CONCERT BY MAORIS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28685, 8 September 1958, Page 14

CONCERT BY MAORIS

Relaxed And Polished There was no barrier between the audience and the performers at the Theatre Royal on Saturday. evening when “Maori,” a variety show with an all-Maon cast which will later tour Australia, was presented. I Right from the beginning members of the cast thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the audience quite spontaneously joined in. The beautifully-balanced and trained choir, the dexterous poi dancea and the modern “pop’’ numbers were all well presented. Mahora Reweti very gracefully danced with four long pois, but later in the programme one of the men danced more spectacularly with two. . In the completely darkened theatre, the audience gasped as two little glowing red pois chased, joined, and flirted with each other around the dancer.

During the third part of the programme, three girls sang a familiar tune in Maori, then the Deuces crept up and began singing a jazzy English version and the audience woke up to ‘‘Little Brown Jug.” With this introduction, the three Deuces presented a very smooth bracket of popular songs. Although sometimes accompanied by guitar and drums, they did not have to rely on them. Another noteworthy individual performer was Rama Waiti billed as “the Sophie Tucker of the South.” She sang in Maori and English with a peculiarly attractive ' and extremely deep contralto voice that was almost baritone.

But “Maori” did not rely on individual performances. Divided into three parts—the traditional songs and dances of x pa life, Maori songs sung by the choir under the direction of Hehare Toke, and Maori-flavoured “pop” songs and jazz—the programme was far above normal concert party standard and appealed to all the audience—the usual theatregoers as well as the Maoris of Canterbury. The surprise of the evening was Hiria Moffat-who auditioned for the show, singing the wellknown love song, “Hinh e Mine.” Miss Moffat, who has a strong, sweet, developed voice, com, manded the complete attention of the audience. There are'two places -yet to be filled for which auditions will be held this evening.

Presented by the Auckland Public Relations Office and the New Zealand Travel and Holidays’ Association, the show is to publicise New Zealand overseas, to revitalise the music, culture and natural entertainment of the Maori people. With the particularly good cast under the expert care of Mr Henare Toka, the company should do just that.