WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 63

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS.

Bt Petek Pan.

October 22. Dear “Pasquin,”—“The Girl in the Taxi” caught the Wellington public. It is a long time since we have had such a sparkling comedy, and one so well acted. Charles Berkeley is pleased with the business done. The second offering, “High .Jinks,” goes up to-night. For reasons too obvious to particularise, the Wellington Licdertafcl will in future be known as the Wellington Male Voice Choir. Herbert Brooks, some card manipulator and cabinet trick man, is drawing crowds to His Majesty’s. His escape from a locked and bound metal chest is the slickest thing ever done on the local stage. Pollard and Jackson, Leonard Nelson, Do, Re, Mi Trio, the Musical Ibrons, and others make up the programme. Mr Baxter Buckley, a talented Wellington pianist, left for England this week to study under Signor Ferruccio Busoni, one of the greatest living teachers. Mr Buckley’s recitals have been a feature of Wellington musical life for some time past. Mr Charles Macmahon arrived from Sydney this week. He looks as if he enjoyed every day of his six months’ stay on the other side. He has -gone on to Auckland to have a reunion with brother Joe. After the* final rehearsal of “Paul Jones” by the Palmerston North Amateur Operatic Society last week, the members presented Mr Tom Pollard with a handsome silver inkstand as a token of their esteem and in recognition of the good work he had done in training them. Hastings’’ new municipal theatre was opened last week with a performance of “San Toy” by the local Operatic Society. The theatre, which cost £15,000, was designed by Mr White, and is a model one on new lines. It has sitting accommodation for 1200, and a stage complete in every particular. i HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. 1 THE GIRL IN THE TAXI.” Musical comedy is not infrequently conspicuous for a maximum of dialogue and a minimum of music; a few introduced songs being deemed sufficient to warrant the use of the term “ musical.” In “ The Girl in the Taxi,” presented by the O’Connor Opera Company at His Majesty’s for the first time on Saturday, the position is reversed. There is a maximum of music, and a minimum of dialogue, so that “ The Girl in the Taxi ” may be regarded as a musical production. Not alone that, but very much of the music is good, thoiigh light in character," -and there is an abundance of brightness about it. There is more than one air of the haunting order, and no doubt many of the audience carried a recollection of some away with them. Solo work prevails, but there are a few capital duets, trios, and quartets, and three or four striking choruses. Dancing finds but small space, and occurs only at the conclusion of some vocal items which terminate with something in the nature of the tango or more than customary graceful lines. There are some very good ladies’ voices in the company, and in one or two instances they are somewhat superior to those possessed by the ordinary musical comedy artiste. Male voices are not perhaps so conspicuously good, but they are sufficient to meet requirements. The action of the comedy is very brisk, and the humour is well sustained and reaches its climax in the third and closing act, when the waiter from the Jeunesso Doree, who has unknown to the three gay gallants been engaged by the Baroness Dauv.ay, makes his appearance to wait at table. This individual recognises the three men as having been at the gay Parisian restaurant during the night, but is discretion itself; substantial wages, of com having something to do with his discreet silence. The acting is admirable on all sides, even though some parts arc not as capably filled as others. The principal character is easily that of Suzanne, which was taken by Miss Violet Collinson very cleverly. Miss Collinson sang her music and acted the part, which she made very attractive, with great success, and in the little dancing she did with Mr O’Connor, she was exceedingly graceful and neat. Miss Ida Lcggatt’s singing was quite,, a feature of the musical side of the performance, -and she sustained the part of Jacqueline satisfactorily. The only other lady member of the company who had a place of any prominence in the cast was Miss Cliff Palmer. Miss Palmer played the Baroness very creditably. The other lac’’ s appearing were Misses Althea Hyde, Edna Bassetti, Kitty Grey, Claire Rincla, Rose Aitkcn, and Millie Carlton. Three of the male parts are about evenly balanced, iheso being the Baron, Lieutenant Rene, and Hubert Dauvray. In the first-named Mr Frank Hainiog was very amusing, but it seemed as if ho was occasionally inclined to impart an exaggerated aspect to the trepidation the Baron feels when discovery is threatened. Why a Baron should on all such occasions set vigorously to work to dust a chair docs not seem very clear, though a waiter might be expected to do it. Still, Mr Haining was very diverting in the part. Mr Will Everard played with becoming sangfroid as Lieutenant Reno, and Mr D. B. O’Connor —remembered many years ago in connection with Pollard’s Opera Company—acted effectively as Hubcat, and contributed a fair share to the music of the evening. Mr Bertie Nicholson was a very energetic and mercurial Frenchman in the character of M. Charcot, and Mr Maurice Rosenthal presented the alternately mild

scent manufacturer and fiery colonel with good results. Though not supporting one of the heaviest parts, Mr George Franklyn is entitled to as much praise as anyone for the way ho played Alexis, the waiter. It was an excellent study, and Mr Franklyn imparted much genuine humour into his work. ,

“The Catch of the Season'” will be played on Thursday and Friday and the “Arcadians” on Saturday, when the season will be concluded.