WAIKIKI HAWAIIANS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15871, 10 July 1922, Page 7

WAIKIKI HAWAIIANS.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION

The finest tribute which a company of entertainers can expect is whole-hearted applause from a crowded house. This was the experience on Saturday evening of the famous Waikiki Hawaiians, who opened a short season in the Opera House; and it may therefore be safely presumed that this clever company is repeating in Gisbome the success which has been scored wherever else they have appeared. Saturday evening's' huge audience was genuinely enthusiastic about the entertainment, and the success of the remainder of the season is therefor assured. Tho programme is bright, original and sweetly musical, and not for n. moment does it lose its Hawaiian charm, the feature which gives it a high place on tho list of theatrical companies which have toured the Dominion during recent years. The music is suggestive of all one reads of tho charming Hawaiian Isles, and the harmony o; tropical life on beaches fringed with waving palms. The plaintive melodies played on ukulele and guitar, or sung with the mellow voices of the Hawaiian girls makes up n. fascinating entertainment, the effect of which is artistically set off by. rneaais of the realistic settings. Tho first part of the production is entitled "Hawaiian Nights," and with a view of a, moonlit bay with a palm beaeh in the foreground, it depicts in a wholly entertaining way, 1 the life, customs, and characteristics of tho Hawaiian natives. Opening with a concerted string instrumental number, the ''Hawaiian night" goes on its cool sequestered course; the audience is transported to whore "Aloha Noi" means the same as "Kia Ota," where kava is the. national drink, and where dances such as the "Luau Hula" comprise ono of the traditional customs of tho natives. The whole company takes part in this ; charming interpretation of Hawaiian 1 native life, and tho music, costuming, and scenery produce a remarkably fine effect. The concerted instrumental num. bors were enthusiastically received, the guitar and ukulele effects being excel- ; lent, whilo the native dance "Luau ; Hula'' by Miss Lilliokalani was insistently recalled several times. The demonstration of kava brewing—an intoxicating' drink which Mr. Keoke Greig phiined affected its consumers in the iegs, instead of in the head, as was the case with the corresponding beverages of other lands—was a quaint little scena, charmingly presented. The steel guitar solos by Mr. Keoke Greig took the audience by storm. This unique instrument, which hitherto we have heard only on the gramaphonc, possesses wonderfully plaintive - notes which ring out appealingly and then die away, with a delightful effect. It plays the melody and its accompaniment, and in the hands of Mr. Greig the instrument possesses a unique charm. On it he played melodies from his own land, a beautiful "Hawaiian Lament" composed by himself, and. then, to demonstrate the versatility of the instrument, he played other selections which were surely never written for it, but as played by him, they were imbued with a new charm. Among these were "The Rosary" and "Coming Home," these being followed up with some ragtime seleetions. He also showed what excellent music could be obtained from that quaint little instrument, the ukulele.

The other part of the programme was given more to solo items by the individual members of the company, and though none the less pleasing, it was not so Hawaiian in sentiment. It commenced with a brisk instrumental overture by the whole strength of the company. Miss Lilliokalani and chorus provided a clever novelty song number, "Une, Two, Three, Four," and Miss June Lehua, assisted by Miss Wehi Siula, sang with great success, "Hawaiian Skies," "I've Got You," and "Let the Great Big World Keep on Turning." Another of the Hawaiian girls, with a characteristically mellow and pleasing voice, is Miss Ane Leata, whose specialty numbers were "Arabian Moon" and "Murray. Moon," the former being presented with some very pleasing electrical effects. The blending of the girls' voices in the concerted vocal items was.pleasing, to say. the <least .of it, "Au Revoir, Honolulu,".by Miss Tua Greig and chorus, bringing out some excellent blending effects. Al Roycc, one of the Hawaiian boys, billed as the "Shimmy King," Americanised the programme with his effective contribution "Dixie Band." A specialty number which found great favor; with the audience, particularly with 'the biWvn element present, was a Maori composition "E Pari Ra," which the girls learnt during their stay in Rotoriia, It was effectively sung and danced in Maori costume by Misses F.illiokalani, Ane Leata, June Lehun* and Wehi Siula, and was accorded a rousing reception. The entire programme is quaintly musical, and to miss the playing of the steel guitar will be indeed an opportunity missed. The programme will be repeated this cvouing, and on Tuesday evening, the last night of the season, there will be a special request programme. ;

Unfortunately the printed programmes do nofc contain the exact list of items, but the. management explain that this is due to the fault that the programmes were printed when the company commenced its tour, since when several changes have occurred in the personnel. In view of the great demand for seats on (Saturday evening, intending patrons of this excellent entertainment are advised to book at Miller's.