The Starlights Scintillate

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 604, 7 May 1891, Page 3

The Starlights Scintillate

THE GASLIGHT EXTINGUISHED. Although the performance of the Starlight Maori troups on Tuesday bad its drawbacks from an artistic point of view, yet it must have been conceded by every person present that it was a remarkable performance in many ways. Higher class entertainments there certainly have been in Gisborne, but seldom has there been one in which the efforts of the performers to please the audience were taken in stich good humor on the part of the latter, From the beginning to the very sudden conclusion this good humor was so much in evidence that it was at times difficult to tell whether, the performers were trying to amuse the audience, or the audience to amuse the performers. Hilarity reigned supreme during the evening. It is no exaggeration to say there was a crowd at the doors before they ope; ed, The audieoce began to assemble before seven : the doors did not open till nearly eight. When the doors did open the audience evinced considerable bashfulness, and it was noticed that they nearly all took up their positions in the one shilling seats. One of the management then came forward and -i .formed the shillingere that they could take f‘ sheets ” in the two shilling place. The announo. ment was received with applause, and the audience were so overcome by the suddenness and liberality of the offer that they rushed pellmell across ihe seats, and in spite of the frantic efforts of the ticket takers to stem tbe tide enseonsed themselves in the front row of chairs. Then the representative of |he management came forth and informed the occupants that the 1 shares ’ were reserved for the three shilling tickets, and added by way of gentle hint that as soon as the monopolists had taken their proper seats the performance would commence. This had the effect of shifting the audience back. Then they waited for the promised performance, and meanwhile amused themselves with stamping, catcalls, and whistling, varied now and again with a concerted piece performed with the feet. Suddenly the noise of a cornet was beard, and in marched Mr Takena Tarena (Auglice, Duncan and Darling, perhaps), at the head of a troup of Maoris. When the fourth man had advanced it was found the whole troop was present. They appeared without their coats, one being distinguished by the football guernsey be wore. The four went through a gigantic war dance to the hornpipe time, and retired amid vociferous applause. The next item was a piece called “ grass seeding,” in which the four imitated the various phases of the

reaping and threshing of grass, to the accompaniment of the piano, and keeping time with their boots. This piece was repeated without wasting the time necessary for the audience to demand an eneqie. There were np programmes, the various items being announced by Mr Takana, who intimated that the next on the programme was “ Myself on the violin.” Takena has a good idea of musical instruments—and in fact he is the shining star of the troupe,, and he showed considerable ability in play; ing the cornet, piano, and aecordian. A piece in which the Maoris exhibited considerableskillwaßinthe “Mulligan Guards,” The Maoris dressed the characters very well, and acted up tq their parts. The only drawback was that the singing could not be heard, but the audience did their best to remedy this by rising to the occasion in the higher notes. Two character sketches followed, and the feelings of the audience with regard to them was expressed by a small hoy, who, when one of the performers expressed tbe conviction that he would be hung, interjected the remark, “ And a jolly good job, too I” The management now announced an interval of five minutes. The waits between each item bad unfortunately exceeded that period, so that the audience received the announcement with derision, and suggested half an hour, Tfia management mentally accepted the offer, and meanwhile the audience prepared to enjoy themselves, and some one struck up “ Glory Hallelujah.” The fun, which was waxing fast and furious, was suddenly terminated by tbe uprising of the curtain upon the farce “ De bail’s agwine to begin.” various performers entered into their parts with becoming seriousness, and the farce had almost developed into a serio-comic tragedy when some mischievous urchin turned out the gas and the hall was in darkness. Of course the performance etopped, and the matches which were lit throughout tbe hall gave it the appearance of a real “starlight” affair. The audience, prel pared for everything extraordinary in the . entertainment, at first thought this effect was on the programme, but discovering the J true state of affairs rushed for the stage ‘ The audience was, however, good tempered and beyond taking possession of the stage e and the piano, nothing further happened o No one was more sorry for the mishap that r the members of the troop, one of whon s expressed himself quite pathetically on thi t fact that a few minfites more and the pera formance would have concluded, Thi y audieoce, it may be mentioned, did not asl i. them to resume. The audience didn’t seen y inclined to leave, however, and it was no e until the gas had been turned down againg thia time under managerial directions—tha d the hall was cleared. When the gas wa i, first turned off the treasurer fled from th le table on which a lot of money was lying, an r- , did not return for seme time, but no raid ha y been made. One Manti lassie fell, and in th le dark several others tripped over hsi vigorously blessing tbe unknown obstacle, I