WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2511, 30 April 1902, Page 57

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

By P. Rovnn.

April 25. Dear Pasquin, —Two performances were given in the Opera House on Wednesday and Thursday nights by the amateurs who gave the operatic senson during the course of the Catholic 'bazaar at the Skating Rink a few weeks ago. "The Pirates of Penzance" and "Les Cloches de Corneville" were repeated to excellent attendances. Jeanne Sheen (now Mrs Louisson, of Palmerston North) played Serpolctte in the first and Mabel m the second piece, and did very nicely, thank you, in both. She had the unusual experience of appearing in opera during her honeymoon. Our mutual friend, M. Marcus, manager for Harry Rickards, dropped m upon us unexpectedly yesterday, full of business and good spirits. He has come on ahead of Rickards's No. 1 touring company, with Paul Cinquevalli as the bright particular star. Still, there are others besides the great juggler, as this little list discloses- —Madame Lydia YeamansTitus, described as a "lyric actress and travesty queen," who will be assisted by Frederick I. Titus, pmno soloist and accompanist; Colley and Waj', ventriloquial entertainers, with "the Dancing Doll" ; Val Vousden, society entertainer and character impersonator; Professor Wrigley, an eminent saxophone and clarionet soloist; the Diamond Duo, talented vocalists, dancers and banjo experts; Miss Nita Leete, contralto; James Opie, baritone; and Charles Walker and Ida May, "America's champion gold medal cake walkers and specialty artists." The v New Zealand tour was decided upon \'ery suddenly, the ro3ter not having been compiled until Friday last, the dny before Mr Marcus sailed for Wellington. Ua has gone on to Auckland to meet the Great Cinque, who is to arrive by the incoming 'Frißco boat. The rest of the company comes over here from Australia next week in charge of Mr Leete, brother to and confidential manager of Mr Rickards. Thus New Zealand is honoured in having the two star managers as well as the other great Rickardian constellations! The season is to open at Napier on the 3rd prox., and the tour will run into July. After Napier, visits will be paid to Hastings, Gisborne, and Auckland, where a season will begin on the 15th May. A run down the West Coast of this island will follow, including performances at New Plymouth, Wanganui. and Palmerston North. The Wellington season will start at the Opera House on Thursday, June 5, and continue until Saturday, 14th of the same month. You will be pleased to l-earn that friend Marcus is as bright and cheerful as ever, and life seems t.o have been all serene with him since last we met. May it ever be thus! It is remarkable and interesting to note that the Rickards Company and the World's Entertain prs will play the same dates here in Wellington. More remarkable still, the Entertainers are to appear m the Theatre Royal and Cmquevalli in the Opera House. One would have thought that Ricks and Dix being pals would have led to a reversal of things as stated. But I understand that those two providers of variety are still friends, and that tho D'.xian theatres elsewhere, including that at Dunedin, will be occupied by the Rickards Company. As Harry Musgrove will have called upon you, there is no need for me to tell you anything concerning the World's Entertainers. Herewith, my regards to H- M. Also to Harold Ashton, who is about to raise his Castles on high 111 New Zealand. Whilst Cmquevalli and the World's Entertainers are bumping up against each other in Wellington, Dixs Ga'ety Company is going for a jaunt into the country. "Our Xavy," concerning which you krow iao:e than I do at present writing, opens its season in cur Opera House to-morrow Steve'i-on'-, Bicope gave a season this week ai ilia .Sxchanse J3*"-

Hill's Sporting Biograph is back in Willis street again, afteT a run into the Hutt Valley Lizzie Kirk and Frank Leon have been tho stars at this week's performances of the Gaiety Company at the Theatre Royal. Those other clever folk, Madge Morris and James Harvey, have left us. Dolores is to give us four concerts 111 Wellington.