Rarotongan Entertainers
p. 48 · Read in the full issue
In Fiji
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Suva, Feb. 17.
A CONCERT party of Rarotongans ar rived in Fiji by the hurricane battered “Tiare Taporo” and have given very successful performances.
The 15 youngsters who are led by Mr.
Kaitara Pupuke, gave a three-night con cert season at the Suva Town Hall and, each member of the party being an ex pert, scored a thumping (and profitable) success by the simple process of keeping everything strictly Polynesian and avoid ing everything that was American pseudo- Hawaiian.
The audiences were composed almost entirely of Fijians, Polynesians and Euro peans, with Indians in an inconspicuous minority another curious angle of the unacknowledged but marked racial line up that has emerged in Fiji since the Second World War, and which the In dians themselves are doing their best ..to cultivate.
The Rarotongans arrived diffidently as pioneers and appear as much surprised as anyone at their success, which they thoroughly deserved.
Cleverly overcoming the stage limita tions of the Suva Parish Hall, the Fiji Arts Club on February 19. presented its first play A. A. Milne’s “To Have the Honour,” produced by Howard Hayden, who was also a member of the cast. The performance went down excellently with a large audience.