ODIVA AND HER, SEALS

Southland Times, Issue 19101, 20 November 1923, Page 6

ODIVA AND HER, SEALS

A FIRST-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT. Seldom, if ever before, has the Invercargill public had reason to be grateful to the management of a theatrical company for visiting these parts as it has to Capt. C. F. Adams and his company of star artists who made their first appearance at the Municipal Theatre last evening. In the past Invercargill has been sadly neglected as regards visits from travelling companies and it must have been somewhat disappointing to the management last evening when the Theatre was not filled to the extent that the entertainment warranted. The stalls and gallery certainly were well patronised but the other portions of the Theatre were not. Nevertheless the audience was an appreciative one and it is safe to say that at the close of the evening there was not a dissatisfied patron in any part of the house. The whole entertainment was without a blemish of any description and the audience was not slow to show its appreciation in a marked degree. Throughout, the artists were well received and in every case they responded readily to the insistent demands of the audience for additional numbers. Not the least interesting and entertaining number on a well varied programme of vaudeville acts was that provided by Capt. Adams with his troupe of performing seals, who were assisted by Odiva, a graceful young lady whose prowess in the water has not been equalled by any previous performer seen in Invercargill. Not only do the seals give the onlooker some idea of what their characteristics are in their natural state when they are disporting themselves in the big swimming pool erected on the stage, but they show unmistakably in the little acts which they are called upon to perform by their trainer, that they have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and do it in such a way as to evoke the admiration of all the spectators. Then again the comic element was very neatly brought out by the antics of the seals on several occasions, notably when one particular animal without any intimation from Capt. Adams commences to clap loudly by means of its two front flippers. Altogether the act is unique in every respect and assisted as it is by the explanatory remarks made by Capt. Adams, is of a highly educational nature to both young and old alike. As for Odiva, her act is one that shows the trained exponent that she is in every detail and her ability to remain under the surface of the water for a lengthy period without requiring to rise to the surface to breathe won for her the sustained applause of the audience last evening. Miss Odiva remained at the bottom of the tank amidst the seals for a space of fully a minute and three-quarters, and then calmly rose to the surface without any apparent discomfort. The most interesting and acceptable of the vaudeville acts was that provided by the Hilo Duo of Hawaiian instrumentalists who rendered in a masterly manner some very haunting and plaintive melodies on a ukelele and a Hawaiian guitar which earned for them a triple encore. Verna Bain, in a trio of dance creations depicting the Bubble, the Dying Swan and a Dance Caprice, showed the audience that she is a danseuse of no mean ability, while Claude de Car, the acrobatic waiter, who was assisted by his dog Rosie, gave a finished performance in which he treated, the spectators to several new acrobatic “stunts” that were highly pleasing. The vocal portion of the programme was entrusted to Adelaide Taylor and to the Jubilee Trio, and that their renditions were not the least enjoyable part of the evening’s enjoyment was demonstrated by the generous hearing that they received. Jack Birchley, a contortionist far above the average, Valentine with his ventriloquial doll, Tom Te Pumi the Maori comedian and last but not least Eric Harrison in two bright monologue numbers and a budget of stories contributed to a programme that is honestly entitled to all the praise that was bestowed upon it by last night’s appreciative audience. The same programme will be submitted again this evening and is sure to attract as much favourable comment as it did last night.