SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 22 August 1912, Page 22

SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES.

WELLINGTON-

(By

“Lorgnette.”)

WELLINGTON, August 19th.

The Dominion tour of J. C. William- ' son’s pantomime “Sinbad the Sailor” was opened at the Opera House last Thursday evening to a house packed to the doors. The panto, is from rise to fall of the curtain brimful of good things, whilst the company which interprets it is without doubt one of the very best combinations that has ever visited New Zealand. All the songs’ introduced are well sung, the choruses first-class, and the music right throughout the piece of a high order. The scenery, dresses, mounting, and general ensemble have seldom, if ever, been, equalled. In such a great production it would be invidious to pick out any artist for special praise. Everyone in the production right down to the young ladies in the back row of the chorus all seem to vie with each other in making the panto, the success it is. The booking for the season, which closes on the 27 m inst., is of such dimensions that the financial result of the season will go very near creating a record, if it does not create one.

The plans for the new r Opera House prepared by the Hon. William Pitt, of Melbourne, which arrived with copies of schedule of quantities in Wellington a few days ago, have been returned to Mr Pitt’s representative for the purpose of having slight alterations made in connection with the relation of the extent of the building to an irregular shaped piece of land on the east side.

The Green Dandies did fair business at the Town Hall during the past week.

Amongst the musical numbers introduced into the pantomime “Sinbad the Sailor” are: “Under the Sea,” “Silvery Bells,” *Tu a Persian Kind of Way,” “Up She Goes,” “Fall in and Follow’ Me,” “Hail the Emperor,” “With Sinbad we are Sailing,” “My World is the World of Love,” “Paper Bag Cookery,” “Diamonds,” “Silvery Moon,” “On the Whale’s Back,” “The Jim Jam Sailors,” “Follow the Car Tracks,” “You Can’t Judge a Woman by her Clothes,” “Hurry Them Away,” “He’s a Millionaire,” “A Hunting we Will Go,” “Slaves, Slaves,” “Dreamland,” and “Do Ray Me.”

The rumour is going around that the J. D. Williams Proprietary, a big American syndicate which has establshed itself in the picture theatre business in Australia, has started operations in New Zealand by purchasing the recently erected Adelphi Theatre in Willis-street, Wellington.

Mr. Richard Stewart returned to Wellington from Christchurch last Friday morning to take up the managerial duties of the “Sinbad the Sailor” pantomime company.

Mr. Thomas E. Foster, who has been with the J. C. Williamson management for some eighteen years, is stage director of the pantomime “Sinbad the Sailor.” Mr. Foster, whose last visit to New Zealand was as stage manager of the Katherine Grey Dramatic Co., ciiiy returned from a trip to the Old Country some three months ago.

Mrs. Montague, the official accompanist to the Wellington Competitions Society, filled the position of accompanist to the Naper competitions last week and gave universal satisfaction.

The bill of fare which the BrennanFuller management have been presenting at the Theatre Royal during the past week has been responsible for the seating capacity of this popular vaudeville house • being well filled nightly.

Mr. Leonard Monk, manager of the Wykeham-Nable Company, returned to Sydney last week.

The erection of Messrs Fuller’s new theatre in Courtenay Place is progressing rapidly and the present indications are that the new house of amusement will be ready for opening at Christmas.

Mr. Claude Haigh will take over the management of the Green Dandies, so as to allow Mr Edward Branscombe to return to Australia to look after his many interests in the Commonwealth.

The pantomime “Sinbad the Sailor” is in two acts with nine scenes in the first act and seven in the second act, everyone of which is a masterpiece of the scenic artists’ art.

Good business has been done during the past week at all the picture shows.

The ballets, marches, and solo dances in the panto. “Sinbad the Sailor” are enthusiastically applauded at each performance, and Miss Minnie Everett deserves a special word of praise for tne excellent manner in which she has drilled the members of the ballet in this gorgeous production. Mr. Charles Blake, touring representative of the Wykeham-Nable Comedy Company, leaves for Napier and Gisborne to-day. The company, which is at present playing the West Coast of the South Island to good business, return to Wellington at the end of the week. A number of the principal towns of the North Island will be visited before the company returns to Australia..

The .Wellington season of the Maggie Moore Company was a great success in every way.