WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 46

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS.

Br Pktkh Pah, January 9. Dear “Pasquin,” The Cappelli boom is on at His Majesty’s, and the smiles of Ben, Walter, and Kay Fuller light up the front of the house. The great tenor has packed the huge theatre every night this week. The popularity of the handsome Italian is enormous, and his hearers are more than kind with their applause and insistence on encores. Cappelli will reign here for another week, and will then go south. His engagement is an expensive on, but the Fullers’ enterprise hasbeen well rewarded. A number of theatrical artists who have been cooling their heels here —some of them for about 10 weeks —waiting for the boat to carry them to Australia, have adopted the title of “The Boat-waiters,” and to recoup them for their time lost through the epidemic have banded together, and open a season at the Concert Chamber on Saturday night. The principal members of the

company are Andrew Pace and Lalla Ward, of the Scarlet Troubadours; Stewart and Moore and Hugh Ogilivic, of Fullers'; Maude Surtecs, Nan Taylor, Lionel Walsh, Felix Bland, of the "Peg o' My Heart" Company; and Frank Wright, monologue artist. This unlucky people are deserving of the support of theatre-goers, as, through no fault of their own, they have been prevented from following their profession. Mr Borneo Gardiner, the siffleur and entertainer, will assist his brother and 6ister artiste, and will make his first appearance here since adopting the stage as a profession. Mr Ralph ('Peg o" My Heart" Company) is acting as business manager. "Hearts of the World," the great Griffith picture, will open at the Opera House on Saturday night. John Farrell, who is conducting the tour, states that he has no advice as to when the next Williamson attraction will reach New Zealand. •

PRINCESS THEATRE. Tho Princess Theatre was packed to tho doors on Monday night, the fact that the Haverly Revue Company was to present an entirely new war-zone revue no doubt being the primary cause of the very large attendance. The piece, which bears the title of “ Murphy in the Trenches,” was written and staged by Mr Haverly and Mr Maloney. The scenery—which was painted by the firm’s artist in Wellington—depicts a snellscarred village. In the foreground is a, trench, with its sandbagged parapet; in. midground is a barbed wire fence, and in the background can be seen smoking ruins. The artist has caught the atmosphere, as it 'were, of a typical battle scone in France, and has produced a really first-class picture. The company must be complimented, too, 01 the manner in which tho burlesque was presented, it being commendably free from any little hitches which might have been expected in a first performance. As regards the piece itself, it followed on the lines of most revues. There was no attempt at plot, and very little of apy work which might be particularly associated with trenches. The piece, however, t has quite a military flavour, but it had its drawback in this! connection so far as the Kewpie Kids were concerned. There was no room for their usual joyous dancing on the stage when they were dressed in sober khaki uniform. One situation, too, —that between Mr Maloney and Miss Warner towards the conclusion of the performance- —was very much overdone, and could easily stand a considerable amount of pruning. But the defects of “Murphy in the Trenches ” were much more than counterbalanced by the many bright musical numbers. Billy Maloney, as Slushy, the camp cook, had the biggest part in the piece, and again demonstrated that he is a very versatile comedian. He had the audience highly amused all tho time he was on the stage, and deserves to be complimented on the excellent work ho did right through. He also sang “ How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning ” with good effect, and joined with Mr Haverly in a humorous duet. " Plum and Apple.” With Miss Claire Lloyd (a vivandiere) ho achieved the success of the evening, their duet “ rhymes ” simply convulsing the audience. Miss Lloyd was also loudly applauded for her ainging of “ The Boys Are Over There," a similar compliment being paid to her for her monologue, “Napoleon’s Tomb.” La her other vocal selections she was equally successful. Miss Ruby Kennedy, dressed_ in Red Cross costume, gave a nice rendering of “Tho Red Cross Nurse,” with chorus by the Kewpie Kids, similarly attired, and Mr Charles Lawrence sang the number allotted to him in first-class style. Miss Carol Warner had an uncongenial and difficult part as Ima Bottlelove, apd this character could with advantage be toned down. Miss Warner, however, did very well under the circumstances. Mr Haverly, as the “ sole reinforcement,” again presented a most diverting character, but had not so much to do as usual, and the same remark applies to Mr J. P. O’Neill as a burlesque colonel. The piece will be presented all this week, and should attract full houses. In the first half a particularly bright vaudeville entertainment was provided. Jones and Raines proved as successful as ever in their songs and stories at the piano; Nellie Kolle quickly had the audience sinking her choruses with her; Baron and his pal “ Nobbier ” quite took the house by storm with his ventriloquial turn, his “patter” being vastly amusing; and Murfayne had an equally enthusiastic reception, his playing on the xylophone being a feature in the programme.