"Hinemoa"

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 September 1915, Page 3

"Hinemoa"

Ai inJi. ivlAG'to I'ilJiAiliE, LIAIA

Ihis is the story ot ••ilinenioa," which is to be played at King's Theatre, Levin, on Tuesday night, 1-ith Septemoer, by the Maori Opera Company, under the distinguished patrouago ot tneir Excellencies the Governor and Countess oi Liverpool and the lion. Win. ilassey, in aid of our wounded soldiers. All have heard of the magnificent regions which adorn liotorua; its bountiful vegetation, its blue skies, its sweet fresh air perfumed with the fragrance of fern and bracken. The lake with its silvery sheet of water. .Many, many years ago, away up there, there lived a great raee oi people. Warriors and hunters, tliey were all .Maoris who had come from across the seas and wandered through the thiolseLo until they encountered the glorious landscape of liotorua and there they

settled, to live peacefully and to enjoy and share each other's happiness. Amongst tliis chivalrous race lived a beautiitil girl, so exquisitely preJi* (.called "itiiicmoa",), of such idyll rank and station iliat ail who lived by her L-ide regarded ••iiinenioa" us the idol ot their day-dreams. They looked upon her as the spirit ol all that was goodiiineinoa's beauty rivalled the flowers oi the held; it was newitching t<j behold and never did it enter tho minds oi all her people who admired her that the day would inevitably arrive- when a suitor would come to claim tho lair maiden's heart and hand .For who dare to inspire to her rank in the hearts oi her people.' 13ut, alas, one day i' ate fashioned its allotted destiny lor Hinemoa. One spring morning m a garland nook, a youth by name Tutanekai, sat beneath the trees ( to play his flute (lutes being unknown to the -Maoris), and hearing a song being sung by someone who was approaching near by TuUuiekai looked up to see in what direction the stranger was coming, and through the tall reeds Hiuomoa appeared. That was the iirst mooting oi Tutanekai with the beautiful maid, and lrom that very moment they loved each other, but iiinemoa was ol very lri;£U rank anu forbidden to marry; would Tutanekai dare to claim her heart and handr" no could .oily obey the dictates of his awn heart; the burning passion which he swiftly 'nherite(f lor Hinemoa; he loved her more than his own precious hie; and alter many barriers were broken tkoy wore united heart and hand and like the prince in the fairy story they lived happy ever afterwards. To see "diiinttmoa" played by the Alaori Opera (Jo., which cunpjiscs forty members, each one a talented artist, is a revelation on the stage to-day. Tho scenery of "Hin.<?moa'' is painted by two renowned artists and are natural and beautiful replicas of landscapes which adorn Jiotorua. The dresses are simply gorgeous, rich and authentic. A full orchestra travels with the company under the baton of the composer, \l*' Percy i'iynu. The play is produced by i\ir Charles Archutr, formerly ot the Royalty Theatre, London. Tho box plan is at Aitken's hookshop; in, ite and 2s. The company appears at Levin, on Tuesday, 14th September, lor one night only.