ORIENTAL Song 'n' Dance

Radio Record, 5 June 1936, Page 8

ORIENTAL Song 'n' Dance

THE lure of the mystic and the illusionist: was clearly’ itlustrated by the packed hotSe:- which . greeted the. Chinese. showman, Long Tack Sam; when:he opened ; his Wellington. season at.’ the © Grand Opera House'on: Saturday. Sam has long ‘enjoyed 4 reputation for his* showmanship, and, although he takes ‘a smaller. part on his. own -hehalf than: lie dia on: the occasion of his ‘previous. ‘visit, his illusions nevertheless earry the polish of an artist. He is truly a spell- binder in the. fullest "sense "of that misused term, ahd on ‘Saturday night he left his audience. completely -mistified with that portion of the. programme which he contributed : himself. His..ironpe: of Chinese. acrobats, with Sam acting. as. master of" ceremonies, is an entertainment. in. itself. . Feats of hand balancing’ and physical strength appear to blow all the theories of. gravitation to the four winds; new turns performed with the greatest 0" ease are offered in liberal measure. These ‘clever Orientals perform the seemingly ithpossible, and their work is something. entirely new. Assisting them throughout is. Miss Nee Sa Long, Sam’s daughter, . ‘whose, . talents are given. full, Scope. in ‘dancing’ and sing: ing, while her: work. with violin while performing: amazing contortions of the . ‘body aréa- revelation. The first half of the programme is devoted to .a variety entertainment, the class. of which we:used to appreelate in the good old music-hall days. The feature of it is the skating of the Four La Salles, who.perform deathdefying- feats which would be diffieutt to accomplish without having to attend to balance on roller skates. The Long Tack’ Sam company will be appearing in Wellington throughout the week,