WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2691, 11 October 1905, Page 61

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Bt P. '2t»nnn.

October 6.

Dear -Pasguin, — The end of this week has witnessed the Teturn of Miss Nance O'Neil, the young American 'tragedienne, who was last with -us in Februaary, 1901. "She opened her season in the Opera House last night in "Magda," Sudermann's German problem play, ■which, *s you may remember, tells the stoiy of a free and independent Kew "Woman, who, having risen above her sin, is combatting the prejudices of old-time conventionalities. Miss O'Neil has improved her 'method and mellowed her harshness since last we saw -her, and her Magda of to-day is a much more subtle character than the Magda of four years ago. Mr M'Kee Eankin gave, an ideal representation of Magda's Btrong-willed, fiery-teniperecl father, Colonel Schwartze. It is doubtful whether the veteran tragedian has anything better in his repertoire. Dhe company gave a well-bal-anced interpretation of a play that is very interesting and at times intense.

To-morrow night we are to see the cornpary in "Marie Antoinette, Queen of France," a historical romance of the Eeign of Terror. Miss O'lNTeil Jias been making a, study of tho name part for her coming tour of the United. States of America, and the production is being looked forward to with interest. The Nance O'Neil boom: The New Zealand

Times this morning gives the tragedienne a. first notice over a column in length, plus an interview oi one and a-half columns! •Miss Jessie Mpclachlan, the Scottish balladist, gave four concerts in the Town Hal! this week, finishing last night, and did good business, particularly on the last night. Mr John Fullor— the -daddy of 'em all — arrived from Auckland last night to take charge -of affairs at His Majesty's whilst Ben is finishing up his courtship and preparing for his honeymoon in Auckland. Ben marries Miss Thompson, of the Queen City, shortly, and then goes for a trip with his bride down the Wanganui and over to Australia. In the meantime, Fulex's Entertainers continue to do exceedingly good business. The company is to be strengthened to-morrow night by the addition of that famous tenor robusti, Mr John Fuller, who oan still sing the top note ofi crowds of our young vocalists. Mr Fred Graham and Miss Nellio Dent are now with the Wellington combination; also Olrac, the Fire King. Next week W9 are to bays Cleopatra, with her snakes and crocodiles.

Mr Claude Whaite, after too many years' absence, is with us a&am. He arrived from Sydney this week ahead of the Brough-Flem-ming Company, which is to follow Miss Nance O'Neil at the Opera House.

The big organ fox our Town Hall has airived, and with it two expert constructors who have hit the city very hard with the announcement that it will take five months to erect the instrument, and that they must have the key of the big hall until the 45th December at the rcry -earliest! Just when election meetings are coming on, too !