WELLINGION WING WHISPERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 61

WELLINGION WING WHISPERS.

Br Petek Pan.

August 22. Dear “Pasquin,”—The Red Dandies, with Loo D. Chateau in charge, passed through this city on Thursday night for Christchurch, where the company is to play a fortnight’s season ; then playing the smads on to Dunedin and Invercargill, where the season concludes at the end of September, and the popular Reds move on to Australia. Among the newcomers at the Theatre Royal next week will be the Lyrical Four—

Cissy O’Keefe, Iris Edgar, Kennedy Black, and Clifford O'Keefe, late of “The Follies.” Which reminds me that the days of the old Royal are numbered. The old theatre is to be closed within a qionth’s time, and the vaudeville companies will henceforward make their bows at His Majesty’s Theatre. Pictures will not bo known at 11 is Majesty’s; the King's is to be the Hayward-Fuller principal house. This latter house is to be closed down for a while to allow of extensive alterations being made and an elaborate scheme of decoration bong carried out. What is to lie done with the Theatre Royal site has not yet been notified.

Mr Julius Knight made Ins reappearance last night in “Milestones,” and judging by rlie enthusiastic press notices the piece has struck Wellington good and hard. * The house was packed in every part, and Mr Musgrove informs me that the booking for every night until Wednesday next is splendid. “Bello, Donna” goes up when “Milestones” lias had its run.

“The Smart Set” is still drawing ’em at the Town Hall. To-night’s performance is to 1)0 attended by his Excellency the Governor and the Countess <af Liverpool. Mr Alf Lin ley has received a long letter from Mr George Stephenson, in which the writer declares himself more than satisfied with the pantomime company which is to tour New Zealand under their joint management. A whole host of new artists have l*een engaged, and special attention has been jjaid in selecting the chorus and ballet girls, who are under the direction of Miss Ethel Clifford. Mr Linley is busy booking dates for the tour, but the matter of halls does not worry him, for the compatpy carries a tent to hold 2000 people, which is to be used when hulls cannot be obtained, or are too small to house the company. The sj»eeial scenery for the tour is being painted by Mr Harry Wliaite.

Mr Linley and Mr Alf Coleman, of Auckland. have secured a long lease of the theatre being erected in Manners street, next to the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel. It is to be known as The Britannia, and will bo a “continuous” picture show. Mr J. Farrell went north this week to prepare the way for the Royal Comics, which company is taking up the dates of the New Comic Opera Company. The pieces to bo played are “The .Quaker Girl.” “The Sunshine GTI.” “The Dancing Mistress,” and “The Belle of New York.” The Geneo tour has been cut down. The talented artist will now play only in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch for one week, ami four nights in Dunedin. Genec will be in_ Christchurch for Cup Week.

FULLERS’ PICTURES. The now programme of moving pictures introduced at the Princess Theatre on the 25th was well received by a fairly large audience. The series has been well selected and contains many good films. ‘‘The Strength of Man’’ forms a capital picture Strength of Man” forms a capital picture of life in the wild Alaskan country. The various sconce in the story have a remarkable stage setting in the many wonderful views of wild Alaskan scenery. “ A Concerto for the Violin” is a dramatic study full of life and movement, which tolls the story of a composer who is so wrapped up in admiration of his cwn musical ability that he is blind to. his wife’s genius as a violinist, lie becames infatuated with a famous Russian violinist, and engages her to play at hie concert a concerto of his own composing. They quarrel, however, and hie wife plays instead. She wins fame for her husband, who at last acknowledges how .•much he owes to her inspiration. Incidental to the screening of this picture was a masterly interpretation of De Beriot’s violin concerto by Mr Martinelli. An interesing story is contained in “ Tbe Well,” in which two defaulting farm labourers are brought to Justice by a farmer and his \vife after a long chase. An educational picture of groat interest is “ Making a Dynamo.” “La Danphino ” is a pretty coloured scenic hy Rathe Freres. showing scenes in the French province of that name. This week’s Gaumont Graphic is an interesting number, containing, among others, views of the race for the Roval Hunt Gup. the annual display of the London Fire Brigade, and the visit of the French President to London.

KING’S THEATRE. I The King's Theatre was crowded to the 1 doors on the 25th when the usual weekly 1 change of programme was presented. The Crimson Hmnhlors appeared in a new selection of solos and concerted numbers, and their performance, individually and collectively. proved quite as popular as on their previous appearances. In everything they do the Ramblers are both artistic and versatile, while their items arc widely dnersilied. and always calculated to arrest and j hold the keen * attention of the audience. The final tableau they presented on the 25th I was entitled “Oh, the Waltz,” and proved I both clever and highly amusing. Van I Camp commenced his turn with some clever i illusions and sleight of hand work his I asides being also very amusing.--and then I brought on a performing pig. The pig was i put over two small hurdles, held up his i foot to shako hands, danced a jig with his hind fc-et when hold up by Van Camp, and altogether provided a most amusing performance —its director, however, having to have a small bottle of milk ready to repeatedly reward it as it went through its different feats. The manner in which the little animal rushed its sustenance was not the least laughable part of the whole performance. To-night a boxing arena is to be fixed up, and a number of the perform-

ing pigs will be seen having a bout, and going through all the incidental work characteristic of such an exhibition. Essie Jennings and Gerald were responsible for a burlesque sketch which provoked irresistible laughter, and the lady also contributed a couple of ballads. The Ridgway Brothers, hand balancers and comedy acrobats, gave a clever exhibition, the wonderful strength and agility of. both performers being amply demonstrated, while the Duckworths presented another good turn. The male member of this duo did some line tumbling, including a double somersault from a spring, on to which he leaped from a high pedestal, while the lady proved herself an adept art juggling with clubs. Mies Gertie Johns could not do herself justice in her songs, owing to suffering from a severe cold, but more than compensated for this default in her dancing. Taken all round the present programme is a very strong one. a more than usually large number of artists making their appearance this week at (he King’s.

