A Clever Entertainer

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIII, Issue 15708, 10 December 1915, Page 3

A Clever Entertainer

THEATRE ROYAL—TUESDAY There is no more beautiful show touring the Dominion than that offered by Walter Smith in music and magic, coming to the Theatre Royal on Tuesday, December, 14th. He js qo doubt one of the cleverest entertainers that bps come to New Zealand. Although labouring under physical disadvantages, he goes to his \york with plenty of vim and good h um or that wins the favour of his audience, With sleeves rolled up to the elbows and in ordinary street clothing, he produces—from no one knows where—large glass bowls filled to the brim with water and small fishes swimming about, lollies, and numerous other effects, equally mysterious. He is also an exceptionally gifted ventriloquist, and as a mandolinist and guitarist- he is excelled by no one. In the second part the tinkling mandoline, mandoias, bassorinos (stringed instruments of the Spanish type) is heard to good advantage, made such more pleasing by the deep, soft, sonorous strumming of the harp-guitars. The last named instruments are of harplike construction with twelve to eighteen cotrabasses that give it great depth and tonal quality. It is claimed that the inrtruments used by this troop are the most expensive and complete set to be seen on the stage, being specially imported from America.

Mr Rangi Karaitiana and Niki Paewai are the only Maori entertainers of the ragtime and character impersonating type in the known professional world and their interpretations of popular songs is certainly a treat. From an educational point of view, Walter Smith’s Music and Magic Shows will be one of the strongest attractions to come to this town,'and it behoves all to take advantage ’ of this opportunity to see and Hear these gifted rqusicians of Maorijand.