SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1138, 1 February 1912, Page 18

SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES.

WELLINGTON.

(By

"Lorgnette.”)

WELLINGTON, January 29. Something ot a record was established for Wellington on the day the box plans opened tor the first six nights of the H. B. Irving season. From nine o’clock in the morning until five o’clock in the evening over sixteen hundred seats were booked. Which easily goes to prove that the thirteen nights season will be a huge financial success. The season opened on Saturday evening last and the Opera House was packed to the doors, quite a number of people being unable to gain admission.

That old veteran Mr. Fred. W. Duval is at present attached to Miss Marie Baines’ English Musical Comedy Company, at present touring the West Coast of the South Island. He will shortly take up the position of touring manager of the Allen Doone Company.

Mr. Stanley Grant writes me from Christchurch that the Allen Doone Company will only appear in the four principal cities of cae Dominion. The reason given is that the elaborate scenery cannot be mounted on any but the largest stages, and it is also very expensive to move it about, as great care has to be taken in handling it. The Dominion dates are as follow: — Christchurch, January 24 —February 26; Dunedin, February 8 —14; Wellington, February 17 — March 1; Auckland, March 4—16. At the conclusion of the Aukland season the company leave for Melbourne, where a season will be commenced on April 6 and will extend until June 28. Wellington’s latest picture house — the Adelphi—is nearing completion. The entrance will be -from Willis street.

The Wellington season of Brennan’s vaudeville combination was a huge success in every way. In fact it was such a money-winner that the management had to extend the season one night. Musical Wellington is in ecstacies because of the receipt of news by cable that Miss Adelaide Van Stavern, one of the daughters of our Jewish Rabbi, made her debut in grand opera with triumphant success at Fossano, an Italian town with a population of about 60,0 0 0 people, some fifty miles south of Milan. Her voice is a fine contralto with a range ot' three octaves.

"Sweet County Kerry ’ is to be the opening production of the Wellington season ot the Allen Doone Company.

Mr. Alf. Linley informed me the other day that Wests, Limited, have secured the exclusive rights of Sarah Bernhardt in “Camille” and Madame Rejane in “Madame Sans Gene.”