THE KIWIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1918, Page 5

THE KIWIS .

INVASION OF PARIS.'

(From Malcolm Ross)'. . Recently to Paris came an invasipa of Kiwis. They arrived in the guise of eoldier players, partly for a well-earned holiday, but also to raise funds fqr "A Corner of Blighty." They hired a small theatre in the Rue de Rocher, secured the distinguished patronage of the British Ambassador, Lord Bertie of Thame and the Lady Bertie of Thame, got handsome notices in the Continental Daily Mail, the New York Herald, and some of the French newspapers, and then set about the sale of tickets The curiosity of, the British and Americana in (Paris and a few of the French was aroused, so that boxes were easifr saleable at 100 francs, and the ordinary seats at 12 francs each!. Two afternoon performances were given, the theatre was packed, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. Some of the prettiest gifts in Uns ushered the audienoe to their seats, and sold programmes printed by a divisional press at the front, and at prices that, even in these days of paper shortage, must have left a very handsome profit. '

The performance wa» the Pantomime of Achi Baba and the Forty Thieves, but was ideality more in the nature of a, revue tIJSn a pantomime. From gtart to finish the play went with a great swing, the orchestra, too, eiceljing itself. T!,e audience wa? a fashionable one consisting largely of women of the British colony in Paris, nearly all of them war workers. There was/however, also a fair sprinkling of French and Americans. Before the curtaw'W the tail sergeant scenic artist, who is a master in a Dunedin technical college, appeared in front and apologised for the scenery of the play, for a French village had to do duty for the domes and minarets of Bagdad; but, as he put it, It was impossible for the New Zealanders to take their scenery all the way from \pres or thereabouts, because, after all, there was a war on! The astonishment of the audience, especially the fairer part of it, was evi, dent when the handsome Morgbwa, robed in the draperies of the Far East came on disclosing graceful bare arms and a beautiful face crowned with 'a mass 0 f dark tresses . „ o]li th hßve Sot one girl,-* said a lady in the audience. So perfect was the illusion that tor a time no one suspected that S'ana was really a gu„ ner f rom e New Zea and front. She looked as if ito might really have stepped out of? an Eastern harem It was not till she enEn- a Ct W ' Ul tte youthful "Let the great big world keep turning Now I've fo Und aomeone , ike For I only know that I love you so And there's no one else >,,n do,"

that it dawned on them that Morgiana was really a mere man from the front line. J. he song was received with rapturous applause, and from that moment success was assured. Tho songs and choruses and dances were cheered to the echo, 'bouquets were handed up to the' lady performers, and during the final dance and'chorus the stage was strewn with flowers thrown from the balcony. Altogether it was a remarkable perfor iwnce, I believe, the first of its kind given in Paris, and if the war goes on long enough, and the Kiwis return tc Wi " t0 tak6 a ."«*