WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2692, 18 October 1905, Page 68

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Bt F. Roimiik

October 13. Dear Pasquin, — The week has witnessed the continued success of Miss Nance O'Xeil and Williamson's Dramatic Compaay at the Opera. House. Rapid changes are the order of the season, and already, within a week, we have had "Magda," "Marie Antoinette," "Ingomar," and "Trilby." To-mc-rrow night we axe to have "Elizabeth," and the season is to close on Wednesday with "The Fires of St. John." My first impression that the combination was an even-balanced one has been confirmed by the succeeding series of performances, and this virtue in a dramatic company was particularly noticeable in the revival of "Trilby. ' Outstanding playars in IHi Manner's drama, were Mr Gastc-n Mervale as Sveugah and Mr. 0. M. Berkley's Zou-Zou. Mr M'Kee "Eankin, who in private life 13 the husband of Miss O'Neil, leaves by tho next 'Frisco mail for U.S.A. to prepare the way for Miss O'Neil's coming tour of tha States in "Marie Antoinette." To-moirow the Brough-Flenimmg Comedy Company leave Sydney for Wellington, and open their New Zealand season in. our city's Opera House with "Beauty and the Baige." Mr Claude Whaito, the company's avant courier has be;n busily engaged diu-ing tha week in picturing the city's hoardings and its shop windows with a most attractive display cf illustrations of W. W. Jacobs and Louia Parker's farcical comedy. Although the booking office has been open for two days only, there has been some heavy reserving of seats, snsnnus; a BASS* Successful jope.ning nejji

Thursday night. We shall all be delighted to renew the acquaintance of Messrs Brough and Flemming in a partnership which has provsd bo successful in Australia. Large attendances continue to be the experience at His Majesty's Theatre, which is now in charge of the head of the firm, Mr John Fuller. I heard the veteran tenor singing the other evening, and his notes were as sweet and true as ever. He scored in the rendition, with Miss Celia Mavis, of the grand scena "Le Miserere," from. "II Trovatore.' There has been another boom in business this week owing to the performances of Cleopatra and her nests of snakes and the exhibition of markswomanship by "her sister Bonita. By the way, the Evening Post has published an editorial note in which it called upon the Government to absolutely prohibit the entrance into the colony of snakes, the illustration for the editorial being the presence in fhe city of Cleopatra, and her curious collection. Other members of the Fullerian roster this week are Misses Golidie Collins, Gertie M-'Leod, Alma Lyndon, the Sylvain Sisters, Mr Fred Graham and Miss Nellie Dent, Messrs Ted Stanley, Charles Howard; Bob Lloyd, and Oirao the Fire-eater. Mr Alfred Hill, composer of "A Moorish Maid," intends making an effort shortly to produce that opera in Christchurch. His present difficulty, I understand, is in securing a suitable comedian, as there is some doubt ~~of his again acquiring the services of Mr Fred Graham, who contemplates leaving the colony ehcrtly. Mr Hill has just put the finishing touches' to another opera, which it is his intention . to produce as soon aa the oppor-

tuuity arrives. ' 1 To-morrow night and Monday we are to lave farewell concerts .from Mr Watkin Mills and his English Concert Party. The concerts are to be given- iir the Theatre Eoyal. Afterwards- Mr Mills and his party leave for America. ' ' „ , On Wednesday night the Theatre Royal \eas occupied by the Eoyal Entertainers, who drew » crowded house, as was to be -expected on a holiday night The performers included Merry Mac, the Musical Isons, and Miss Lily Northvood, with exhibitions by the English Bi'jgraph. The company' was to have got off two more performances and a number of competitions, but shut down last night. Mrtßerfc Koyle has been bustling round at the end -of this week preparing the way for Mr J. C. Williamson's latest "star," Mr C. R. Ford, who is to tell New, Zealanders and Australians the story of the expedition into Antarctica. The lecture, Mr Eoyle assures me, will be "anything but dry," and will be illustrated with beautiful' lantern views of acenes in the Antarctic region.