SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES,

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1124, 26 October 1911, Page 18

SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES,

WELLINGTON.

(By

“Lorgnette.”)

WELLINGTON, October 23. The Wellington season of the Royal Comic Opera Company has been nothing but one huge success, packed houses being the rule at each performance. The season closes on Wednesday evening, the company sailing for Christchurch next day, where they open a fifteen nights' season on the 27th. The Fullers have got a very fine programme at the Theatre Royal this week. Included amongst the performers are McGee and Reece, an American sketch team; the Tossing Testros, Miss Millie Doris, an English comedienne, with a first-class reputation, and Miss Beryl Nicholls. A few weeks ago it was decided by the Wellington Opera House Company, Limited, to look about for a site on which to build an up-to-date theatre. A large section in Mannersstreet, with a frontage of 116 feet, and a depth of 240 feet, the property of Mr. T. G. M’Carthy, has been chosen on account of its size, central situation, and general adaptableness. The purchase of the section was effected on Thursday last, the land; changing hands for £23,000 equal to £2OO per foot. It is to be sincerely hoped that when the new theatre is being built, some consideration will be given to the patrons of ‘cloakrooms and lavatories. When a person pays the same for a seat in the stalls as for the dress circle, it is a bit over the odds to have to sit on a rainy night with your wet wraps, around you or put them on the floor to have them used as a mat by latecomers or people who go out for a ’smoke at the intervals. Mr. Claude Webb is due in town in a few days to arrange for the opening of “The Woman in the Case” Company at the Opera House on November 3rd. The Wellington season of Harry Rickards’ Vaudeville Company will be played at the Opera House from the 2nd to the 16th December. It is some time now since we have had a good dramatic attraction in Wellington, and local play-goers are all agog at the coming of J. C. Williamson’s “The Woman in the Cale”

Company, which opens at the Opera House on November 3rd. H. B. Irving’s Wellington season will open at the Opera House on December 23rd, and will extend until January 16th.

The repertoire for the coming New Zealand tour of the Hamilton-Plim-mer-Denniston Company will, I’ve been informed, include “Smith,” “Nobody’s Daughter,” and “Inconstant George,” three pieces all new to the Dominion.

It has been decided that vocal items may be given at concerts given by the Wellington Municipal Orchestra. The Finance Committee reported to the City Council last week that it had reconridered the question of the continuance of the Municipal Orchestra concerts, and recommended that the Council pay £25 of the deficiency in last year’s working, provided that the guarantors renew their guarantee for a further twelve months. The com-

mittee also recommended that vocal items be permitted at these concerts. Councillor Godber thought that the City should bear the whole of the deficiencies, and he moved that £5O be substituted for £25, but he failed to find a seconder. The recommendations were approved.

MUSIC NOTES.

(By

“G” String.)

The Mayor of Christchurch severely criticised the bands of that city at a meeting of the Council a few nights ago, declaring that they were very poor. “I have travelled about the Dominion,” he said, ’ and to my mind there is no doubt that the band music in Christchurch is the worst in New Zealand. The bands do not do anything at the contests, and the only one that has won honours in the contest is not included in the list of bands engaged for the season. There are too many bands in Christchurch, that probably accounts for the poor quality of the music.”

I have to acknowledge receipt of a budget of new songs from Messrs. Chappell and Company, music publishers, 50, New Bond-street, London, 11 and 12, “The Rialto,” Collinsstreet, Melbourne, and 37, Weststreet, New York. Montague Phillips “Rosette” is a vivacious, dainty, and refined little number, which ought to make a good encore song. “Margaret,’ by Dorothy Forster, is a reposeful song of sentiment, being simple and plaintive.

Mr. Thomas Quinlan’s Imperial Operatic Scheme, which has been organised to give grand opera on the most elaborate lines, and in. the English language, are now completed. The first performance was given at Liverpool on October 2nd. After a four months’ tour of the United Kingdom, the entire company of one hundred and fifty artists will visit South Africa and Australia. The company will include Miss Lalla Miranda, of the Paris Opera and Covent Garden; Miss Jean Brola, of La Seala, Milan; Miss Vera Courtenay, of the Metropolitan Opera, New York; Mr. Allen Hinckley and Mr. Clarence Whitehall, of Bayreuth, and the, Metropolitan Opera, New York; Mr. Robert Parker, of the Cologne Opera; and the English favourites Miss Agnes Nicholls, Miss Edna Thornton, Mr John Harrison and Mr John Coates.

The Wellington Royal Choral Society performance, of Df. .Frederick Cowen’s oratorio “Ruth” at the Wellington Town Hall last week was a distinct 'artistic and reflected credit on all concerned. Grand Opera in Australasia has been identified with only four great managements in forty years—Dyster, Simonsen, George Musgrove and J. C. Williamson. Lyster produced “Lohengrin” and “Carmen” for the first time in Australasia in 1879.

Paderewski who is at present touring South America, has been engaged to visit South Africa,during the months of January, February, March and April of next year. During the coming Dominion tour of “The Chocolate Soldier” the music allotted to the prima donna will be sung on alternate nights by Miss Winifred O’ Connor and Miss Amy Murphy.