THE TE KOA

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 154, 16 October 1919, Page 3

THE TE KOA

Entertainers

After a phenomenally successful season in Auckland the i’e Koa Soldier Entertainers, constituted by -returned soldiers will play at the Public Hall, Matamata on Monday, October 27th. The party is composed of vocalists and elocutionists, together with light comedians, claiming a standard equal, if not above, that of anyone concert party that has yet played in the Dominion. The. company’s season in Auckland was marked with intense enthusiasm, the audience from night to night clamouring for return numbers. Mr Owen Pritchard, the comedian of the party, is, according to Auckland critics, in his class of work unapproachable as regards humour, while at the same time be is said to possess the happy faculty of keeping his audience in smiles from the moment the curtain is drawn to its ringing down.

A tenor of note, and one enjoying all round popularity, is Mr Victor Elliott, whose tenor voice is excellently suited to his choice of items. Mi - Elliott is wellknown throughout Australia on the concert platform, and has evidently lo,t little of his vocalism, despite strenuous years of active service.

The only lady in the company is Miss Winifred Birch, a comedienne, whose rare fund of humour, confbined with daintiness and a sweet voice, have made her a favourite everywhere. Also in the Te Koas are Mr Wally Edwards. who -plays the part of a soubretto with surprising finish and colour; Mr Los Walton, whose work is mainly confined to recitative matter, and who is esteemed in his class as a front rank artist; and Mr Billy Mardle, whoso efforts as accompanist is stated to be equal to that of any concert pianist who has yet visited the Dominion. The box plan is at Smaile’s.