WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS By P. Rompter. February 16.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 51

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS By P. Rompter. February 16.

Dear Pasquin, — We have had quite a meeting of show and theatrical people up tins way since last I wrote you. It is one ot my legrets that I was not back m town in time to cross palms with Geach ere he left tor T'othei&ide on Saturday. Dante the Second is as clever as was his brother m tricks, but lie lacks the original's patter. After Geach had left us, Tom Pollard cpvae along, and also cros&ed the pond. Then came our Amencau friends fiom Chinatown — straight up iiom your way— and they also have passed away towards the Pacific Slope. Then Christie Simonsen came down from Wanganui to pave the way for Bland Holt's Company, Harry Abbott was buzzing about anticipatory of a kmemat. season in the Opera House, and Harry P. Lyons — who recalls memories of G. V. Brooke, Cooper and Bailey, and others ot the long- ago — came up irom the south ahead of th-i Valdares. The company spieads its tent next Wednesday. The Lyceum Dramatic Company — Chas. Blake, Harpur, Miss Nation, Miss Burns (01 Dunedin), etc. — gave " The Double Ev^it " and '■ The Lancashire Lass to poor hovises. They were succeeded for two nights by Northcotc's Kineniatograph and Company, with justairived South African films. Next week Northcote goes south, and will show in your city during fourth contingent farewell week. Among the passengers by the Zealandia for Sydrey this week was Mr Tom Pollard. He is expected to return in about a fortnight with a ne'V opera or two for New Zealand, and probably tho pantomime "Little Red Riding Hood," which, has been produced with so much success by Mr J. C. Williamson in Australia. Bland Holt's Company opens its return season here on Monday next, with our decade-old friend '• New Babylon," which will be followed by " In London Town," a new piece. Courtenay place, in which is located the Choral Hall, is now advertised as " Fuller's Earth," because the Waxworks and Vaudeville Show has caught on, The company now includes Misses Jeanie Johnston, Edie Wright, and Violet Chard, Messrs T. Curran, Will Watkins, Sid Doody, and Fred Bluett. (Who blued it? Why, Fied Bluett!). The rehearsals of Gilbert and Sullivan's opera, " The Grand Duke," which has been selected by the Wellington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society for its next production, were begun at the Art Gallery this week under the direction of Mr Maughan Barnett, conductor; and Mr Alfred Levi, stage manager. They will be continued each week. Harry Conor and his Chinatown friends passed through yesterday for Auckland, where they are to catch the 'Frisco mailboat— all except Hany. When I boaided the -Elingamite, to farewell the company, H. C. told me that ho was going for a little tour on his o-.vn, and was not going back to New York stiaightaway. This would be first turn off duty he had enjoyed for many years. Two members of the original company — Hugh J. Ward and Tom Browne — as you know, left them m the south, and will take up Australian engagements. Miss Crater informed me that she had thoughts of organising a. company for an English tour, aud might visit the colonies again in about three years' time. Everywhere one hears of the singing of Kipling's '" Absent-minded Beggar." I was asked the other day b^ a countryman for a New Zealand verse as an encore, and as it has given satisfaction perhaps it may prove useful to some Witnesses. Here is the verse and chorus — And now at furthest comers they have heard the Empire call — You have seen how all the colonies respond! — And the youngest — that's Zealandia — has been foremost of them all, Rushing her contingent first across the pond! Our Tommies now are absent, we are mindful of their deeds, And we mustn't let them think that wo getSo when wo cheer foi Rendsburg as we read the giaphic screeds, Let u& diop a bolid something in the Neb! CHORUS. Our sons — your sons — sons from Kings to BluffFully a thousand Fern-leaf b03"3 going to Table Bay— Each of 'em doing our country's work (aiid noiio of 'crn ciying "Enough!")— Who are wo, then, that we should not' — Pay — Pay — Payi

From the stoiehouses of memory and scrap book, Bland Holt's manager (Mr Christie Simonsen) has put together for our information the following interesting chronicle of the actor-manager's visits to New Zealand. The first season was opened in 1882 with " New Babylon " and " The World," Miss Jenny WattTanner, Miss Lena Edouin, and Charles Holloway being in the leading roles. The second visit was in 188'/, with "Alone in London,"' "A Run of Luck," and " Taken from Life." This season introduced the present Mrs Bland Holt to New Zealand. The company also included Mrs Walter Hill, Miss Ida Herbert, Miss Dot Frederics, Walter Howe, Frank Cates, Geo. R. Ireland and others. Mr Holt's third visit was in 1889 with " The Union Jack ' and

" The Ruling Passion. Miss Blanclit Lewis, Miss Alice Deorwyn, Miss Vivienne and Miss Came George were the ladies of the company, and the gentlemen weie the same as on the previous visit. His next campaign was m 1891, " Master and Man, " London Day by Day," " The Bells of Haslemere," and " The G-olden Ladder" forming the attractions for that year, and also introducing Miss Edith Blande as leading lady. In 1893 Mr Holt visited New Zealand with "' A Sailor's Knot, "The Trumpet Call, ', " A Million of Money," and a revival of '" Alone in London," and on that occasion Miss Harrie Ireland was associated with Miss Blande in the leading roles. The next tour was in 1803-96, " The Span of Life," " A Woman's Revenge," " The Prodigal Daughter,". " A Life of Pleasure," " Saved from the Sea," and " The Fatal Card " forming a strong repertoire.. Again, in 1897-98 Kew Zealand wad visited, the attractions being- " One of the Best," t! In Sight of St. Paul's," " For England," " The Derby Winner, ' " Straight from the Heart, ' and '' The Cotton King." Last year, when Mr Holt commenced his pre'ent tour, he pioduccd " Sporting Life," '■ The White Heather,"' " How London Lives," and

"' Woman and Wine," and for the farewell season, to be inauguarafced on Monday evening next. " New Babylon " will be revived, but the other three plays of the repertoire are entirely new to Wellington. In fact, " The Absent-minded Beggar " will be produced for the first time b3 r the company m this city. It will thus be seen that we are indebted to Mr Bland Holt for the production in New Zealand of no less than 30 successful English melodramas, staged and acted in a manner thai; would be a credit to any London theatre, the admission money being less than half that charged in the Mother Country.