THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 114, 11 November 1919, Page 10

THE COMPETITIONS

YESTERDAY'S JUDGMENTS

LAST EVENING'S TRIALS

Several important classes—vocal, instrumental, and elocutionary—were judged at tho Town Hall yesterday afternoon after The Post went to press, and the evening's programme, from the point o£ view of the.very large audience, was bright and enjoyable. Additional results of the afternoon's competitions are :— English song (gentlemen), own selection.—Kecalls : Mr. W. Manning (Wellington) ,- Mr. Robert. F. Laffevty (Christ-church), Mr. Hairy Phipps (Wellington). Thirteen entries. Burns' song (ladies), own. selection.— Recalls :- Miss M. H. B. Jones (Wellington), Miss Mona Castle (Wellington), Mrs. R. J Wildish (Gisborne). Seventeen entries. Duet in character (boys and girls, under 16), own selection.—Recalls : Miss Fay Smyth (Kiibimie) and Miss Phyllis M'Millan (Wellington), Misses Dulcie and Kathleen Philpott (Christ-church), Misses Mavis King and Rona Bitossi (Wellington). Nine entries. Shakespearian recitation (ladies). "Portia and her Suitors."—Recalls : Miss Mabel Gallichan (Wellington), Miss Pauline Shotlander (Wellington), Miss Bessie Thomson (Dunedin). Twenty-one entries. .'■.-• Recitation (girls, 12 and under 16). "Life's Journey."—Finals : - Section A, Miss Mayis Ritchie (Christchurch), 76 points; Miss' Kathleen O'Brien (Newtown), 75 points; Miss Thelma Aitken and .Miss. Thelma Perkis (Wellington), each 73. points. Twenty entries. . . ■.;.-. Section B, Miss Winnie Beck (Dunedin), .77 points; Miss Aggie E. Atkins (Lower Hutt), 75 points; Miss JosieBailey (Wellington), and Miss Muriel Freeman, each 74 points. Twenty entries. ' ' '. ■ MORE FINALS. '"■ The evening's programme was opened by another of the series ;of children's plays, "Paddly Pools," in which, eleven small girls took part. ■ - A junior piano solo was finally contested by three little girls between the ages of 10 and 13 years, for the five boys who took part in the preliminary competitions were outclassed. The test piece was Jensen's "Elfin Dance," Op. 33, No: 5, requiring light and dainty'treatment in fairly quick tempo. Mr. Grogson awarded the first prize to little Miss Maisie Oakes, with .148 points, the second to Miss Edna Sneddon, with 144 points, and the third to Miss Margaret Matheson, also a Wellington girl, with 143 points.

Stevenson's poems for children are in the written word wonderfully ' dainty, but recited by children,'and recited well, they have an added charm. The three little girls, Miss Joyce Whitehead, Miss Gwendoline Dalton, and Miss Phyllis Martin, who recited "My Shadow," certainly provided one of the most enjoyable items of the evening. They were thoroughly in earnest, thoroughly well coached, and thoroughly pleasing in their work. Miss Dalton was placed first with 75 points, and the other two little girls second (equal) with 74 points, Four other competitors—Misses Betty Hoare, llona Day, Marguerite Thompson, and Thelma Adams—were bracketed third (equal) with 73 points. > ' : The three small boys, between the ages of nine and twelve, who next appeared in the final of the recitation of "Be Thorough"—Masters '/Nelson Turner (Christehurch), Harold Crawford (Wellington), and John Moore (Thorhdon) — also did very good work. The awards niado were : : —Harold Crawford, 75 points; John Moore, 74 points; Nelson Turner, 73 points.

