WELLINGTON NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1590, 14 October 1920, Page 34

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(By

“Lorgnette.”)

WELLINGTON, October 11. Wellington playgoers are anxiously awaiting the coming of “Tilly of Bloomsbury.” The Dominion tour, so far has been a decided success, there being, without the good qualities of the play, several old-establish-ed favourites in the cast. Lowell Thomas, the famous traveller, will shortly open -his North Island tour at Wellington. His lectures tell us the story of how Arabia and Palestine were wrested from the yoke of the Turk, and describe in moving picture and story the wonderful part played by the Anzacs in these events. Over one million people heard Lowell Thomas in London at Covent Garden Theatre and the Queen’s Hall. Mr. Thomas’ Wellington season opens on Saturday, the 16th inst.

The feelings of those who had

taken parts, either on the stage or as instructors, in the several, playlets and comediettas submitted at the Wellington competitions this year, were not spared by the judge of the elocutionary classes, Mr. Stanley Warwick, of Sydney, the other evening. “I have been asked to announce my decision,” he said. “There is none to give, for I do not consider the comediettas presented afforded sufficient intellectual interest to warrant a decision.” Quite enough rubbish was staged by dramatic companies, said Mr. Warwick, without more of it being offered at the competitions, the sole aim of which was to educate and to raise the level, of the elocutionary and musical arts. He suggested that in future the comedietta class should be entirely deleted, and that in its place one night should be set aside for three one-act plays, preferably chosen by the. society. The material was certainly at hand in Wellington, and a dozen, good one-act plays could be cast in a. few minutes. To fail was no disgrace, to aim low was a crime. Mr. Hugh D. Wilson, who has been exhibition manager for the New Zealand Picture Supplies, Limited, for the past few years and who is well and favourably known in theatrical circles throughout the Dominion and the Commonwealth, has heard the cry of sunny Australia, and resigned his position. Accompanied by Mrs. Wilson he intends leaving for a holiday in the Commonwealth.