WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 61

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

BT F. ZIOMPTEB.

August 18. Dear Pasquin, — the long-prepared-for season., of Collier's "Dorothy" was opened on Wednesday night at &ur Opera House by theWellington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society. Dorothy, of Chanticleer Hall, is no stranger to Wellington. Ihe opera was produced by this same society seven years ago, with Miss Jennie Sheen in the name part, Mr E. J. Hill as Geoffrey Wilder, and Mr T. Wilford, now the M.H.R. for the Hutt seat, as "Welder's friend, Harry Sherwood. Mr Hill had to stand out at short notice for the present production -owing to his mother being in a precarious state of health, and his place was taken, under pressure, by Mr Frank Graham, the tenor from London, of whom I have had a good many notes of praise in these columns concerning his work in oratorio. Mr Wilford was replaced in the present oast by Mr A. S. Ballance, whose Mephistopbeles was so great a success in the Musical Union's recent choral production of "Faust." The low comedy of the opera was placed in the same hands as in the production seven years ago, those of Mr W. D. Lyon and Mrs Carte. Undoubtedly the honours of the evening fell to the fair Dunedienne in the name part. ; She not only looked charming, but she acted naturally and with grace, and she sang as Amy Murphy can sing at hear best. To my mind, Miss Murphy stands first amongst themost gifted and versatile of New Zealand's soprano vocalists. The contralto part was given to a young Tasmanian, Miss Puisford, who has been a resident of Wellington .for some years, 'and has practically developed her organ, in this city. She made her debut . as an opeartic* singer on Wednesday, and though ' suffering from a, very natural * attack. , of nervousness, she acted vecy well, and was successful in her .vocalisation. Mr Graham, who is a robust tenor of fine appearance — as is to be expected from one -who has played a promineht^part in Carl Rosa productions up to some three years ago — captured .his audience from the stait with the ardent .nature of his wooing, of, his action, and I his^ exceptionally fine singing. Mr Ballance was undoubtedly the surprise packet of the piece, in that he played well up to the more experienced man's lead, with plenty of verve and ardour, and his singing voice was admirably suited to Cellier's music. Miss Birch, as Phyllis, pJaysd her little part as the bride that was to be married on the morrow in good taste, and sang well, and her partner, Tom Strut, was a sufficiently diffident lover. I liked Mr Lyon's Lurcher on "Wednesday better than any other of his characterisations. He was droll without being ■coarse, and his sense of humour seems to have broadened with his years. Mrs Carte played up to Lurcher with rare comedy skill. Of the other members of the company, it is sufficient to say that Mr Duff held up his end melodiously in the very fine drinking quintet of the first act, and Mr Parsons rendered "The squire's toast" most enjoy&blv and with taste. A strong chorus held up the reputation which the society has always had for this department of its work, and the rollicking "Tally-ho chorus" was worth going miles to hear. The orchestra of 14 pieces also rendered valuable help, Mr Maughan Bamett weilding th-o baton -with a skill evidenced both in the orchestral well and on the stage. The setting of the three acts and the dressing throughout wet© handsome, and on a very liberal soa-le, the sets being painted especially for the season and nearly all the dresses berngr n-ew. Mr Lyon was the stage manager, and he had Mr W. Lethajn as his assistant. "Dorothy" concludes its season next Wednesday, and a sum of £500 is needed to meet the l-equireinents of the season. Curtis' s American Novelty. Co. is to appear at our. Opera. House next Thursday. Mr Edmund Montgomery, of Montgomery's Entertainers, returned from a visit to Australia by the Warrinioo- yesterday morning. The Driscoll Brothers (for the Fuller circuit) and Professor G-ehde and four choristers (for P. E. Dixs Comwany) were also passengers by the same boat. Frank Harvey's "A Woman's Sacrifice," is to be the third play staged a fc the Theatre Royal by the Stanford-Howard Co., and it goes on to-morrow, in succession to "Saved from the Sea." Fuller's Entertainers continue to do good business at BTis Maiesty's Theatre. "The Magic Kettle" is to boil at the Theatre Royal on the 24th inst.