WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 61

W ELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Et P. Romvtek.

August 25. Dear Pasquin, —"We have just pa&sed through a week which has witnessed the triumph of the amateur. Opening with a not-too-good house, "Dorothy" jumped immediately to big business as soon as the pufche saw that tbe press was unanimous, unreserved, and unqualified in its praise of the Amateur Operatic Society's production. The seven nights' season closed on Wednesday last, "Jio total takings turning .-6700, or the gratifying average of £101' per night! The society I makes a well-deserved i-rofit of £100 on th^ I season. The Stanford-Howaid Dramatic Company finished its two weeks aud a-half season at the Theatre "Royal on "Wednesday nighi,. putting on its third play, "A Woman's Sacrifice," on Saturday last, and on the last night th 3 evergreen, weepy will-o, "East Lynne." Mr M. T3 Ourtis's American Novelty Co. of vaudevillLans opened a week's season at tfos Opera House to a fair attendance last night There is nothing exceptional in the way of talent in the combination, unless one maksa mention of Chrnquilla, the good-looking North American Indian chieftainess, and the quainc setting for her "turn." She sang the familiar "Anona" under such circumstances and conditions with striking effect. "A Moorish Maid' is in active rehearsal under- the baton of its composer, Mr Alfred •Hill. The libretto is being touched up and localised- by the author, Mr Birch, now a member of the Ne*v Zealand Times reporting staff. "The Magic Kettle" was made to boil by means of liquid air in our Theatre Royal for the first time last night. As you have already seen the Interesting demonstration in Dueedin I am not called upon tc carry coals to lTewca,stle. Since leaving your city the Magic Kettle Company has been strengthened by the addition of the Choristers, Mi&s Elsie Peerless, and Conductor (rehde. There is every promise that the combination will do well in our Capital City. "Cavilleria Rusticana," in choral setting, i<: to be given in the Town Hall next Friday evening by the Choral Society, with Mr Maughan Barnett as conductor. Misa Amy Murphy and Mr Frank Graham are to sing the principal -solo parts. We are promised a great musical treat. Mr Graham has represented the -tenor hero in "Rustic Chivalry" in its production by the Carl Eosa Opera Company in London. A benefit concert, organised by Herr Max Hoppe, our leading violinist, for himself, was given in the concert chamber of the Town Hall last night. Arpongst the contributors to the programme were Miss Amy Murphy snd Mr John Prouse, the latter, Wellington's own baritone, having just returned from a concert tour in tli c Old Land. I hear that Mr Hugh Wilson, who was the partner of Grossi the Marvel during the lattei-'s tour of the Fullerian circuit, has cabled to O-rossi to come out again for another lour of the colony. Grossi is at present resting in Italy. Miss Fitzrnavtrice Gill and a dramatic company ore to open a season in the Opera Hovtse next Thursday evening in Frank Harvey's Irish drama, "Bearing Her Cross." The season will be under *,he management of the MacMahon Bros.