MAORI LOVE LEGENDS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 167, 10 April 1920, Page 8

MAORI LOVE LEGENDS

INTERESTING COSTUME RECITAL.

Considering the execrable. weather, the Concert Chamber was fairly well filled last evening, when Miss 'Marieda Batten's recently-published "Maori Love • Legends" were given expression to in the form of a costume recital.. The three legends so given were "Rau-Mahora and Takarangi," "Hinemoa and Tutanekai," and "Puta and Haumia," in all three instances the names being those of noted lovers in the misty domain of. Maori legendary lore, M ; ss Batten's blank verse, interspersed by way of variation here and there by verses of definite rhyme and gaily tripping metre, give poetical outline to the. stories involving the love affairs of the chief characters, and' in 5 no single instance is a third person allowed to intrude. In "EauMaliora and Takavangi" the. lovers were assigned to Miss Knola Innes, and Mr. Alfred Spencer, who somewhat placidly shaped their fate under the greenwood tree—in this case, a very beautiful ferngvown dell in the forest. Takarangi proves to be a very fierce lover in tho net of lending his tribe in besieging an enemy pah, but once his eyes light upor. the fascinating Kau-Mahora, his warlike instincts desert him, and leave linn a captive in Cupid's chains, and he become* the humblest of suppliant lover* (after he has benevolently raised the siege), the verv anlithisis to the warrior who 'boasts: "My arm is one that 110 dog dares to bite." Sflis Innes maße a charming 11-au-Mahora, but both lovers iise;! the level monotones of the lower register overmuch. • In "Hinemoa and Tutanekai the whole of the famous love story was enacted with alertness and intelligence. Mr. Eric Eishworth was quite convincing as the love-stricken base-born Tutanekai, and Miss Lali Benbow looked well as Hinemoa, but was inclined to stress unimportant syllables in the delivery of her lines, notably whero she.descants on the many virtues of her lover in smiplo rhyme.. Mr. liishworth's happiest moments wra-e those in which he appealed to the Maori gods to aid him in his lovo affair . „ ~ Probably'the best showing df Hie evening was made by Miss Tiinda M Intyre avid Mr. Leonard • Power as Puta and Haumia. Here of personality stood out, and the linw of both roles were spoken tfith a lively intelligence that lent conviction to the story of the lovers who could not be kept apart, thoiHi the course of their true love was anything but smooth. Explanatory notes to the first and la«f legend presented were read by Miss Fardmge-MaHby. who deserves praise for the manner 111 which the legends were nvoduced, and thccliarncters dressed. The stage, 111 its dense dressing of silver ferns, cnbbape-tree palms, 'and other greenery, made as pretty a bush picture ronld well be encomnp'osed on so limited 11 stage. The. flute music in ' Kinoinoi an<l tan°kai" was plnvrd 'by Mr. Claude Tucker, and variation wa« given the nro.rtmine by the singimr jrfMr. Eoh.rt Bell, who sang "Kn Mate a version of the well-ki-nwn haka of yeleome) bv To -Rami Hik;roa "Wamta Pni" (A Hill). and "Renninm (Holmes). Mis„ jonn Coolre was the accompanist. ' The snlendid Maori costumes were loaned by Dr. Pomare.