THE ELLWOOD TRIO. The Eliwood Trio has every reason to be gratified with the reception accorded at the first concert given in Burns Hall on the 19th. The trio consists of Miss Polly Eliwood, the pianist e, and her two brothers —George, cellist, and Harry, violinist, —and as is now pretty well known, these three young people, who belong to Chritschurch, have since they anoneared hero some two years ago been prosecuting their musical-studies in Europe. It was generally recognised that they possessed musical genius in no ordinary degree when they appeared throughout the dominion before their departure for Europe, and that that genius was well worthy of cultivation. That cultivation has been in part, if not wholly, obtained during their sojourn among those thoroughly qualified to impart it, and last evening the public was given tlie opportunity of judging of the advance made by the young people in the profession they have adopted. And there is no gainsaying the fact tha£ the opinion was moat emphatically expressed that the three liar I much improved in their playing since they wore last heard here. Audiences are not infallible, and are perhaps sometimes apt to be led away by extreme partiality, but in the present instance there is good ground for the verdict pronounced. It would not perhaps bo right to say that the Ellwoods had learned all that is bo learned in the realms of music. Their juvenility, to a great extent, precludes the possibility of such a thing. But that they have profited, and profited largely by their opportunities of study under the most able masters at Home is abundantly evident. The young lady was not heard in solo work, but anyone who paid attention to tho part she took in the trios, and to the way she supplied the pianoforte accompaniments to the instrumental soloists must have been struck by the musicianly instinct that marked her performance! Even in the accompaniments considerable demands were frequently made upon her, and the solo almost partook of the nature of a duet. It was on the two youths. George and Harry, the intrumental solo work fell, and in almost every instance it was a genuine pleasure to listen to their playing. George, the cellist, seems to be richly endowed with artistic temperament, and is bv no means a merely mechanical player. That he has to a very great degree mastered the mechanical portion of his art was made quite clear, but there was something of far more importance in his playing—his interpretations were marked by that keen appreciation and absorption that clearly indicate that the player is wholly engrossed, and even carried away to the point of forgetfulness of all else by tho work be has in hand. It would almost seem that music was a passion with him. Something similar appears to pervade Harry, the violinist, in his playing, though it lias to he admitted that His performances were not of even merit. The “ Souvenir de Moscow ” was at least one instance where he did not rise to supremacy, But in Hubay’s “ Scene do la (Vardas ” he was a delight to listen to, and his playing of Tschaikowsky’s “Melodic” was most delicately treated. He also played variations on an air by Tartini-Kreielcr. George’s solos were a concerto by Saint Sacns, an air by Bach, and a scherzo by Van Goens, and while all wore well played the lastnamed may be selected for special commendation. Both the youths were recalled in almost every instance, so pleased was the audience with what it heard, and the repeat numbers were generally dainty little compositions. most delicately handled. Tho two trios were selected from the works of Beethoven and Bach, and were rendered admirably. Mr John Prouse, whose accompaniments were played by Mr W. Paget Gale, contributed three songs during the evening, and these had to l>e supplemented. He sang the “Pilgrim’s song” with excellent effect, and was quite as successful in the “Queen of Connemara” difficult as the treatment required was, but in “ Ombra mai fu,” much ns he pleased his audience, he did not reach the same high level.

DISPUTE WITH A SINGER. MUSICAL SOCIETY’S APPEAL. WELLINGTON, August 25. Mr Justice Sim delivered judgment in the Supreme Court to-day in a -case in which the Royal Wellington Choral Society appealed against the decision of Mr Riddell, S.M., in regard to a claim of £lO 10s made against the society by Philip Newbury as balance due for singing in “ Cavalleria Rusticana ’’ on June 4. 1912. The society had agreed to pay him 25 guineas, but only paid him 15, as he did not appear at rehearsal, and the magistrate gave judgment for the amount claimed. Hie Honor held that the respondent was entitled to 21 guineas, and allowed the appeal, so that the case could be remitted to the Magistrate’s Court, and judgment was entered for respondent for six guineas, with costs to he fixed by the magistrate. FULLER DIVORCE CASE. A DECREE GRANTED. WELLINGTON, August 22. The hearing of the Fuller divorce case was concluded late this afternoon. The jury, after three hours’ retirement, returned with a verdict of 11 to 1 in favour of the petitioner (John Fuller, jun.) on the ground of the misconduct of the respondent (Gertrud© Fuller) with the corespondent (Hem-y Harris, of Sydney). A decree nisi was granted, to be moved

absolute in three months, the petitioner to have the interim custody of the child. The costs of both parties were allowed against the co-respondent. *