WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 43

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

E? P. Rompter.

November 21. Dea.r Pasquin,— And still the melodrama is with us, and Bland Holt manages to keep the benches occupied for six nights with each piece. "The Spin of Life" was followed by "The Prodigal Daughter," which runs through this week, and the next piece will be "A Life of Pleasuro." I just mention thc3c things to let you know how the changes go up here, and need not enlarge, as you hwe seen the pieces youraelf quite recently. The Daughtor gave us something like an opportunity of judging Mtse Watson's pliying, but I will still reserve judgment for further experience, although ahe ha-s gained the praise of our critic.?. The full strength of the company was shown, but as the fu:es wore all familiar, need I individualise? I will say, though, that Mr Baker seems to have grown a bit careless in his acting and iv his utterance Give us your best, Walter. As to Mr und_Mra Holt, lluy'rt- all right. A'now member of the company was shown 03 the other daughter who stayed at home and got the goo"l, but hardly-used, lad for a hubby, said new 'un being Miss Frances Ross. She looked well, and what little she had lo do was well done. Miss Ross, i.i the language of the pit, is "a fine figure of a woman aud nn actrers," and will have ample opportunity foi displaying her appearance and her talent with this company. Mis W. E. Baker has come over from Sydney for a tiip with tho company — of the company, but not in it. Mrs B. cycles, but docsa'c like our windy busters. Mr John M'Glashan's ninth annual concert was given on Friday in the Exchange Hall. The conceit included two original compositions by Mr M'Glashin— % song and a concert oveitu-e. The overture is a bright composition, with a wclldtiveloped rhythm and a swing that should make it popular. The new song, a serenade, \yas allotted to Mr Greenwoad, and was well received. This adds another to our list of composers. Mr T. C. Webb, organist at St. Mark's, gave an organ recital on Friday night. And yet another musical note. The first Hen-en Abend of our Liedertafal was held on Friday evening. Rsfrashars, cigars, pipe?, good programme, and a big audience. There was music in the air Friday night. The St. Pat.'s College boys, with help, gave a great concert in the Theatie Royal. To cope with the keen rivalry in that city for singets of the chorus geuus, the Choral Festival Society (R. Parker, conductor) this week instituted a social fixture, comprising an evening of music, dancing, cards, and refreshers. Our popular little songstress 1 , Mis H. J. Miller, who was cast for tho part of Plincess Ida iv Gilbait and Sullivan's opera of that name, which is to be produced by the Amateur Opsratic and Dramatic Society early in January, has bean unexpectedly called away to Melbourne, owing to a serious accident to her brother, and has givea up her part. The society, in ordor to keep faith with ita subscribers and the public, has arranged with Madame Kveleen Carlton to take up tho part, and she will fill the role iv tb ; coming performance. Madame Carlton is well known as a concert siuaer, but has uot been heaid here before in opera, except ia the recent concert pcrformanu: of " Faust," when she scored such a success foPheTr artistic singing of the music allotted to Marguerite. The, " Ida " music, for comic op^ra, is generally of a high order, and Madame Carlton will no doubt give an effective performance in the r&le of the Prineesa. The opera, the production of which will entail a very heavy expense on the society, is ia active rehearsal Mis 3 Frances Ross, who was with you only t'other day, appeared with the Bland Holt Company on Monday evening as Violet to Miss Watson's Rose in " The Prodigil Daughter." She has been engaged for the season. " It is an ill wind that blows nobody good " comes in in the above case. Miss Veigie Vivienne received an urgent cable from t'qth-raide telling her that '* Mother dangtroualy ill—come if you desire to sea her," and she was enabled to take that day's boat direct to Sydney. Directly she was away a rumour got about that Mi»R Vergie had an offer from the Firm for their dramatic season. Mrs Patrick Campbell (who i 3 only 28 years of age, by the way) played Paula in The Second Mrs Tanqueray " for 300 consecutive nights. Her stage experience only covers five years. After playiug I'aula for 100 nights she forgot her lines, and had to read the whole part again before memory returned. I hear that Brough and Boucicault will have a two-days' wait for the Sydney.boat here, so will play those evenings. " The Importance of Being Earnest" will be put on. It is one of their latest acquisitions, and went well in Auckland opinion. If George Fisher doesn't win the mayoral chair for this city next week 'twon't be for lack of energy and enterprise. This is how he appealed to our musical paople in announcing one of his addresses : "At my meeting tonieht at Thomas's Hall I will make a few observations specially addressed to musical people, and particularly to those connected with musical societies. The reference will be mainly directed to the subject of the erection of a town hall. For instance, wo have now in this city, the Festival Choral Society, Orchestral Society, Musical Union, Operatic Society, Dranntic Sjciety, Citizens' Institute, M'Glashan's Orchestral Society," Maughan Burnett's Musical Society, Lierdertafel, The Forward Movement, Caledonian Society's Chorus, Industrial Association. These different societies require suitable accommodation for weekly meeting*, monthly assemblies, and quarterly concerts. I will make further reference to this at the meeting to-nighti and I should therefore like as many as possible to attend. A lady has already offered to present the city with a town hall organ. I wish, if possible, to get this offer renewed. I shall be glad to see as many musical people as possible at the meeting." This is interesting, «s showiDg what musical strength and means of cultivating the muse our city now poßeesseß.