WELEINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 69

WELEINGTON WING WHISPERS

By Peter Pah.

August 20. Dear Pasquin,— Nellie Stewart is here, And opened' to a packed house last Saturday nigh* in "Sweet Kitty Bellairs." And fevery night since the house has been crowded. 1 looked in on Thursday night, and every eeat in the circle anoh stalls was engaged. Miss Stewart. has a fine part as Kitty, and she gets everything out of it. The" play is handsomely mounted, whilst the dresses of the ladies are magnificent. It is wonderful the hold Nellie "Stewart has on the feminine portion of "the comI munity. Looking round the circle last night one saw women, women, nothing but women — or_ nearly «>o ; the men averaged about -one in twenty. Two blociks of the circle I particularly noted — there were onlyseven or eight men to be seen there. To-morrcv night we are to have a, revival of "Sweet Nell of Old Drury," and the old favourite is assured of a packed house. Mr Bert Royle has arrived from the north to pave the way f or "Jack and Jill," which hae been drawing crowded houses in. tlie northern province. Leo de Chateau lias opened a school of elocution here, and pupils have not been shy. The announcement that Meynell and Gunn intend to cut out New Zealand from their tours occasioned some little surprise here, and regret has b&sn expressed at the determination. If the new firm cannot make the game fay on the business they did here with "Miss Hook of Holland," then the decision is a wise one. Frederic Shipman called in this morning to state that he was leaving this evening i for Dunedin to make arrangements for Ben- ', gough, the cartoonist, who will open in your city at the beginning of next month. ! Bengough's tour will open in this city on \ 27th inst. at the Town Hall. Mr Shipman will call on you and tell you all about Bengough; and he knows quite a lot about him. Yot another picture company. "The Dominior Pictures" open a circuit in this province, commencing at Foxton next week. The plans of the new theatre — Tho King's — have been deposited with the City Council. It as expected that tenders will be called presently and a btart made early next month. The Roynl Pictures still corrfimie to do enormous business at His Majesty's. Fullers' Pictures also claim a deserving &hare of public, patronage. Alfred Woods write 5 from Sydney to state that he^ has just returned from South Africa. When ia-,t he wrote he was at Victoria Falls, in Zambesi. He and Mi*s Maud Williamson are resting in Sydney, but will start on tour presently. Mr Woods has acquired a number of new plays, which he intends producing shortly. New Zealand will be visited as soon as suitable dates can be arranged. J