WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2426, 12 September 1900, Page 55

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS.

By P, Kohpter , September 7.

Dear Pasquin, — Still we are the slaves of vaudevillians, and the Choral Hall and the Exchange HbLI nightly draw big houses, and between the two Harry Abbott still raises his mellifluous tenor high on th« aii in Willis street, inviting folks into the bear gaiden.

The question is, how long will vaudeville hang ovt until it becomes Boredevillc? Just so lo.ig as nothing better m the way of entertainment is pro\ided, and no longer.

Meanwhile the rival companies aie importing good people, and yet I hear this week that some of the salaries have had a diop in both companies. This may be due to financial pressure — which big biz does not jushfv— 10 a desire to get nd of some folk, or simply the usual try on of the "bloated cap-it-ahst," as Ben Tillett used to put it.

Was informed at Fullei's t'other night that they had engaged Johnny Scarecrow Colerncm £>nd his wife. That's good. The Bijou Company, as we have it m Wellington, will stand lots of improvement now that the cle'vei Leslies have departed.

Down m Dixie's landing place, the ExGh.vg^ Hall, the whole face of things gaiety has been 'altered. Last Saturday night more than half the old company went off south, and I put in last night having a look at tho new faces. Frank Big-voice !foike is back on the corner; but is a bit more vulgar than he was on his first visit. Buxom Aimetta Bodin has also returned, and is a lively party m the farce. The old Gaiety combination was strong ir> funny men; the new company is strong in singeis, the new people including Ernest Fernleigh (tenoi), Ethel Clifford (sopiano), Eva Middleton (contralto), Rosic w illiams (who smgs rather weakly such inane juvenilities as "Got it on a slate '' and "When pa and ma go to bed), and De Yella Sisieis (song, dance, and sparring aitists). This latter xsairx sa i r °- Tivoh girls have good voices, fair faces, dance well, and conclude with e> lively burlesque turn with tho gloves on, which is highly diverting, cleverly done m time to music, and without any objectionable features. Charles Howard left the company last night, and Salvino the juggler goes to-night. On the invitation of Harry Hooper (the sil-ver-liaiied juvenile of auld lang syne) I went round to the new house of cntcitainment about which theie ha 3 been so much mysteiy for thp past few months. The Federal Theatie is really the okl Criterion Theatre impioved out

of all recognition, and decorated with such taste as makes the interior one of the prettiest halls in the colony. The stage is 15ft deep and lift high, with a proscenium opening of 17ft, giving capacity for the production of plays. New scenery has been painted by Mr A. Ingleson, the drop-scene being a pretty representation of a bit of the Orient, and all the sets have been arranged and hung by Mr Frank Roberts (of the Opera House). The stage, which is raised 4ft from the main floor, is fitted with a set ot 17 electric lights, with three switches of coloured globes. The electric light is used lavishly throughotxt the house, m corridor, dressing looms, lavatories, and the theatre. The building is to seat 600 persons, and the balcony not only gives an excellent view of the stage, but is tastefully decorated and upholstered. The painting and decorating in the main hall, some artistic wall panels being prominent in the scheme, reflects credit upon the architect (Mr T. Turnbull). Entrance to the stalls and balcony will be made from Manners street, and to the pit from Herbert street. There are four means of exit in case of alarm, and a hose on reel is kept near the stage. , Altogether, the Federal Theatre is a x)1-ettyx )1- etty and comfortable place of amusement, and its opening will be looked forward to with interest. Harry Hooper, who is the lessee of the Federal, wJI not disclose his plans yet awhile, but hopes to open in a fortnight in vaudeville.

The second of the Barnett-Hoppe-Prouse_ recitals came oil at the Sydney street Schoolroom last night, and proved the most enjoyable concert that -has been given this season in Wellington. Maughan Barnett and Cyril Towtey played the piano, Max Hoppe the violin, and John Prouse sang, one of his items, and a good one, too, being an original composition by Max Hoppe, the words being translated from the German by J. W. Joynt, M.A. (legistrai of the university), and entitled "Unrest."'

Next week we are "to have a four-night season by our Dramatic Students, who will be seen in "Modern. Wives," '"Old Cronies," and "School.'"