Full House For Variety Concert

Chronicle (Levin), 21 December 1948, Page 2

Full House For Variety Concert

.. A most 'pleasing variety ,show was- presented * to a well filled house at the Civic Tneatre, Otaki, on Sunday night. The entertainment was presented by the. Kilbirnie- Wrestlmg Compaiiy's ai'.tists, iricluding a Maori party,' Whieh in, the main contained "forme'r Otaki';, artists andi ' the proceeds ' were . ; applied'in support of the Sports.; Queen's canipaign.

Proceedings: opened with a skipping rope dance, followed by Negro coon songs rendefed bv a boy soprano, whose efforts met with deafening applause, this capable artist being encored time and again. A ' small girl performed a huia, much to the delight of the audience.'She was accompanied by a trio with Spanish guitar, banjo and mandolin, two of the three having spent many years in Otaki. The same trio accompanied the next artist, Mrs. L. Wickham (nee Miss Eliza Cook, formerly of Otaki), who was loudly appl^uded for her rendering of Maori ' solos and action songs. An accomplished baritone followed, singing. such popular numbers as "Blue iSmok'e" and "Pal of My . Dreams." Two juvenile acrobats literally brought the house down with their ballet and contortionist dancing, the^ smaller female member of the duo performing v.ith the grace . and confidence of an- adult professional. , Instrumental numbers by two male aftiats,-. each playing two instruments at a time, further delighted the audience. as did a Highland fling and later a sailor's hornpipe, most capably danced by a local lass, MiSs Nahleen Walton, to the accompanimentjDf bagpipes. A humorous monologue had the audience in fits of laughter. This was followed by a midget sailor performing -a tap dance most creditably, and another pleasing baritone soloist had to respond to demands for further numbers. . An eccentric dance caused amusement, this in turn being followed by further -tap dances. Next came a magician with 'severaE new tricks whieh earned much. applause. ..Another huia dance, Russian r dances by ' the earlier : juvenile Cbhtort|oriists, 'tenor solos and duets, by the boy soprano and one of the baritones were all well received, par.ticularly the latter. The closing item saw the whole party taking ^heir farewell with the popular nupiber "Now Is Th.e Ho'urT v ..." if («.— prior to the cohcluding number, the chaperohe ;of the party was presented with' a sheaf of gladioli and the Mayor, Mr: C. F. Atmore, expressed ; the;_ a-ppreciation and thanks of all to the artists who had placed their services at ' the' disposal of the Sports Queen Committee.