The Forrest City times., 1907-05-03
A HUGE SUCCESS.
. Esther, the Beautiful Queen, Present. ed by Home Talent Uuder Direc-
 tion of Mrs. Manning.

Music lovers ofForrest City and that Drobably means 95 per cent. of the en- fire population, have been on the qui yiye of expectancy for several weeks, since it was first announced in these columps that the beautiful Sacred Cantata of Esther, the Beautiful Queen. would be staged at the Becker < Lewis opera House in the near future by home talent under the di- rection of Mrs. B. T. Manning.
 The very interesting plot of the Cantata. the heavenly music to which the story has been set by Wm. Brad bury. additions by Leon Reach, with ability of Mrs. Manning as director, demonstrated upon several previous and similar occasions, notably in presenting Jeptha's Daughter in 1888, and the Cantata of Ruth fin 1891, was we'll known tomany hence the widespread interest when the recent announcement was made of her intentions to present it Tues day night, and as consequence, the very large and appreciatiye audience which assembled to hear it, and lend practical encouragement to her most laud able aims, and incidentally swell the fund for the benefit of which the play was given.
 Mrs Manning, always painstaking ! and careful In the performance of any task or duty which she undertakes, look ed the field oyer closely, and se- lectcd her company with care, each with an eye single to his or her suit ability for the part, both as to voice, figure and physical attractiveness and the result was that she secured a large number of the best voices, most beautiful women, young girls, and gallant, handsome men, and some of the best histronic talent in the city. the principals being as fol- lows.
 PERSONS AND BY WHOM REPRESENTED. Esther the Queen Mrs. II, E Pettus. Soprano Ahasuerus. the king g........f. C. Neely Bass Haman. the Kings Counsellor, and over-
 seer of the Req Inn ..... ...................... .--........... Joe Martin. Baritone (Memphis) Mordecai,.a Jew Ed Sehlosser Tenor Zeresh, Haman's wife, ,............ .... =........ ............ Mrs. T. V. Prude, Contralto Mordecai's sister..,t Miss A. Parsons Soprano Prophecies ......... Hrs. s, 5, swan. Soprano Aedan Princess.... ..t...... ...... ...,...,.,. ...,...Miss Estelle Pettus, Alto A Persian Princess Miss II Williams, Soprano Scribe. be............. Wayne Perkins, Baritone Beggar...... ........ ....,. Esma Eze Illegal. W s. Brown, Bass High Priest...... ..==.=.. Chas. Prude. Bass Herald,t... .......... ....J. M prewett. Tenor Iiarbonah. .... -,..... .Dr. J. T. longest Tenor Maids of Honor to The Queen...... =........... ........ Miss Ruth Fletcher Mrs. Addie Allen Pages 10 the Queen............= =....=.t,,.. .... .-.. Misses Norma Isaaes, Leta Mae Hancock Pages to the King Sam Mann, Roger Crews liaman's Child.......... Virginia Brady
 There were also Persians, Jews, Pages, Guards, Maids of Honor, ct al, Vnd 8 large chorus of forty or fifty voices, making grand total of be- tween 50 and 70 persons participating, including Jewish Drill Corps of 10, and Persian Drill Corps of 10 lovely young ladies.
 The story of the play is that Esther was born in Persia 500 years before Christ. Being an orphan from in- fancy, she was adopted by her uncle, Mordecai who, recognizing her great natural beauty, trained her in the accomplishments of highest woman hood. She was chosen by the King of the Realm to be his wife and Queen. She did not disclose her nationality. Haman was Premier and favorite of the King. Haman hated Mordecai because he would not worship him as the King had commanded. He did not know Mordecai's relation to the Queen. To be reyenged he obtained decree for destroying all the Jews in the provinces. Mordecai discovers the plot and charges the Queen to peti- ton the King for the safety of her people, which she does at the peril of her life, on account of the law that no one shall go into the King unhid- den. The King hears her petition, and Haman is defeated Haman has prepared a gallows for Mordecai. An attendant informs the King of the fact. The King orders Haman to be hanged from it and proclaims Mor- decai Premier in his stead. After this the people rejoice.
 Mrs. Henry Pettus, as Esther, full filled the highest ideals of the char acter, and the greatest expectations of her many admiring friends, while MT. Nicely, always in popular favor as singer, in the character of the King, added new laurels as an actor of more than ordinary ability.
 MT. Martin, of Memphis, being the only nonresident, was perhaps more .l IL n