Maori Concert Party Draws Big Audience

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29908, 23 August 1962, Page 15

Maori Concert Party Draws Big Audience

Guide Kiri’s Whakarewarewa Concert Party attracted a large audience to the Civic Theatre last evening. A wide variety of items, following the well-established routes of such entertainments, was presented. The standard, however, was much higher than at most. Everything was put across smoothly and swiftly by this well-drilled and competent team. A fitting informality was maintained, but it was based on professional standards, and the whole show was enjoyed by an audience en rapport with the performers. The programme began with a traditional welcome, and in this was heard some authentic Maori chanting. Most of the music later in the programme was adapted from Western tunes, the “Little Brown Jug” going rather often to the well. Guitar accompaniment was freely used, and a plea could be put forth for more accurate tuning of the instruments. Songs such as the Brahms “Lullaby” or "Home. Sweet Home,’” would be more effective if sung with proper rhythm and without added twists and turns. Nor do they lend themselves happily to the typical Maori form of chorus harmonisation. The discrepancy in tonality between the airs and the accompaniments also at times would make the extreme atonal composers sound like Sir Joseph Barnby. However, these small matters notwithstanding, the greater part of the entertainment was highly interesting and enjoyable. The poi dances were performed with the precision of a first-rate ballet corps, and were extremely attractive. One unusual effect was created by having a double long poi dance with illuminated pois on the darkened stage. Quite fantastic patterns of great beauty were seen; and the circles and arcs would give a trained ‘ geometrician nightmares for months. Doll Aramatema's weaving of four long pois simultaneously had seeming perfection, and will long be remembered for the grace and skill shown. Action songs by the company were precise in their very beautiful movements. Great intensity of emotion can be conveyed by the in-

terplay of the dancers’ hands. The costuming was splendid, but there were times when more light could be used on the stage. This was particularly so in some of the concerted poi dances when the rather dim light made it difficult to see the movements of the pois. The voices blended well in the unaccompanied choruses, and the hakas came off with electrifying eclat. The boys put tremendous vigour into them, and their movements as well as their shouts showed precise drilling. Their tongues flashed in and out with an avidity matched only at the ant-eaters’ picnic. —C.F.B.