WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 60

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Et Peter Pan.

August 15. Dear “ Pasqnin,”—“The Great M’Ewan ” has occupied the Opera House all the week with his conjuring and hypnotic entertainI ment. Business has been fair. I The Fuller-Brennan management announce ' the appearance here next week of the Royal Banzai troupe of Japanese acrobats. The turn is said to be a remarkable one, both as to the feats accomplished and the stage dressing. “The Smart Set” Is still at the Town Hall, and business is ouite good. Miss Kroll, the contralto of the company, has retired, and her place has been taken by Miss Gwyneth Jones, a pleasing artist indeed. “ Elijah ” on Wednesday night drew another tremendous audience at the Town Hall. Madame Conly was again in fin© voice, and her hearers had another musical

treat. The Royal Wellington Choral Society deserves congratulations for its enterprise in engaging such a star artist. are anxiously awaiting next week, which sees the opening of the Julius Knight Company in ‘‘Milestones. Mies Maggie Knight, well remembered by o.cl playgoers, is a member of the company. News has been received here that Mr Robert Noble (otherwise Mr Robert NobleBeaslcy, son of Mr R. T. Noble-Beaslev, of this city), who has been acting in England for some years, has entered into a long engagement with Mr F. R. Benson, the well-known Shakespearean actor, during which he will play load in Mr Benson s touring company in such plays as Hamlet,” 3 Othello,” “ Taming of the Shrew. “ Shylock,” etc. Mr Noble was born m Dunedin in 1382. He qualified as a chemist, but the lure of the footlights was too strong, and he joined the late John -t. Sheridan. In 1906 he went to England, and was soon playing small parts under Mr Martin Harvey. In 1911 he was selected by Sir Arthur Pinero for a part in I ;oserving Mr Panmure.” Later he was with Mr Arthur Eourchier. All success to the young New Zealander! KIMU’b THEATRE. A house crowded in every corner at the Kings meat re on me Ibtn gave convincing proui oi tne unfiimmisnea popular icy oi w»o Lr.mson Karri tool's. The attractive new programme toey presented wane taey he:a the stage lor an hour and a-quarte-r was received with enuiuerasm, anei the day when tneir melodious music and excellent tooling shall begin to lose its fascination here seems as far distant as ever. The marked f maividua’ty ol each of the " Ramblers no less than the perfect understanding uicn which they combine goes iar to account foi their success. Mr Amort Bletsoe keeps tire audience in a simmer of amusement with ids every motion, and others m the company are scarcely lees original and diverting in the art of ihgemous byplay, it goes without saying that the Rammers songs were both well chosen and well sung, and the demand for more was none the ices sincere and spontaneous because ;t greeted very item. Some of the ladies receiv id floral tokens, to the evident delight ol everyone. One of the cleverest contributions to a clever entertainment was the little song “ Jammy Face,” in which Miss Billie Wilson reproduced with most amusing fidelity the childish trebles of it little gut and a little boy. The only new performers during the second part of the evening were the Gazzus, two comedy jugglers and musicians, one of whom shows amazing dexterity in the handling of rods and balls of varying weights and sizes. r J he two Franklins in their sketch “On our honeymoon,” supplied a veritable encyclopaedia °* smart quips and jokes that might bo exchanged between husband and wife on appropriate occasions. Mac and Maree also won a very flattering reception. Mac performing a series of really astonishing son.iorsaults, tumbling, and balancing- feats. The whole entertainment was brought to a close with an effective Lubin picture drama entitled “A Modern Portia.” The same programme will be repeated again to-night and for the remainder of the week. FULLERS’ PICTURES. A ' nicely-balanced and well-diversified series of films was presented at the Princess Theatre on the 18th on the occasion of the usual change of programme. The ‘’star'’ number on the list is a pictorial presentation of the well-known opera, ” Carmen.” It would be an over-estimation to say that the story loses nothing in the telling through the medium of the biograph, but, at anyrate, after a while one begins to follow the thread of the narrative with quite a degree of interest, and this is heightened not a little ns the tragic climax is neared. It suffers somewhat, however, by a certain lack of sequence, which arises from the abrupt change from scene to scene. In other respects, however, the picture is a capital one. The incidental music, arranged from "Carmen” by Mr Martinelli, was an attraction in itself. ‘‘ A Snowstorm on Bergen Line ” is an extremely interesting feature, showing the effects of a very severe snowstorm on the Bergen lino and the straits to which the military and railway officials are reduced to supply food for the passengers. The snow is In some places over the funnel of the engine, and the big snow plough, propelled by a thousand honse-power engine, presents a fine sight as it cuts its way through. “ Accidental Alibi ” is a drama in which a young man who lias been arrested for a murder of which he is innocent is saved from wrongful imprisonment by an accidental alibi. When in another place at the time of the murder, he was taken in a moving picture film, and the screening of this is instrumental in securing his release. “His Honor the Mayor” is an intensely amusing film, in which John Bunny occupies a central place. Other good films are: “ Undesirable Relatives,” “The Birthday Gift,” and an interesting instalment of the Pathe Gazette.