The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-05-18

PORTIONS IN which they excelled.
Among The principal Of the female character h
: little SeEpolette, tl1is Fannie Johnsson,) who
seemed naturally adapted 10 the part she assumed
bright quick-wiited. exquisiteiy pretty, and
with voice lmezzo-soprano) which wiz compare
hForAbly with that Of many Of the fhvorite pri-
ma-donnas Of the day. Being persuaded, tom
papers found In The chateau Of Corneville that
she Is the lost Marchioness de Lucenay, she ap-
pears In dress, - magnificent g Il IL appropri-
ate. and sings fanltessly song expressive Of
her gratidcation and establishment at this sud-
den elevation Of poor peasant girl to such lof.
~ position. The dignity Of Marchioneas is
maintained with grace and excellence, until
meeting her old village associates, abe il unable
to restrain her feelings, and requests them, in a
song Of exquisite sweetness, TO call her Eerpo-
lette, a. before" Without following this char
acter further, We win only say that a. re ndered
BY Miss Johnston, it was not susceptible of i'm
provement
Miss Jennie Whitaker, as Germaine, the lost
Aarchioness, both in acting and singing, fully
realized the expectations of her many friends
and admirers Possessed of fine and stately
form. and q voice (soprano) singularly rich and
sweet, no more fortunate selection could have
been made for the personation of q character
requiring grace. dignity and beauty. Her render
ing of the Legend of the Bells "By his
Side," and other airs, were unexceplionable, and
deservedly greeted with rounds of applause and
showers Of boquets. In dress as well as acting,
the character was fully and admirably sustained.
Henri, Marquis of Bonneville, (Mr H v R.
Schrader) displayed an excellent conception of
his part His dress, first as the returned exile
from among the savages of America, and then
as the nobleman restored to bis ancestral estate,
was in perfect taste and keeping with the differ
ent characters assumed. Mr. Shraders voice is
rich baritone, full and expressive and he sings
with an ease and grace which in most persons
can only be acquired by great cultivation. The
numerous boquets and baskets Of flowers of
which he was the recipient attested the appreci-
alton of this character by the audience.
Of Jean Grenicheux, the young fisherman,
(Mr. Charles ShineO praise can scarcely be two
lavish. Young, untaught in music, and with
no experience in the Thespan art, he readily
grasped his character and by close application,
aided by fine tenor voice, made it one of the
most interesting and attractive features of the
play. His singing of the solo, "On Billows
Rocking" as well es the duets and tros in which
he took part, were admirable. and received mer
tied applause; and whether acting the lorn lover
of Germane, or the carriage driver of Serpolette,
playing the spy upon the deviltres of the miser
Gaspard, the encomiums of the audience proved
the marked and unusual ability with which
these various characters were conceived and sus-
tanned.
1t is difficult to convert by means of disguise
handsome, athletic young man into an ugly
and feeble old miser; yet in the case of Mr.. John
Shine, who personated the miser Gaspard, this
was accomplished most successfully The smooth,
bright face, was changed into one furrowed and
dark; the rich, strong voice, int the feeble,
cracked notes, approaching imbecility; and the
elastic step of youth, into the limp and halt of
feeble old age. In fact, in appearance, gesture
and action, it would be difficult for this character
to have been better rendered: his rage at the
attentions OF Grencheux to his supposed niece
Germaine; his love for gold, as expressed in the
song, " Love, Honor, Happiness" and his terror
(which results in insanity upon the ringing of
the castle bells announcing the return of the
marquis, were portrayed by Mr.. Shine with
vividness and feeling closely verging upon per-
feet realization OF those different emotions-
Were we TO say more in regard to the persona
ton of this character, it might appear fulsome,
but we may safely assert that the success of the
entertainment was largely due to the most excel
lent acting OF Mr. Shine.
We must not in justice omit to mention the
Bali, tDr. W. II. ShineO sutton for the hand of
Germaine, which had been promised him by her
supposed uncle. Gaspard. This character, while
not so conspicuous as those above mentioned,
was we'll conceived and executed by Dr. Shine
to the successfue feet of which, his fine bass
voice contributed in no small degree.
All unite in the verdict that the rendering of
the beautiful choruses, in which this opera
abounds, was perfect; and though space does
not permit Us to particularize we may mention
that the " Bell chorus and Silent Heroes were
given in a style unsurpassingly brilliant, by fine
voices, in perfect accord and the whole effect
enhanced by the display of artistic costumes
and stage appointments and an array of beauty
such a. is seldom witnessed.
The instrumental music (pianol was furnished
by Miss Monte Long, the most accomplished
pianist in Tallahassee; who, while executing
with ease and grace the most difficult passages
gave such close attention to the performances
on the stage, that ct time was there the slight
est lack of accord between the musician and
actors
For the ingenious design and artistic execu-
ton of crayons representing the Silent Heroes"
in armor, tie managers no doubt feel themselves
indebted to the Rev. Father Hugon, whose
sketches, - well q the genuine armor con-
structed under his direction, would challenge
criticism. Meszn- r. G. Long and Edward
Lewis alse contributed largely 10 the success Of
the entertainment, by the taste with which the
stage appointments were arranged, and the man.
agement Of the entrances and exit Of the per-
| formers.
While we were intensely pleased with the
treat Afforded Us, 1t is gratifying to know that
we have the musical talent capable of furnishing
such an entertainment as was the " Bells of
Bonneville" and that there are in our midst,
| hearts which respond and hands which labor, at
the call of such charities Is the Relief and
Monumental Associations.
We hope-(and in this we express the wishes
of the community, we are sure)-that Mrs Ran