WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2373, 24 August 1899, Page 47

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Bt P. Kohffkk.

j Coloured Coons, 28th or 31st August to sth Sep- (

tember. " Three Musketeers " Company, 6th to 20th September. Pollard Opera Company, 2nd 'to 23rd October. Pabian Dramatic Company, 25th to 27th October. August 18. Dear Pasquin, —Yet another deadly dull week. "Were it not that- we are living in the hope (Micawber-like) of something turning up to relieve the tedium, we should die in despair. Our Caledonian Society is practically dead, but we still have the Scot with us. Mr John M'Glashan, who for years acted as conductor for the society, when it was wont to give its annual concert, and who has these two years past taken up "the concerts rather than let the fixture fall through, gave this year's concert on Friday last in the Opera House,-and it proved one of the most enjoyable concerts that 1 have attended —and I am frae the wrang side o' the border, so that the concert must have been "just heavenly" to the Scot. Miss Jeanne Ramsay (now Mrs Donne), a native of Invercargill, was ihe prima donna of the evening, and scored •with two of Mr M'Glashan's compositions— *" The lad that comes at c'en " and " Scotland for ever." Messrs Turnbull and M'Gregor Wright and Miss Johnston also sang, Messrs D. Macpherson (of Dunedin) and John Newton recited and Mr M'Kenzie Forbes danced. Mr M'Glashan also had the help of a party of some 20 singers and a like number of instrumentalists, who sang and played national songs and selections. The concert was also a financial success. The Wellington Dramatic Students, whose tonscientious and clever work has earned for AkfiSt a reputation in the past, and whose suc-

cessful performance of " The Cabinet Minister" a few mouths back gave so nruch pleasure, are once more getting into harness. The committee, after due deliberation, has decided to produce that delightful comedy from the pen of Mr T. W. Robertson, entitled "School." So brilliant are the lines and so close the construction of this piece that it has become almost a stage classic, and revivals of it are frequent in the old country. " School " was produced for the first time 30 years ago at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, undei the management of Miss Marie Wilton, when it ran for a long time. It was la-st produced in Wellington by amateurs in 1886. On Saturday last Paulus the Magician came up from the West Coast and opened a short Beason in the Opera House. He is a long way after Cerl Hertz and Dante — m fact, he so hertz some of our feelings that we say dan't-'c do it again! His patter on Saturday was so weak that it could*' t be heard in the d.c, BJid he performed some of his tricks so slowly that the audience had to remind him that some of it had paid its shilling to be deceived! It is as an illusionist that Paulus scored heaviest, but, taken by-and-large and f.0.b., he didn't apPaulus ! An improved graphophone, quite a recent importation, and claimed to be the only one of its kind iv the colony, was privately exhibited to the press representatives in the Theatre Royal on Monday afternoon. The instrumpnt reproduces its records clearly and loudly, one of the Psalms and "the Lord's Praper," as repeated by Dr Talmage, the famous"" American divine, being so distinctly heard that every word could have been taken down by a shorthand writer. Selections (which the instrument itself told the audience were specially played for the Columbia. Phonograph Company, of New York and Paris) -by bands and orchestras, including a splendid rendering of " The Anvil Chorus " by Gilmour'B Band, were all reproduced with remarkable distinctness. Piccolo, cornet, clarionet, and banjo solob, and duets and songs of a classical, operatic, and music hall order were also given, the whole affording a capital entertainment. It is likely that the public will have an opportunity of hearing the machine in the Opera House shortly under Mr H. Hooper's management. An Auckland tenor, Walter Kirby, is in town arranging for a concert season. He has just finished seasons hi Vs own city, in Gisborne, in Napier, and in Haptir^s. It is understood ib3t it is the George RignoldBeriiß''(l Espinasaa version of " The Three JVlusketetrs ' which "Wellington playgoers will see at the Opera, House next month. It is said to be a clever adaptation of the leading features of the famous romance, and to contain some vivid stage colouring. I told you last .week of the visit to Sydney of Mr W. H. P. Barber, chairman of directors of the Wellington Opera House Company, for the purpose of picking up any talent "lying around loose in that part of the globe. Later news says that Mr Barber has made arrangements in Sydney for the production in Wellington of some new musical comedies. They will be produce! under the stage direction of Mr Stirling ./liyte, known in New Zealand from his connection with Mr George Rignold, Jennie Lee, and others. The piece for the opuning of the season on Gth September will be selected from the following repertoire: — "A Glimpse of Paradise," "The Circus Girl," "Friends. Dad," " The Pickpocket," "On 'Change/ "The Fancy Ball," "A Night's Adventure," etc., etc. Mr Charles Blake, who is a member of the company, is now in "Wellington making arrangements, and will be assisted by Mr Whyte's pgent, who leaves Sydney by /the next steamer. It will be remembered thst Charles Blake performed well with our amateurs iv the recent production of " Conn the Shaughraun." More news concerning the building up of the Pollard stock company. Pollard's Opera Company is to be immediately recruited by Mr Albert Whelan, who played the leading comedy character in the " Belle of New York" in Australia during the illness a'ld since the death of the late Mr Oscar Girard. Mr Whelan will play the part in the New Zealand production of the piece. Members of '• The Forty Thieves" Pantomime Corrjnany will also leave Melbourne shortly to co-operate with the Pollards in staging this piece. Twenty-four persons are coming across, including Mr William Hassan. Little Gulliver," and 16 of the Royal ballerinas. Sundry gaps in the Opera House datefi have been filled in lately, as will be seen in " coming events" recorded at the head of this column. , In addition. Mr Bland Holt promises a return season from 17th February to 2nd March, 1900 and will be here again in November and December the same year. The Robert Henry Company will probably fill in the Easter dates. The iJroiiEjhs have booked from the Bth to the 31st March. Among the passengers on the Panama, which is due in Wellington shortly from Capetown and other ports, is Miss Annie May Abbott, the Little Georgia Magnet." The young lady is an American, and she has scored successes not only in her own country but in England and Asia, and is fresh from a South African season. According to notices received of her nerfonnances, Miss Abbott completely mystifies her audience with feats of what "may bp called magnetic strength. Sandow says that her power is weird and wonderful, and that in a test he put forth enough strength io lift ei«-ht men clear of the floor, and yet he failed to shift 'this little fragile creature" one inch from her position. During her London season the Spectator said that Miss Abbott " overcomes the force of gravity or supplements it as she pleases." A professional tour of the colonies is to be made, commencing in New Zealand, but which city is to be visited first I do not know. 1 see by to-day's paper that Herr Albert Friedenthal, the pianist, is to give us a recital after all, though the date is not vet fixed. Herr Friedenthal wns born at Bromberg. a provincial town in the north-east of Germany, and has studied under William Steinbrunn and Theodore Kullak, of Berlin. He has travelled and performed in North and South America, Africa, Europe, and Australia. He is described as an artist of extraordinary abilities, whose playing captivates by its clearness, positivenees, and finish. Possessing an immense

technical, skill, he plays with enthusiasm and ' feeling. - ,