ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 6, 8 January 1916, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

WALTER SMITH. Walter Smith, known as the great Maori Genius, with his “Music Magic” shows, will appear the Town Hall, Saturday evening, January loth, 1916. Highly reputed by the American newspapers and with flowing and convincing press notices he comes to his native land after an absence of twenty years. Eight years of it be-

ing spent on the American stage. A s a mandolinist he is second to none anywhere. His playing on that little played instrument is 'a revelation to the musical world. He is assisted on the piano by A. R. Savage, late of the Williamson’s Grand Italian Opera Company ,of Melbourne. Ho is 'also a conjurer that is wonderfully mystifying, unlike the usual run of magicians, he keeps up a line of talk along with his migac wand that keeps the crowd in good humour all the time, made more so by the

touch of American twang in his speech. He will take dozens of eggs >:m an empty borrowed hat, catch, live pigeons from the air, and full grown fowls from eggs broken before your eyes. And when he takes a stage full of silk handkerchiefs and flags cf the Allies, a large silk union jack six feet long by four feet wide on £1 x foot pole, from a vase not much' bigger than a candle stick, the house : ” 1 v storms with applause.

The last part of the programme is mo doubt tho best, being full of bright, sparkling music. His “Smart Set Maori Entertainers” in songs and music is certainly gocd to listen to. Besides up/to-date- popular songs with characteristic interpretations in duo, trio, quartette style, they play mandolines and guitars, harmonising splendidly with the voices.