STAGELAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12722, 6 February 1906, Page 7

STAGELAND.

OPERA HOUSE BOOKINGS

January 31.—Taylor-Carrington. February 15.—Christ Church Club. February 21 and 22. —W. , Anderson-

Czerny. February 27 to March I.—Geach-Hollo-way Compaay. April 2 to 7. —Allan Hamilton-J. F.

Sheridan. May 7, 8} and 9.—Williamson Opera Company.

Miss Maggie Stirling and her concert company will tour New Zealand shortly. if> Professor AndreAvs and his Magic ' Kettle were showing on the West Coast goldfiekls last week.

The latent news concerning Maud Beatty is that she, in company with several Australian variety artists, has left Manila on a trip to Chirm.

May Beatty told an interviewer the other day that when her present Stephenson contract expires, in May next, she purposes going to London, and will spend a month or two there before taking up an engagement to tour the English provinces with "The Skirt Dancer."

Czerny, who is due at the Opera House on the 21«t inst., has just concluded Ma Auckland season. According to "'iVlueico-jDramat-icus," Ozerny lias been in iris element in Auckland, and the man who "knows how it's all done" and takes a friend to show him has been having rather a tough tdrne explaining. Some of the items in Czerny's progriammo may bear the imprint of time, bu!b they are certainly performed in a bright, entertaining, and up-to-date manner. His quickness of hand is almost incredible and he scores a hit every time.

"When itftria house is finished, Invercargill will -poesess tihe best theatre in New Zealand." This (says an Inreroar-

gill paper) ia the verdict of Mr Fred Duval, representative of Mr George Stephen's em's Musical Oomedy Company, ■who took advantage of the 'Mayor's couftesy in conducting 'Mm oveor the building "recently. A thorough inspection of Wie ihiouse was made from gallery, circle, stalls, and stage, and from every p^oint of vantage first excellent impressions were confirmed. The "line of eight," so important from the spectators' point of view, is as near perfection as possible, and, as indicating the excellence of the design, Mr Duval pointed out that those occupying 'Jie extreme end seats in the gallery would obtain a three-quarter view of tlie stage, which very few theatres afford —some only give a quarter. The extreme depth of the spacious stage is 66ft., thus offering every facility for superb scenic display. The back ssat in the dress circle is nearer the stage than is the front seat in most London houses. As an many other things, England remains conservative in this; the first seat of the circle in some tiheatres is 80ft. distant from the stage—here the back soat will be only 66ft. away. The architect has •followed closely on the latest American plans, which aim at bringing performers and audience into as close touch as possible. A feature that will pleanse patrtons of t(he lower-priced portion of the ■h'ous3 'is that chairs will be provided in tlho Raillery—a convenience that few oolcnoal hoivsee can boa*b. Tho theatre will be seated to 'hold 1170 people—2B7 in the dress circle, 473 dn the stalls, 40 in the private !boxes, and 370 in the ga)lei'y. Th© stairs 'are all of concrete, and tihroughouib the building will be as nearly fire proof as possible, while for ?llum|ina.ting purposes both gas and electric 'light will be 'available. Mr Duval considere the structure a credit to the architect and to the town.