Rave Reviews
"Evidently not only had the best dramatic talent been selected from the college in making up the cast, but they had received the most skillful training, and had put a vast amount of work into the production. [...] Perhaps the most praise was accorded to J. L. Barney, who took the part of Viola, and who made a perfectly charming girl. Olivia was also represented well by F. L. Hill, who had the dignity and grace of 'My Lady' to perfection."
"The Dartmouth boys are to be congratulated on the excellent manner in which they produced Shakespeare's well-known comedy, Twelfth Night. [...] Mr. Hill as Olivia made quite a stunning girl, and Mr. Murray as Maria was very vivacious and feminine. The 'belle of the ball,' however, was Mr. Barney as Viola, with his, or her, shy ways and lady-like manner. He acted his part with great naturalness and fidelity."
Much as they had at Dartmouth, the Players received very positive reviews from around New Hampshire. Even outside of the College, theater-goers agreed that James Barney’s portrayal of Viola was one of the best parts of the performance, and reviews made no indication that there was anything unusual about female impersonation. The Somersworth Free Press even referred to Barney as the “belle of the ball.”
In light of their successful tour, the Players were invited to reprise their roles at Commencement, where Twelfth Night was featured alongside other student performances, as well as traditional Class Day exercises for the graduating seniors. Given the outstanding success of the 1899 production, it is no surprise that the Players fell back on Twelfth Night when their group was under fire from the administration in the 1920s.
Reviews from around Vermont and New Hampshire
Similar to The Dartmouth's original review, newspapers from around New Hampshire praised Twelfth Night in glowing terms. James Barney's portrayal of Viola received "perhaps the most praise" out of the entire cast. The Somersworth Free Press even called him the "belle of the ball."
Announcement of Commencement performance
The tour was so successful that the Players were invited to reprise their performance as part of the official proceedings of Commencement 1899.
Commencement 1899
Twelfth Night was included alongside traditional Commencement exercises and performances by other student arts groups.