AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14277, 28 July 1908, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

ROTORUA MAORI ENTERTAINERS. His Majesty's Theatre was crowded to the doors last evening with a large and fashionable audience to witness tho farewell performance of the talented Rotorua Maori Entertainers. The best oi Saturday night's programme was included in the change of programme presented, and the Maori at home, at play, at war, and under tlie pakeha regime was presented in a manner and under conditions that carried the audience back to the period, more than half a century ago, when an intelligent and brave race of Natives, with n wealth of legendary and folk lore to draw upon, and stirring historic battles and brave deeds on record, ruled the islands of New Zoalaaid. Ilakos and graceful poi dances, ancicnt Maori games and Native customs, welcome feasts nod war-canoe excursions, ancicnt- Maori romance and incantations wore presented in contrast with tho cultivated Maori of to-day—the hope of tho Young Maori party, and a tribute alike to pakeha rule and Maori adaptability to altered- environment. The tableaux and feonic arrangements were specially well arranged to convey the foregoing impressions vividly to the audience, and when the Rev. F. A. Bennett, at aii interval in the performance, made a special appeal to the pakehas of the south not tc forget that there arc 45,000 of the Native race still in the land, and to assist in tlieii preservation and further development, • the temperament of the big' audience wa.s in a fittingly receptive condition to respond with a burst of applause to the re quest. . Tho. spccial new feature of last night's programme was the presentation: oE a series of tableaux depicting the romance of Hinemoa and Tutanekei. This romance of two Maori lovers i: famed in song and story, and by its treat ment by the late Sir George Grey and other Maori writers and'.scholars has beer raised to the position of a classic. The long moonlight swim of Hinemoa from the Owata- sliore of Lake Rotorua to Mokois Island, to which she was guided by the music of Tutanekei and his friend Tiki, and the virion of the lovers, despite the opposition of powerful tribal relatives, h ono of the best-preserved of Maori legonds and its presentation last evening, m it! leading incident;, by living tableaux re vived recollections of a typical Maori story of love and womanly heroic effort The part-singing of the Maori vocalist) last evening, as at (he previous perform ance, was specially recognised by th( audienoe, who insisted on numerou: encores, t.ho maie quartet being rocallet no less than four times towards the em of the programme, and the items con tributeel by the Rotorua Church Choii were equally popular. PRINCESS THEATRE. The programme of living pictures beinj presented at the Princess Theatre t'hii week evidently hits the popular taste a; successfully as any of its predecessors Most of the films depict bright and clevei little comedies, and one gives a series o striking scenes illustrating typical phase: of the Russian naval manoeuvres. Till same programme will be repeated thi, evening. BALL AT OMAKAU. The annual Otago Central railway bal was held at Omakau on Friday last, ant proved a great success. The grand marcl was led off by My Ishcrwoud, station master, Omakau. About 50 couples at tended, notwithstanding the long drive, ill the keen air, and all voted the functioi i huge success. Mr R. J. Mitchell under took the catering, and Morgan's Bam supplied tlie music. Both gave every satis [action. It was not until 3 a.m. that th< plea-sant gathering dispersed. THE BLAXDFORD FAREWELL. The complimentary farewell concer organised for Mr Frank V. Blandfor< takc-i place in the theatre to-night, am there is every indication of a full hous< being the reward of the committee' efforts. The programme is one of unup.ua >xcellcnce. Owing to one of the performer, being suddenly called away from Dunedin tho placc on rlie programme has boei kindly fiiled ct. short notice by Mr T. di Spring, who will, by request ; recite "Th Bells." 'ITie Ixix plan is ramdly filling up all the best seats having already beei booked. The programme recommend itself to all masic-lovers, and the humor ously inclined will lia.ve plentiful oppoi tunity of exercising their risible facultic over Mr Blandford's sketches and imitn tions. BLANCHE LEVI RECITAL. The above pianoforte recital will tak place in Burns Hull on Friday nexl when n most attractive programme will b presented. As a pianist Mrs Blanche Lev is too well known to need criticism.