TOKA TOKA.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 157, 5 August 1892, Page 5

TOKA TOKA.

Last Monday night the inhabitants of this township were treated to a select classical entertainment by “ Rooney’s Blue Chicken Opera Company.” Owing to a slight mistake on the part of che management, tire Ilall was not engaged for the occasion and the proceedings partook somewhat of the nature of an open air performance in the Public Square fronting the Hotel, much, be it said, to the inconvenience of the landlord, who is not an admirer of grand opera as rendered by this talented troupe. The first item on the programme was a series of interesting experiments in the comminution of crystals, by Professor Von Tomaso Mechano who also demonstrated the law of force as applied to pro j ectiles. The next was a choice Operatta (by Sullivan) entitled “ Jo(e)nah and the Whale,” in which, of course, the Whale took the most prominent part, in fact Jo(e)nah had such an insignificant part that from the very first he took a back seat and was heard no more that evening, The Whale, on whom the whole responsibility now rested, fully sustained his reputation, as a‘ ‘spouter” and for blow and blubber would be hard to beat. Some popular old songs were introduced in the second part with considerable effect, the best perhaps was that old favourite “ Maxwetttons Braes are Bonnie,” so were his brickbats and broken bottles. During the intermissions the whole company adjourned tc refresh themselves with whiskey, which they did’nt get. The principal instrument in the Orchestra was a curious whistle, contrived out of some portion of the anatomy of a chicken and which was beautifully played by Monsieur Rooney who seems to he a complete master of the instrument. The entertainment was prolonged far into the night and the Hotel and Boarding House being closed at a somewhat earlier hour than usual, (probably as a mark of courtesy) the company amused themselves by studying astronomy till daylight when they dispersed.