The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-02-07
THE CANTATA SAUL
AN IMMENSE SUCCESS

hhr"c and ipprc"iatiyc Audience
MAS Present az thc Presentation
Tuesday Evening and Gave E,i-
dcnccH OF Sincere Enjoyment.
Perhaps the most artistic and, at
the same time most appreciated, pre-
sentation of music in any form that
has been made in Laurcns i'm some
time, was that last Tuesday evening,
when the cantata Saul" was sung by
the Laurens Choral Society in the au-
ditorium of the graded school build
ing. The large building was filed to
comfortable capacity and the atten-
tion was rapt throughout and the ap-
plause generous. After the concert
congratulations were freely showered
upon Mr. Hicks, the director, and the
others who took part and the eager
question was asked my many when
viii you present 1t again?"
There were several members of the
society whose work shone out clear
and bright. This is not said in order to
cast shadow over the work of any
OF the others, for none in the entire
production need have reason to feel
the least disappointment over the part
they took in it. Mr. John Hicks, as
Saul, gave the most masterful pre-
sentation of his part of any of the
entire company and his work was a
revelation. Although Mr.. Hicks voice
was a known quantity before the cur
toi L..
cution Of his part was a pleasant sur
prise to even those of his most ardent
admirers. Not only was Mr.. Hicks in
splendid voice, but his dramatic ac-
ton contributed largely to the sue
cess or the evening. generous, spon-
taneous outburst OF applause followed
the singing of "'Tis From the Heart"
by Miss Annie Richey, who took the
part Of Abigale. She passed gently.
lightly and clearly from the lowest
bars on the scale to the very highest,
and thrilled her audience with the
sweetness Of tone and precision of
execution. Miss Richey took promi-
nent part In other portions Of the pro-
throughout. Mrs. II. X. Aiken sang
and acted splendidly the parts en-
trusted to her care, putting great
deal Of zest and enthusiasm in the
delineation of Michal, the daughter
OF Saul. The work Of Mrs. Aiken can
not be praised too highly, for she act
ed and sang her part faultlessly. Both
in solo work and in concert, she sang
beautifully and her clear contralto
voice was a pleasure to listen to. Mr..
Ed Hicks, who took the part OF David,
and Mr. 2. G. Franks. who sang Jona-
than, acted and sang excellently and
their work was thoroughly enjoyed.
Although Mr.. Franks suffered from
slight cold, his voice was unusually
clear. Mr.. Ed Hicks sang his part
with perfect freedom, showing beau
tiful control over his voice in lines
that were very difficult. Miss Minnie
Curry, as the Witch OF Endor, and
Mrs W. p. Thomason, Mrs. j. H. Tea
que and Miss Jennie Shealy, as other
3|witches, sang their parts well indeed
The choruses showed the results OF
much work and thought They kept
excellent time and sang splendid1y In.
unison and harmony. While 1t i8 not
intended to detract from the mons
chorus, 1t was admitted by most OF
those present that the ladies' chorus
was in better form than the mems and
that their work was equal to that OF
any chorus ever heard In this section.
The magnificent success OF the en-
tire performance Is due in largest
measure to the untiring work and
musical talent of Mr.. and Mrs. Chas.