WELLINGTON WING-WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 51

WELLINGTON WING-WHISPERS

By P. ItoMPTER.

Opera House Engagements.

Pollard Opera Company — May 18 to June

Amateur Operatic Society, m " The Grand Duke," season beginning Oune 20.

| Dear Pasquin, — The Ancelon-Bentley Dra- ! matic Company finisher up its Wellington season on Saturday night, '" David Garriok " and i " Cramond Brig" being the double-barrelled attraction. Mr Bentley gave his lecture " Church and Stage," to a packed Opera House on Sun- | day night. .Che company has gone north. i The perennial Pollards are with us again, and

opened a season in the Opera House last night I with " The "Geisha." A lryely performance was given, and there was eveiy token that Weilingtonians are as great fidrdireid as evei of Tay ! Pay's party of entertainers.

The novelty of the week was a two-nights' season by the -G-arrick_ Club of amateurs of " The Will and the Way, or The Mysteries of Carrow Abbey," by W. li. Weldioii (founded on the popular work of the same name by J. P, Smith). The piece was produced for ih'o

benefit of the Indian famine fund, but although charity is said to cover a multitude of sins, it didn't save the G-arncks fiom free criticism, or yield them aught but empty benches. In the language of the pit, tho production of the piece was " dead funny," add the comment of a pittite was summed vro iii one word and three " shiieks " — '' S'trevfch! ! !" The usually staid Post critic was merciful and punny, rein aking that though the actois hsd the " will " to do well, thej' didn't find out the "way" to get there.

Mr John Fuller, senior proprietor of Messrs J. Fuller and Sons, whose variety companies and waxworks are running with such great success in some of the chief centres of the colony, arrived in \Yelhngioj. the other day Lo take charge of the local company. Mi Fuller, who lias been stationed m Christchurch for some time past, has come to this city piincipally for health reasons. His son, 2,'u: John Fuller, jun., who has so ably niaiiE>ge.d affairs in Wellington since the season opened m December last, left for Invercargill to take control of the company in that town. Martyn Hagaii and family went down to join the Invercargill combine also. It is likely that under J. F. fils, the combine will tour the colony, avoiding Dunedm, Chriatchurch and Wellington, where the Fullers have stock companies.

The Theatre Royal :s to be renovated, and, after some s±j; years' enforced idleness, will enter once raoi'3 into compepUuon w*th tlta Opera. House.

Mrs Hannibal Williams, who is, I am informed, a cultured American lecturess on literary subjects, has arrived in Wellington with Mr Williams. Mrs Williams is doing a leisurely jaunt lound the world, giving select recitals as she goe£. A friend of mine heaid her the other day in Napier, and snys she is "leal good."

The fact that rome companies -which have been allowed to give sacred entertainments fit the Opera House on Sunday nights — notably Walter Bentle}'- — have charged for admission, and thus departed from the co-id:tk><is upon v-luch they received a permit from the city council, has induced the latter body to decide to have more comprehensive regulations framed with the object cf pfitmg a stop to the pi&ctice.

Fiiend ("leach, of the auburn locks, sends me an inttrssuhig daybiil pertaining to the business of the Flying Jordans. ] take it irom this that we are too/i to have the pleasure of meeting Iso. 1 o? Australia's, ''v.-hite men ip front" shortly. 'Tis ■well. The loster of the flymg ones ia a strong 'un, and ths talent should produce a tip-top entertainment. " Orpheus, ' in the PosL, gets this off at the expense of an actor well known over here Heie is a hitherto unpublished story of Ch^g,. Holioway: Said Charles lo the orchestra engaged la the town in which the company was performing — "When M.s Hollo-Ray comes to the wings you '..'ill play pianissimo ; when Mrs Holloway cams'-, on, you will pipy piano; when Mrs Hollo-way walks up the stage Lorn the right, >ou Vvill play forte; and when His Hollowpy reaches the footlights you will blow the blaxii: inside out o. every blank instrument in the orchestra !

A novelty was afforded a full Opera House on Wednesday night, when the Young Ladies' Khaki Contingent appeared several times in drill manoeuvres at a conceit oiganised by them in aid of the Indian famine tund. The " girls in khaki made their first appeaiance at "tbe Government House fete. They wont through their work smartly, and looked as tiptor)