigma Hoaglund as "zeresh, the
4 Wife of Haman," and her attendants
Mrs. o. L. Shadford as "a Persian
Princess and Miss Clara Thompson
as "a Median Princess" essayet
these solo roles excellently, while lit
tie Miss Irene Taylor, as the child o
Haman and Zeresh, attracted much at
tention by her composure and uncon
Germ. Miss Katherine Weeks, Der
Mahon, Otis Echols. Levi Eaton, Ro!
Stevens and David Weeks were goot
in minor roles. The chorus of Jews
) Pensions, guards, pages and queens
maids contained many good voices
showed uniformity in drilling and be
spoke for Director G. Addison Squire
. land Accompanist Mrs. Frank Daggett
jealous labors.
Synopsis of the Play.
/ The first act of Queen Esther
shows an open space in front of thu
| kings palace. In this act Hannah
friends. twenty-one young girls dress
ed in pretty gowns Of red and orang'
{ go through delightful drill and sin,
j, to Hannah. Mr. Lowry's deep has
, voice was then heard to excellen
! advantage in denouncing Mordecai
"The Lament Of the Jews" sung b.
Mordecai and the chorus, concluded
the first scene of the first act The sec
ond scene shows Hannah and KIM
!, Ahasuerus in conversation and con
cluded by a solo, "Lo, Ger the Wicked
sung by Miss Katherine Weeks a
1.-THE Prophecies Esther made he
first appearance in the second act
Miss Robertson and Mr.. Daggett fu1
, nished the sol work in act two. Queel
t Esther and King Ahasuerus have
! dialogue in song in the third, and bot
Miss Robertson and Mr.. Keyhoe dis
tinguished themselves as singers O
high rank by their work. Hannah
, friends and the Persians contribut
the chorus work in the fourth act
while Zeresh, King Ahasuerus, Hamal
} and Bert Mahon as the" Kings Scribe
supply the solo parts.
The Beautiful Drills.
In the fifth act was shown one O
: the most beautiful parts of the Who'll
production. The many little girls il
the flower. tambourine and ribbo
drills made UP the prettiest stage pie
ture in the entire production, Will
the actions of the little ones was il
deed remarkable. Their drills pre-
crossed without any noticeable flaw
while their singing could be distinct
understood in the audience. The las
act shows Hannah defeated and MOI
decai the victor. The latter garbed i
the royal apparel and seated upon tn
kings horse is lead in by the prou
Hannah In the grand finale the er
tire cast. Persians, Jews, guards
pages. queensmaids and flower girls
are shown.
The reproduction of this beautiful
staged piece this evening will doubt
less attract another large and apprec
alive audience.
PRESIDENT BEFRIENDs WIDOWS