SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1459, 11 April 1918, Page 34

SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES.

(By

“Lorgnette.”)

WELLINGTON, April 8. The J. C. Williamson Royal Comic Opera Company opened their Dominion tour at the Grand Opera House on the evening of Easter Saturday with the musical comedy “The Red Widow,” and were greeted by a holiday audience that packed the big theatre to the doors. In fact, many late-comers were refused admission, and sorrowfully turned their thoughts to other places of amusement. “The Red Widow” is well on a plane with other musical comedies we have seen in New Zealand in recent years, being full of smart dialogue and musical numbers. After a run of five nights it was replaced by the exhilarating musical cocktail “Mr. Manhattan,” an American musical production that is packed with good things in the way of whimsical dialogue and catchy songs. “Mr. Manhattan” will enjoy a run of three performances, the last five nights of the season being devoted to the staging of the musical play “Katinka,” which is to receive its Australasian premiere in Wellington. The many friends in New Zealand of Mr. Hugh D. Wilson will be glad to know that he is amongst them once more, having been appointed exhibitions manager to the New Zealand Pictures Supplies, Ltd. Mr. Hugh Wilson was for several years closely associated with Mr. Henry Hayward in the Dominion. Subsequently he acquired picture interests in Dunedin, which he sold to great advantage. In Australia he was the Queensland representative of the Union Pictures, Limited, for some time. Later he was manager for the Waddington- Picture Theatres when they joined up with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., but when those theatres were absorbed by the Union Theatres, Ltd , Mr. Wilson left and subsequently accepted the offer of the New Zealand Pictures Supplies, Ltd., to come to Wellington. Mr. Wilson has already taken up his new position, in which he will have the supervision of about 140 picture theatres. Mr. Jack Walter’s “Look Who’s Here” revue company opened a short farewell season in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last Thursday evening with a new edition of “The Passing Show.” This clever combination have established themselves as great favourites with the playgoers of Wellington, and are playing to first-class business. Whilst touring the country towns Mr. Waller took the opportunity of writing to a friend in Wellington, stating that he desired to sincerely thank the members of the Red Triangle Committee who took part in the presentation to his company during their final performance in Wellington a few weeks ago. He says the presents will always “be treasured by us as a souvenir of a most enjoyable season in Wellington, and the fact of our being able to help the Red Triangle fund to such an appreciable- extent added additional pleasure to our stay.”