WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 61

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

By P. 2tanpTK*_

WELLINGTON, May 5. Dear Paequin, — The boards of the Opera House are still occupied by Miss Nellie Stewart, supported by Musgrove' s New English , Dramatic Company. Since my last letter we have had " Old ' Heidelberg " and "Camille." Like "Sweet Nell of Old Drury," "Old Heidelberg," strange to say, was kept on too long, and on the last night of the production (Tuesday) the management received quite a shock on seeing the extent of the slump. But, then, the management seem to have an idea that the pockets of Wellington playgoers are without bottom, and that they should continue to fill their house nightly at a, heavy tariff.

" Camille " . was produced on Wednesday evening. Personally, I have not time to spare for sitting out such plays as "' Ca- i mille," " East Lynn," " The Sign of the Cross," "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and other suchlike nerve-racking plays. And I certainly think that Miss Stewart is not cut out for a tragedienne. Her voice, by the way, has not that quality of timbre it had of old, and she has done it no good by adding '' Camille " to her repertoire. Fuller's Entertainers have been doing exceedingly good business during the week at His Majesty's Theatre, and are still going strong as an attraction in the vaudeville line. The latest acquisition to the company is Paiil Delano, a marvellously tattooed German from j America. He is tattooed from the nape of the neck right down to the top of his feet. Besides telling the story of how he came to be tattooed, and describing the various scenes depicted on all parts of his body, Delano juggles. He is a clever juggler, of which he gives ample evidence. So elaborately is he tattooed that although he wears only a "loin cloth during the period of his appearance on the stage, Delano does not give anything like an impression of being naked. It was the great Barnum himself who — seeing Delano in hospital one day at a time he was suffering a three weeks' layup on account of blood-poisoning, following ! a lengthy tattooing operation — persuaded Delano to exhibit himself as a tattooed man.

The Dixian Gaiety Company still attracts some attention at the Theatre .Royal. Mr Dix left for Sydney last Saturday to hunt up fresh talent to keep the bail rolling at his temple of vaudeville. I have to acknowledge receipt this week

frcm friend Bland. Holt of a unique postcard, which makes an admirable mask of B. H.s own features. The card makes mention of " the best of friends " (of course we are!), and I am wondering whether it indicates an early descent of Mr Holt upon New Zealand. We should be delighted to meet him again. I missed friend Geach on his rush through to the south, but wish him the best of good luck in picking up talent during his visit abroad.