A duet in character for children under the age of sixteen introduced some very pleasing work, ■ each duet being quite different in style from the others. Miss Fay Smyth and Miss Phyllis M'Millan, both Wellington children, appeared in powder, patches, the ruffles and the brocaded dresses of the age of minuets, and sang the well-known 'Keys of Heaven." A simpler costuming was adopted by Misses Dulcie and Kathleen Philpott, visitors from Christchurch, who appeared as a young man and maid to sing "Come Underneath My Big Umbrella." Two other Wellington children—Misses Roma Bitossi and Mavis King—chose a very often performed duet, "No, Sir," not quite so interesting a number as might well be wished, though it has a certain popularity as a stock dliet.

Mr. Gregson said that the class as a whole had not been a very strong one, and uttered a' warning to teachers and others that singing was after all of more importance than dialogue and dancing in a vocal duet, even in character. In some of the afternoon's work he had had to wait for snatches of song .between periods of dancing. Misc Fay Smyth and Miss Phyllis M'Millan were placed first with 173 points (43 for costume), the- Misses Philpott second with 166 points (38), and Mis? Mayis King and Miss Roma Bitossi third with 156 points (37).

Really excellent work was done in the character and recitation open to boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 16, and the judge, Mr. John H. Hopkins, complimented the winner, Miss Winnie Beck (Dnnedin) upon her charming interpretation of the balcony scene from "Romeo and Juliet." She was awarded 83 points. Miss Josie Bailey, a. Wellington girl, gained 78 points for her characterisation ,of "Joey," and her interpretation of a tragedy in the life of a London slum waif. Master LeillrA. Riddell, who did great work in Dickens's "Sergeant Buziuz," gained 76 points. The final of the Burns song lay between Miss M. H. B. Jones ("Robin Adair"). Mrs. R. J. Wildish (''Ye Banks and Braes"), and MiES Mona Castle ("Ye Banks and Braes'), the final award being Mrs. Wildish, 140 points; Miss Jones, 138 points; and Miss Castle, 128 points. "There is no doubt," said Mr. Greg6on, "that the folk song 6of Scotland and Ireland are 'among the most difficult of all songs' to sing, for too many liberties must not be taken with them.. It is quite allowable in modern songs to take breath in the middle of a sentence, but it is very harmful to do so in singing these old folk songs; therefore, long breathing must be practised."

Generally speaking, the work in the men's sections, both in vocal and elocutionary classes, is not up to that of the ladies, which is of very high standard indeed. This comment doee: not apply to the singing of Mr. R. H Laft'erty (Christchurch), who gained first place in the English song, with 137 points, for his fine rendering of "Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind." Mr. W. Manning gained second place with 128 points for his singing of "Sands of the Desert," and Mr. Harry Philips' third place for his rendering, adjudged to be rather dull, of "Pilgrim of Love." His articulation was nol good and his grace notes incorrectly used. A Kipling recitation, "The Ballad of the Clampherdown," was a disappointment to the judge. ■ "I cannot compliment any of these gentlemen," said Mr. Hopkins, "they have shown rather a lack of'vigour, spirit, and enthusiasm in their treatment of the poem, and generally appeared to miss the point in the opening subtle and satirical description uf the. oLwotple nlfl wnr-boiil, "■

The. ftwai-iis made .were..:. JJ.''. Lionel

Inch 1, Mr. L. H. Power 2, Mr. L. Griffiths 3.

In giving his decision regarding the ladies' Shakespearian recitation, "Portia mid Her Suitors" (from "The Merchant of Venice"), the judge remarked that the winner, Miss Pauline Shotlander, had given a, very intelligent rendering, with good facial expression, and an easy and graceful manner. Her points aggregated 81. Miss Bessie Thomson had shown a tendency towards monotony in her tone, and therefore lost points, her total being 77. Miss Mabel Gallichan was placed third with 77 points. Misses Ellen Millar, Maisie Bnrt, and Evelyn R. Aitchesou were each awarded' 74 points, and highly complimented on their work.

The story without words, "Courting," essayed by Miss Doris Hulme and Miss Pauline Shotlander, certainly explained itself.

A comedietta, "Loves Troubles," was played by Miss Joie Shearer and party at the conclusion of the vocal and elocutionary items.

To-day's results wil' be found in another column.