While touring groups from across New Zealand and from
overseas were regular features of life in Grahamstown in the 1890s, we also had
plenty of talented locals who were keen to set up travelling shows of their
own. Late in 1898, Miss Laura Power arranged a tour of the gold fields with her
newly-founded Concert and Burlesque Company. With stops in Waitekauri, Waihi,
Te Aroha and Karangahake further down the line, the tour opened in October to
an enthusiastic crowd at Thames’ Academy of Music.
With an assortment of supporting artists and an
ever-changing programme of music, dance and comedy, Miss Laura Power’s Concert
and Burlesque Company set out to take the gold fields by storm. Featured among
the eight acts to be showcased were Miss Bride Packer, the South Australian
Nightingale; Miss Ivy Akersten, the ‘Blindfold Pianiste;’ Loander, the
contortionist; and Mr Packer, the ‘lightning sketch artist’ who could produce
‘Vesuvius in eruption in four minutes.’ The Company aimed to present a
different show each night at prices ‘within reach of all’ – their advertisements
in the Ohinemuri Gazette set the ticket price for adults at one shilling.
The Company opened their season at the Academy to what
the Thames Star described as ‘a very fair audience.’ The show opened with a
song, followed by some sketch comedy from Miss Power and Miss Packer. The
lightning artist, Mr. G. B. Packer, ‘painted upside-down a clever picture of
the American Fleet at Key West, every colour being put in as the audience
watched.’ The contortionist pulled himself through hoops while balancing a
glass of water on his head.
While the Star’s reporter found the show very
enjoyable, it was noted that the ‘gods of the pit,’ or the other audience
members, were a constant source of interruptions who ‘militated against what
might otherwise have been a pleasant entertainment.’ This unenthusiastic
response did not put off Miss Laura Power, however. The Company continued with
its successful gold field tour, and by May 1899 had moved further afield to
perform in Mahurangi.
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