AMUSEMENTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 270, 16 August 1915, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

THE MAORI OPERA. A PLEASING PERFORMANCE. A very good house greeted the Maori Opera Company, in the Town Halt, on Saturday night. The staging of a Maori opera is so different to anything the world lias been accustomed to that it is difficult to draw com-

parisons. The stag surroundings wore certainly characteristic of Maori life and scenery, and the Maoris bore them-

selves like Maoris —it cannot be said that an English actor in an'English play always bears himself like an Englishman.. It was unfortunate that some of the principal vocalists were laid up with severe colds; nevertheless.

an excellent entertainment was given

The two principal indy characters were taken by more children. ITinemoa was splendidly taken Miss Tirita Butt, who is still under Iff years of age. and

T'upa, who made herself a favourite from the outset, has only recently left school 1 . Miss Mere Amohau certainly has a fine voice' and a rather captivating- manner. Toby Mahima, as Tiki, sang and acted his part well up to expectations; in fact, all performed am' sang well: Miss Morunga Butt as Hinemaru looked lovely in her part and did I exceedingly well throughout. The music of the opera is tuneful, but it lacks the harmonics that the Maori voice revels ■ in ;■ a few well-set harmonic choruses With such- voices as those of Rotohiko, Toby Mahima, Miro Amohau, Hape Hakaraia Tiawhi Rogers, and some others, a male quartet could be got that could scarcely be equalled in the Dominion. Almost throughout the opera the piano was too prominent; at times tire voices could scarcely be heard.

VTaken altogether, it was a surprisingly .excellent performance, and the fre- ; quent applause given was ample evidence of the extreme pleasure it g:n e. KING’S THEATRE. Tile third of those very popular series, “Adventures of Kathlyn,” will be : shown tc-night. The title is “Th e Temple of the Lion.” It is ihardly worth while describing this picture, as the two that liav e already been shown, have proved their worth. Another fine picture is “Helen’s Sacrifice.” She is a night operator at a railway station, and the picture shows ihow she sacrificed her position to save the baby of her friend. “A Believer in Dreams” is a drama well worth seeing. Keystone Comedy, “Hew Heroes are Made,” will furnish the laughing part of the programme. There is also a War Budget. i i THREE STARS THEATRE. To-night thg change features a glrealt TJejiJraiiice Melodrama}, entitled “Th e Wireless Voice.” This drama is full of the thrill of perilous adventure, of heartless conspiracy, and of hazardous attempts to ferrit out a wonderful scientific inveutiorj, and carries with it a heart-stirring romance. “British India,” a charming Path e scenic. This programme will contain the last of “Dolly of the Dailies.” The latest European Gazette, also comedies and comics. ;