There is more good news for opera lovers (including the "newly converted" following the overwhelming success of Natalie Choquette's recent Bermuda Festival performances). The Essential Scottish Opera is coming Bermuda in March to fulfil a busy two-week schedule that includes private performances in schools, as well as two public ones. The first, on March 14, is a concert at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts for which tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for students. On March 15 the company will end its stay with a Royal Gala evening of opera and fine dining the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, at which Scottish Opera's patron, HRH the Duchess of Gloucester, will be present.

The black tie event will begin at 6.30 p.m. with a champagne reception in the hotel's Princess Room, followed by a concert of favourite operatic highlights and dinner with wines in the Harbourview ballroom. Tickets ($250 per person) may be booked singly or in tables of ten. Any surplus, once the expenses of bringing the opera company to Bermuda are met, will be donated to the Bermuda School of Music.

The Essential Scottish Opera is a division of The Scottish Opera. Whereas the latter stages full productions, the former presents popular operatic highlights featuring its up-and-coming young talent. For further information on purchasing tickets for both public events ( Steven Watts at 505-5581 or e-mail stevemegawatts.bm

The Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society is in the final stages of its second annual Famous for Fifteen Minutes play writing contest with six finalists now selected for performances at Daylesford Theatre from March 12-15. The successful plays and authors are: `Convergence' by last year's winner Marg Hammond; `What's In a Name?' by Debbie Pharoah; `Old Jock' by John Gardner; `The Spider's Web' by Carol Birch; `Chewing the Fat' by Julia Pitt; and `Stella and her Steelheaded Men' by Joyce Finn.

Each 15-minute play will be read and considered by a mystery celebrity judge, who will also present the Golden Inkwell award and a monetary prize to the winning playwright.

The six plays, sponsored by the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, will be performed each night at 8 p.m., with a matinee on March 15 at 4 p.m. Tickets ($15 general, $35 final night) will be available at Daylesford Theatre box office from March 3-7, and again on March 10/11 from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the BMDS Charitable Trust.

If an economical Valentine's Day celebration is what you seek, the Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society has the answer. On Friday evening it is offering the combination of a rehearsed play reading with poetry, music and delicious desserts at Daylesford, its Dundonald Street headquarters.

In the second of its rehearsed play readings, Angela Gentleman will direct Jerry Meyer's comedy, `Love Affair', in the theatre at 8 p.m. The semi-autobiographical play is a romantic comedy revolving around two characters, Jimmy and Alice, who begin by packing to move from their Malibu home for financial reasons. The action shifts from the present day Jimmy and Alice to scenes from their 30-year marriage.

At 10 p.m. things will move to the adjacent Daylesford bar, where Ron Campbell, Debbie Raat, Robbie Godfrey and Paula Maguire will present a programme of songs inspired by Eros, the mythical Greek god of love, accompanied by pianist Mark Dorrell. These will be interspersed with varied and amusing poems and prose read by acting stalwarts Richard Dymond, Eugene DeRosa, Joanna Powell and Debbie Pharoah. Topping the Valentine's special will be the `Romantic Dessert Bar' featuring a host of mouth-watering treats. While admission to the play is free, donations will be appreciated. Drinks and desserts will be specially priced. For further information ( 292-0848 from 5.30 p.m.