SIGNOR BORZONIS SPECTACULAR DISPLAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2300, 31 March 1898, Page 27

SIGNOR BORZONIS SPECTACULAR DISPLAY.

In anticipation of something well worih witnessing, a very large number of people crowded the Agricultural Hxll on Friday night to 6ea Signer Burzoni's grand spectacular display illustrating 50 years of progress in Ofcago snd New Zealand. The hall was simply crowded in every department, all the sitting accommodation being filled and every foot of standing space being occupied. Signor Borzoni's conception is a drama in three act">, the audience taking the meaning from the living tableaux and not from spokea words. The intention of the piece ia to depict the change that has come over the country from its old savage days, leading up to the dawn of civilisation and the fruition of that civilisation culminating in the production of an earthly paradise. To illustrate hia conception Signor Borzoni place 3 upon the stage 100 living figures dressed specially to represent ths different stages of the drama. The curtain rose upon 12 figures (bnya) dressed as Maoris, and provided with sticks to repreI seat spears and shields. These, representing old Otago in its barbaric stage, perform ahaka, [ arranged, of course, by Sigaor Borzoni to suit | tbe occasion. Tho movements of the danca I and actions of the 12 dancers were prelty, and certainly conveyed the barbaric idea to perfection. While tho Maoris are going through their parttheback of the stage is a wilderness of brown paper. In the milst of their evolutions the Maoris are startled by the descent of the " Star of Civilisation," who, iv the form of a young girl dressed in white, gaily bedecked with flowers, and with a bright star upefn her head, enters from a wing of the stage. The startled Maoris flee across to the other wing, and cower before this bright star, representing the dawn of civilisation. After going through a series of evolutions, iv which the grace! ul pose of ths star i 3in marked contrast to the barbaric movements of the Maorio, the Maoris fall prostrate before the star. Then the curtain falls upon the first scene. The next scene represents the dawn of civilisation, and was indescribably pretty. Young ladies, to the number of 40, dressed in white flowing robes with long white sashes, represent statues ; while 44 small girls, dressed in white frocks bedecked with flowers, and with bouquets in their hands, represent tbe garden as contrasted with the wilderness. Now the back of the stage has changed from darkness to light, represented by a number of large plate-glass mirrors reaching nearly to the wings as one continuous mirror. As the performers went 1 through, theic pretty yet fantastic evolutions

I the double effect produced by the mirror buckj ing to the stage was marvellous. The sceno i mus'i be witnessed to bo understood ; it cannot bo described. The younger girls are supposed to represent flowers, the four flowers represented being the rose, daisy, dahlia, and suaflawer. Iv thi3 tableau the movements, evoluj tious, dancing, and posiDg are so varied that description becomes nexfe toimpo.'sible, but the effect is startling at every change. The free applause of the audience showed that they thoroughly enjoyed the unique performacce. After a time four Scotch lassies dressed in tartaa appear upon the boards, representing the commencement-, of Lhe Scotch settlement of Otago and the landing of tbe pioneers. These perform a number of dances and evolutions, and on leaving the stage had to respond to * hearty encore. ' Eventnnlly, amid the swiftly changing figures, | a Maori and white girl embrace, symbolising \ the surrender of barbarism to civilisation. Th.3 | scenic display closes by combining Maoris, | Scotch girls, statues, and flowers in perfect , harmony in a number of evolutions, and a ! number of pretty placards held up by the { statues with the names of the chief town 9of j New Zealand printed on them ehotvs the complete triumph of civilisation over barbarism. * The Scotch lassies hold placards which show the words " Osago," "Jubilee," " Exhibition." The j final tableau is designed to show the formerly bar- ; baric Ofcago changed to paradise. Signor Borz>ni : deserves great credit for the wonderful display I he made last night, and the performers one' ! and all have earned a meed of praise for the • excellent way in which they acquitted theraj selves. The orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr Robertghaw, rendered a specially-pre-pared programme for the tableaux, and at the close or the scenic display they played a number ;of selections. Signor Borzoni's very pretty display will be given again next Wednesday evening. — ■ » „