From the moment that the group ripped itself from a bag and was strobed so dramatically on stage, the heart and imagination of a packed Town Hall was captured and enveloped for 90 minutes. It was the totality of an act which could only be Split Enz.

Tim Finn cramped his way around the stage like a jazzed up version of Wilfred Bramble (of Steptoe & Son fame with his fellow jesters in support. It was hard not to believe you were at the Enz of the Earth. This pot-pourri of Harlequin-type characters controlled the mood. The music, the visual effects created a sensual experience which would have done justice to Ken Russell.

The audience never wanted to recover from this traumatic (pleasantly so) experience as colours from the groups costumes were tossed about by the flashing lighting - splayed and flashing in reckless motion.

Paint your face as a mask and wear it until it breathes and lives...... Tin Finn fired so many arrows into the target (the audience) - in the form of facial contortions, extraordinary vocal expression and prowling, prancing, creeping across the stage - that the audience was overwhelmed with the splendour of its execution. The feeling was warm toast spread with marmalade.

The rare sight of a superb New Zealand rock group was drunk greedily by the appreciative audience. Split Enz - a light at the end of a dark monotonous passage.

The line-up of personnel in the group has changed slightly since their last tour. Guitarist Wally Wilkinson (who also appeared on the Mental Notes L.P.) stayed in Australia and Robert Fillies (who was with the group about two years ago) comes in to add trumpet and saxophone to an already impressive instrument range. The visual theatrics are also now indicating a willingness on the part of the group to experiment and at the same time demonstrating an enthusiasm for their work.

The stage act was inventive and at times unpredictable. For example during one particular number the percussionist suddenly picked up an electric guitar which up to that moment had lain hidden. He began to play - tortuosly and agonisingly. The rest of the group all look at him. Finn calls him 'stupid!' Percussionist looks sad, wistfully so, and slowly put the guitar down. As if in a hurry to forget the 'incident', Finn tells the drummer to 'take it from the top', and once more sound poured forth.