The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-12-14
QUEEN ESTHER DELIGHTS
BIG CROWD AT CITY HALL
Sacred Cantata Given by Local Talent
Last Night an Entire
= Success.

The "Queen Esther" cantats
last night drew a large crowd tt
the opera house, a crowd ever
beyond expectations, and with
the inspiration of y large audi
ence, the affair was q success
from the opening to the close
The cantata is to be played again
this evening, and the manage
ment is making preparations fo1
i a second filed house.
The entertainment is under
the auspices of the Ladies Aid
society of the Presbyterian
church, and great credit is due
the ladies for the successful per
Sformance.
The stage settings were ele.
.lgant and in keeping with the
time Of Queen Esther.
! The solo parts were especially
beautiful, and the soloists &C.
quitted themselves in a manner
meriting the hearty applause
they received. ..
The king, in his gorgeous ar.
parel, was very realistic figure,
and sang and played his part in
a most commendable way. :. =.
The queen was the central
figure of the play, and took her
Epal t in way that won for her
1.-THE admiration of the audience.
Her gowns were dazzling and
had the Queen of Sheba, in all
her glory, seen Queen Esther
flast.night, she certainly would
have abdicated tho throne in her
favor. The queen was attended
by four beautiful maidens. =.
Space prevents the proper
mention of the other princip, i
parts, suffice it to say that the
Epartsstaken by Haman, Zeresh,
bMordecai. Mordecai's / sister,
fscribe, prophecies, high priest,
herald, beggar, Hegai, Harb rbonah,
guards,. and the Persian and
Median princesses were carried
out with exceptional ability. The
gowning and costumes of these
was most elaborate, and the act
ing was worthy of professionals.
The eantata is the story of
Queen Esther, as told in the
Bible. A synopsis of the tale
follows: .s~.s
Esther was born in Persia, 500
;B. G. Being an orphan from
infancy, she was adopted by her
uncle Mordecai, who, recognizing
her great natural beauty, trained
her in the accomplishments OF
highest womanhood. She was
chosen by the king of Persia to
be his wife and queen. She did
not disclose her nationality.
Hamap, who was premier and
favorite of the king, hated Nor.
decai, because he would not
worship him, as the king had
commanded. He did not know
Mordecai's relation to the queen
To be revenged be obtained 9
decree for destroying all the
Jews in the provinces. Mordecai
discovered the plot and charged
the queen to petition the king
for the safety Of her people
which she did at the peril OF hel
life, on account of the law tha'
no one should 60 unto the kinf
unbidden. The king heard hel
petition, Haman was defeated
and hanged on the gallows b,
had prepared for Mordecai
Mordecai was made premier ant
the people rejoiced.
The cast of characters include.
many Of the best singers in th,
city and is as follows: Eather
the queen, Miss Ida Brown
Ahasuerus, the king, Floy,
Brown; Haman, the king,
councillor, J. p. Lindsren; zeresh
Haman' s wife, Mrs. q. g. John
son; Mordecai, = Jew, G. A
Lucas; Mordecai's sister, Mrs
g. ~. War field; prophecies, Mis-,
Mabel Nc Taggart; Median prin
cess, Mrs. Gertrude Rogers
Persian princess. Miss Florenc'
Grimoldby scribe, Mr.. Alldis
beggar, Mr.. Alldis; Illegal, Nj
Harvey; high priest, Mr.. Harvey
herald, r "A, Prudd den; Harbonah
$#I n IA Drn11on *