Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-08
AM.dsEu1Nrs


The McN.elll Club, assisted by;a ladies'
auxil:. :.ary Organization, and directed by W.
q. Kinross, last evening gave the comic
opera "Fatinltza" to very large and a
kindly audience at the Metropolitan The
ater. 1t is not the purpose, even If at the
late hour when the performance concluded,
it were convenient to enter upon any de-
tailed criticism of purely amateur per-
formance of this character. The RECORD
UNION long since adopted the policy of
treating such efforts by our own people
generally, and without analysis of the ex-
cellencies or shortcomings of the individ-
ual singers.
Generally, it is TO be said of last nights
performance that it was a heroic effort,
and the surprise is that ladies and gentle
men who do not make the stage and the
opera study should so well handle those
edged tools as did the two organizations
presenting "Fatinitza" The sparkling
opera, which is largely spectacular, was
well mounted. Few, if any, comic operas
have been better staged here. The cos
tumery was elaborate in detail and rich in
character. 1t could scarcely have been
better or more pleasing to the eye. The
chorus was large, strong. sang with spirit
and was throughout excellent. The orches-
tration was superior, gave fine support and
the musical direction was good One act
is sung and.acted with entirely new scenery
by ]. R. Wilkins, and introduces an out
work ofthe Russian army on the Danube,
and is very effective ''set." Mrs. DIR.
Bruno, Miss Maye Kewen. Mrs. George II.
Hansbrow and Misses Pullman, Wheat,
Kaibel, Young and Lynn had the leading
parts for female voices, and Messrs Carroll,
Cohn, Millikin, Bruner and Blair the lead
ing male singing parts. The piece was
better acted than sung indeed the dramatic
quality of Messrs. Blair, Carroll and Milli-
kin gave to the opera character and spirit
by their dramatic assumption of the roles
intrusted to them, Mr.. Blair notably 80,
and Miss Kewen contributed very creditably
in the same direction. That there should
have been considerable timidity on the
first night was anticipated, and that the
second night will present the ladies and
gentlemen more at ease, and as
result make the singing of the opera
more spirited and the movement of
the piece more rapid, is to be
safely assumed. The floral favors were
very numerous last evening, and all the
soloists were complimented with handsome
pieces or large bouquets. The applause
was liberal, without being enthusiastic,
with the exception of that drawn out by
charming solo in the third act by Mrs.
Bruno. "Fatinitza" is not, of course, given
with the abandon and comedy win" with
which company of expert professionals
would present it, nor is its music
80 taking as that of the Chimes
of Normandy" which the McNeill
Club some time since gave. But it is
nevertheless musical pleasure, has some
beautiful quartets, though but one notable
solo; is mirthful from beginning to end,
and gives the chorus full opportunity, and
of which it avails. 1t is creditable acted,
and as for the persons engaged in it as solo
lists, it is to be said that they all did very
much better than we had anticipated. The
opera will be repeated tonight, and as Sec
ond nights always do, even with profess
sionals. this evening will present 'Fati-
nitzs" in better form than last night.