Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-01-19

All is in readiness for the first per-
formance of Queen Esther" at
Woodman hall tonight The perfect
ion attained by weeks of careful drill
ing was apparent in the dress rehear-
sal, and when the prompter's bell
sounds for the curtains rise, Dallas
lovers of the dramatic will be charm
ed with the preparations for their
entertainment. Queen Esther"
though old, is ever new, and the
manner in which the beautiful sa-
cred opera is to be presented here
tonight and tomorrow night will sur
pass the usual amateur productions.
The splendor Of the ancient Persian
court, the beauty of the oriental cos
tunes, the force and intensity of the
spectacular scenes depicting the trag-
ie moments in the life of the prin-
cipal characters will be portrayed
with ability throughout five acts.
Trained Performer.
The principal role of Esther, the
queen, is to be taken by Mrs W. H.
Dale of Harrisburg, whose talents
and training especially fit her for the
part. Her support is furnished by
the best singers of the city, compris-
ing a strong cast and a chorus of so
voices.
An important feature of the enter |
tainment which heretofore has been
unfortunately absent in similar af- |
fairs here, will be the orchestral mu-
sic which is to be furnished by |
Thorne's orchestra of this city. This
will be the first public appearance
of the new organization, which con-
sists of six performers of more than
average proficiency. Although but
recently formed, the members of 1t
have been practicing diligently and
the audience will be delighted with
their progress The orchestra score
has been especially ordered by tel
egraph from Chicago.
Miss M. Olive Smith is the accom-
panist, and the following is the cast
of characters:
Jews.
Esther the Queen Mrs w II. Dale
Mordecai, the jew Rev. e. w. Miles
Mordecai's Sister Mrs. John E. Miller
Prophetess ........ Mrs. c. c. Coad ,
High Priest ........ John r. Sibley
degal .''...,.......... S. Earl Day
beggar '..,.s........ IT, w. Zeller a
Perslans.
Ahasuerus, the King John r. Miller
Haman, the Premier John w. Orr
leresh, Hamans Wife Edna Morrison =
Median Princess, Mrs. Chas. Hineaoin u
,t....,.. Mrs Charles Hllebrandt G.
Persian Princess ..... Pearl Owings 7
scribe .......,,.... win M. Snyder is
Captain Kings Guard Dodge Blcknell ST
Chorus.
Blanche Day, Addie Boydston. Fan
lie Dempsey, Linda Miller Rosina r
'iske, Louise Miles Lillian Fellowes.
Ruth Shaw. Margaret McCoskey.
Pauline Coad, Birdie Odom. Dovie n,
)dom, Elva Lucas. Pearl owlngs. I.u-
lille Hamilton, Annie Garner, Buena
tske, Anna May Longnecker. Adda
'ongnecker, Gladys Canter. Claudia
'oad. Carolyn Gohrke Olive Coulter.
can Kuykendal. Alice Miles. Clau- 9.
Ia Brown. Harold Hart. +. T.. COL "
ms, y. A. Teats. c. S. Graves. Glen
rock Rinehart Dorneeker A. /.
arnhart Willis Simonton.
Synopsis.-Act I. cit
SCENE /. Persians assemble 10 pr
D honor 10 Haman. Mordecai re- or
lses TO bow down TO Haman thereby "a,
'ousing his anger. Haman proceeds =.
the King to overthrow Mordecai -.
SCENE ?. Mordecai and the Jews - ','
ment their condition as captives in 'h'
arsia. mol
SCENE >. Haman proposes to the VIII
ing that the Jews be destroyed. The act
lrning Of the Prophecies. pre
Act H. o;v
Mordecai and the Jews plead with o,s
leen Esther to so before the King r..
d intercede for her people. This !. I,
E consents 70 do I'm spite OF the !,
let that none dare enter the Kings he'
essence without a royal command \
der penalty of death. SITS
Act III pub
lhe Queen, accompanied by her PHI
Ids OF honor. approached the King mer
is permitted to touch the golden fsp,
pter, thus insurinE her the pro- 49,,
ton OF the King. who accepts her -
itation for himself and Haman 10 A'S. =.
'anQuet on the following day. r
Act ". cent
GENE l. Haman's friends stfu New
Ioring him when Mordecai again ed
caring causes Haman great vexa- RI
) and zeresh suggests that he pre- aks
E . Ealiows and hang Mordecal.
= then proceed 20 the banquet Al I.