CALEDONIANS AND NATIONAL DANCERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 268, 15 June 1910, Page 2

CALEDONIANS AND NATIONAL DANCERS.

Last night the Town Hall was comfortably filled to listen to one of the finest variety entertainments at present travelling the. colony. The tour is under the management of one of the best known ».peratic comedians in the person of Mr Jock Willis, who has toured the colonies on many occasions under the various managements, more recently with Mr Tom Pollard. Since that company disbanded the genial "Jock" has been offered many lucrative positions across the Tasman, but conceived the idea that a little up-to-date, thoroughly clean, and versatile company was needed in New Zealand, and he has just about struck the keynote of success in the choice of his company. We have seen the Scarlet Troubadours in Te Kuiti, and were much impressed with their undoubted musical and instrumental powers. Well, with the National and Caledonian Dancers we were treated to a company of equal merit, of a different character, and we have no doubt, one that will earn equal popularity in the big centres, and more in the country towns. Highland dances and music do not always appeal to an audience, except perhaps, at a Caledonian athletic gathering, but such performances as last night will meet with a better reception on a return visit than in their initial appearance, which is the best reward of merit. Another outstanding feature of the entertainment was the selection of songs by the various members, and was, in fact, :l "night with the old songs," all of which wen well and feelingly rendered. Nothing appeals to the imagination more than one of these, when well sung, and in this the Caledonians excel. The comic element was supplied by the aclor-managor, Mr Joclc Willis, who seems to have an inexhaustible storehouse of humour, and keeps the audience in roars of laughter from his appearance to his exit. His interpretation of "Turn Over," "Pilgrims of the Night," "IV the Noo," etc., are the best wo have heard for a long time. He also has learned the art of "not riding a willing horse to death," and retires with the audience still asking for more. Mr Tarn McLean, is the possessor of a very mellow bass voico which he uses to advantage in "Off to Philadelphia" and "Drinking," Ilia notes are as rntind and resonant as one would wish to hear, and he sings with an utter absence of effort. As the tenor of the company, Colin Cameron is delightful, and treated the audience to an interpretation of "Mary of Argyle," "Loch Lomond," Annie Laurie," and Tosti's "Goodbye," which is rarely the pleasure of a local audience to hear and one that has to be heard to be fully appreciated. Miss O. O'Keofe, is possessed of an almost perfect, contralto voice, which, she might use to better advantage if she were not quite so mechanical, and would be more at home if a little moro natural. As she is but in her toons there is a brilliant future for her, if she will pay due regard to these details, which are very essential. ]\vr numbers, "My Ain Folk," and "Down the Vale" were encored and

she responded with "Two Lyes of Grey" and "Invitation," the latter appearing to suit, her voice the best of all. The last, number of each part was a trio by Messrs Willis, Cameron and McLean, "Will Ye No Come Back Again" and '"Auld Lang Syne," both efforts being received by the audience with outbursts of applause and encores. The dancing; of Messrs Tarn Jaffray and Don McDonald met with liberai approbation, and on each occasion they had to respond to an undeniable encore. Their Irish Jig was simply irreproachable. The report would not be complete without, a word of congratulation on Mr Farquhar Finlayson's mastery of the bagpipes, which usually are not liked (except at a distance), but he captured the audi once at once, and as he reproduced lite weird shrieks of the pipes that have more than once calmed the "cusscdness" of the Scot, the audience listened with rapt attention. He hi reputed to be the champion piper of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The accompaniments wero played by Mr P. C. Hawkins, K.A.M., tcningto his manipulation of the pinao instead of the individual performer on the stage. A hearty welcome will await the Caledonians oi| their return to Te Kuiti in about six vWekia' time.