WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3183, 17 March 1915, Page 63

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Bt Petek Pan.

March 12

Dear “ Pasquin,”—The- Court Cards are now in possession of the Grand Opera House, and their attractive performances are pleasing to the people. Miss Florence Young and her company stage “The Climax” at the Town Hall on Saturday evening, and will play it until next Thursday. On Friday the company returns to Australia. The Harry Plimmer-Winter Hall Company arrived from Sydney on Tuesday, and since then have been busily engaged in rehearsing “ Lady Windermere’s Fan ” and “ The Mummy and the Humming Bird,” which they are to stage during their season here on behalf of the Belgian Distress Fund. Miss Beatrice Day has been very energetic in forwarding the prospects of the season, which is going to be a success. Another arrival from Sydney this week was Charles Knight, who comes to tell everybody about “ The Babes in the Wood,” George Willoughby’s pantomime. The bustling Charles has covered a lot of sea and earth since he was last here. He left Auckland on 7th February for Sydney, and arrived back hero on Bth March, during which time he has billed the “ panto ” in Newcastle, Brisbane, and other Queensland towns up as far as Rockhampton. To-morrow night he leaves here for Dunedin. PRINCESS THEATRE. Notwithstanding the unfavourable nature of the weather on the 15th, there was a good attendance of the public at the Princess Theatre to greet ‘‘The Magpies” and the Driscoll Bros., who are making their reappearance here afer an absence of several months. The programme of the former combination wa/s most entertaining, and the audience was treated to round after round of funny items by the different members during the first half of the evening’s enjtertaimnent. Their turn concluded with Kennedy Black’s comedy “ The London Bus.” A feature of the Magpies’ performance was a patriot’c recitation entitled “ Bravo,” by Mr Lou Vernon, which made an irresistible appeal to the audience. Lcs Wharton appears to bo as popular as ever with the public, and his hikes Inst night evoked rounds of applause from those present. Wykeham and Preston. In their comedy sketch, ‘‘Many a Good Time,” wore very successful. FULLERS’ PICTURES. The leading film in the change of programme presented on the 15th at the King’s Theatre is entitled “ The Reader of Minds.” The story relates how Lieutenant Esmond, a young American officer, invents a wireless apparatus which is able to destroy hostile warships. Tho plot lends itself to

.many stirring situations,-even if some of thorn must naturally bo of a rather unconvincing nature. “Lizzie the Life Saver” is responsible for many bizarre scenes, and the laughter was long and hearty while tl"T> film was being screened. Views depicting the recent shooting tragedy at Broken Ilil! arc verv interesting, that showing the picnic train returning being clearly reproduced. The war pictures, as usual, are well selected, and there are other both entertaining and interesting subjects FIRE IN PICTURE THEATRE. OPERATOR BADLY BURNED. AUCKLAND, March 12. A fire broke out in the operating box of the Queen’s Theatre this afternoon. There -was a fair crowd in the house at the time, and the glare which announced the fire came with startling suddenness. The theatre officials kept their heads, however, and the pianist (a lady) showed great pre:ence of mind by continuing to play. Throughout the succeeding few minutes some of the more timid people in the audience made a rush for the doors. In the meantime the flames bad caught the films and machine spools. The operator (Air Geo. Dyer), who was attending to the rewinding gear of a separate machine when the fire started, immediately tried to bring a patent fire extinguisher into operation, but the attempt was without avail. The operating box was built of asbestos, so the flames could not very well extend to the theatre proper. Closing the door, Air Dyer proceeded to fight the fire single-handed. He was very badly burned about the hands and face, and was in an exhausted and fainting condition, though still doing his best to beat down the flames, when help arrived. The damage by the. fire was confined to the operating robm, but a considerable volume of water found its way down stairs, doing some damage to the walls, carpets, and furnishings.