MAORI CONCERT PARTY POPULAR AT GREYMOUTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1950, Page 3

MAORI CONCERT PARTY POPULAR AT GREYMOUTH

The harmonious blending of voices in Maori songs, interspersed with action songs and graceful poi l dances, as presented by Guide Rangi’s concert party from Rotorua, was well received by a responsive audience in the Regent Theatre, Greymouth, last night. From the opening number, which depicted group scenes in a Maori village, to the final item, a farewell song, the party lived up to its reputation. While the more popular items were undoubtedly the women’s poLdances, the choruses and action songs presented by the whole company were also well received. The antics of some of the male members of the party during the action items gave a touch of humour to the show. Rangi, 'herself was compere, and she added humour to.her explanations of the various movements in the dances. Individual performers were well received, this being specially so in the case of Wiremu Keepa and Ani Patiti, both of whom sang selected solos. Their voices also blended perfectly with the remainder of the company in the choruses.

The intricacies of the various poi dances were ably demonstrated by the women members of the party. The most popular dance was the canoe poi, an item in which three different types of poi were used. The dance depicted the journey of the Arawa canoe across the ocean from Hawaiki to Aotearoa. Of the action songs, the final one, E Pari Ra, was easily the most popular, while the final item, “Now Is the Hour” (Po Ata Rau), received wellmerited applause. The men, were also seen to advantage in the hakas and war dance, but in this respect, the women’s haka was one of the best items. At the opening of the performance, Guide Rangi explained the preparation of flax for the making of mats, baskets and skirts and also gave a brief demonstration of the various uses of flax. The flax for last evening’s performance was collected on the 'Coast road during the party’s journey fro... er inert to Greymouth yesterday.