The Portland daily press., 1879-11-27
Capitola, Ia waif upon the wa
tnrs afterwarlS an hpireSS
FATINITzA,

An exchange speaking of Fatanitza, which
will be produced in City Hall on Friday, Dec.
9Th, says:
Fatinitza, as produced at the Boston Theatre
on Monday evening, achieved a success that at
once places it in the foremost rank OF popular
operas. 1t is highly creditable to Mr.. Barna-
bee to say that his misrepresentation OF the role
of Pasla has been attended with unsurpassed
success. His singing, acting and general stage
work are all so equally good that it would be
difficult to determine which of these elements
is deserving the most appreciation. Mr.. Barna-
bee has struck the keynote OF his best achieve
ment on the stage. Nothing could be more
thoroughly appreciated by critics and audience
alike than Mr.. NJ w. Whtney's assumption
of the role of Count Timofey Handkerchief. Lit
is wel-nigh perfect piece Of acting, aod IL
would be ungrateful to crlticlSe his anxiety to
make the utmost of all the humor the part.
contains. His rich bass voice was in fine con-
dition. Mr.. Fessenden as Julian Hardy, the
correspondent, was a great favorite with the
audience from the start. Except when he for
gets himself and becomes thoroughly lost IN an
exquisite conception of the music, he enters III
to the action of his part with surprising energy
and abandon, and wins the applause OF the
most exacting of his auditors by thoroughly
good, honest, faithful work. Both In singing
and hiStrionism he is not equaled by any lni-
personator of the role we have vet witnessed.
But we fail to understand why Suppe's music
to the "My Native Land song flor the nder-
ing of which Mr.. Fessenden received an ell
core) should be nothing more or less than a
plagiarism of an old Swiss melody. There is
nothing national, English or American, imbu-
ing the spirit of any part of it. Mr.. Frothing-
ham would more thoroughly satisfy us as Ser
geant Steipann if he did not occasionally in
troduce in the part style of acting that wonld
be more appropriate for his capital Dick Dead
eye in Pinafore. In other respects his acting
and singing are both excellent. Miss Georgia
Cayvans Dimitri is an exceedingly welcome
bit of histrionsm. Bravo! We regret to per-
ceve that Miss Beebe's ability as vocalist is
slightly on the wane. There appears a lack of
consistency in her method of using the differ
ent registers of her voice The music of the
trio in the final act is calculated to display her
singing at its very best. This trio always re-
ceives an encore; but the encore is partly the
result of a sensational crescendo which is made
by NJ So Reebe in that register of her voice
the finest effects. The character of Fatinitza
is again sustained by Miss Adelaide Phillips
with unqualified saccess An enlarged Or
chestra under the direction of Mr.. Lothian,
and fine chorus, only serve to enhance the I'M
precedented excellence of the presentation.
Stockbridge's will be open today for the sale
of tickets.
NOTES.
The Portland English Opera Company had
an excellent rehearsal last evening of Pinafore
The various parts are well taken, and first
rate performance may be expected.
At the concert to be given by the High street
church society, at the reopening OF the church
ediice, Miss Behrens of Boston will play a
violin solo, Miss Shaw of Portland Il harp solo,
81 No ,fn4t