COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14956, 1 May 1914, Page 8

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

FIFTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL

AN AUSPICIOUS OPENING

Tho fifth annual festival of the Christchurch Compoti£c»; Society was opened in the King's Vaeatre yesterday, under auspicious circumstances. The entries this year constitute a new reco.'d, and the finality of tho competitors is as high as ever. Tho judges this year are Messrs J. H. Hopkins (elocution) and James Ure (vocal and instrumental music),' both of Melbourne. Both are men of sound reputation, and should give all-round satisfaction. Great care has been taken by tho committee to improve the internal arrangements of tho theatre with palms, pot-plants, and pictures, the stage has been made to look most cheerful, while, best of all, a ceiling has been adopted which greatly improves the acoustics of the building. Tho walls havo been distempered, and so brighten up the whole place. These improvements reflect credit upon the management and the committee The officials havo remained unchanged since the start of tho Society, and this continuous control has resulted in decided improvements being mado each year, until now tho arrangements are practically perfect. Happy mention of this fact was made by Mr Hercus, the president, in his speech last evening, when he described Air G. W. Jenner ("the secretary) as "indefatigable," Air T. F. Hall (the treasurer) as "indomitable," and Air H. Sweney (the stage manager) as "inimitable." A short opening ceremony was carried but last evening, although the sessions opened in the morning. The attendance, both in the day and evening, was remarkably good, and augurs happily for the success of the 1914 festival. Afr P. Hercus, president of tho Society, welcomed the public to the fifth festival. Each year since the inception, he said, the popularity of tho Society's work had ineroftsed. Tho prorrramme for thiff festival was the lrtrrre=t and most <v>mprehensivo ever submitted to the public, and would, he was sure, be .•»<? popular as thrrse in the past. AJr Hercnn introduced tho judges +o the nueb'enm. Air H. Holland. Afayor o* the city, expressed his at hoinrr present, and consr-ntiilated tho Soc'ety on it* Tte-tv record in entries, and t'Wn "-plenrlid presneet* fnr Rncee.<:s wbir-n f "ced +.bis festival. He wns rrlad t-W, +ho SocieK- -Tns v , avr firmly cstnbiisVd. and nbie to pass o-i its way w'"r,ho»+, nssistin/v. frnrn f-he Ci+v Coun"H Fe was deT : «h<•✓>;» to d<~lare tho fWimT onon, and wish it all success". Tfc/vanl'.a, n-w : PIANO SOLO (16 and under 21). "Witches Dance." m Seven performers of good quality appeared m this section. Miss Jean Burrows. Mr H W. Braithtnute. and Miss Isabel Gibb were recalled. Other competitors were Miss Ruby S. North (Omibi), Miss Leila Denby (tticcarton), Mr Basil Kin-ran (Christchurch) and Miss Kathleen O'Brien (Christchurch). Mr H. W. Brailhwaite (Dunedin), 80 points .. .. i Miss Jean Burrows (Cbristcburcli), 78 points .. ... .. o Miss Isabel Gibb (Christchurch;,'74 points 3 MUSICAL MONOLOGUE, humorous, own be lection. Miss Ivy Mazen-rarb (Dunedin) was pleasing and correct in ber har.Jly rendered selection of "Janie." Miss Carey Wallaces (Wellington) stood out at once for an original, striking, and very cleverly composed and performed "Burlesque of a Melodrama." A pleasing- freshness and vivacity characterised her performance. Mr Brett was very pleasing in a light number, comprising a skit on popular songs. These three were recalled for the evening. Five, others competed. Miss Carey Wallace (Wellington), 101 points 1 Mr Sydney Brett (Christchurch), 96 points 2 Miss Ivy Mazengarb (Dunedin), 94 pointe 3 RECITATION, own selection; ladies residing for past six months in Canterbury. This section was disappointing. Practically only thoso recalled achieved any merit and even -one of these .might have been dropped. The recalls were:—Miss Deverenx, Miss Madge Higgins, and Miss Saunders. Miss Eileen Ferguson (Sumner) wonld have been recalled probably had sho not chosen a piece beyond her powers. So .-en others competed. Miss -Esther Dcvereux (Christchurch), 74 points ... .. ..1 Miss Alice Saunders -(Chi-Mtchurch), 73 points ' .. - .. .. .. o Miss Madge Higgine fLin*rood), 69 points 3 DICKENS CHARACTER SKETCH, lady or gentleman-; own selection. This was a very interesting section, with three or four. competitors of very equal eiuality. Those recalled by the judge were: —Miss Esther Deverenx (Christchurch), for "Jo"; Mr Frank McDonald (Christchurch), for "Fagin's Last Night Alive"; and Mr P. A. Dale (Wellington), for "Uriah Hecp," but several others were close to them. Mr C. J. Smith (St. Albans), Mrs H. E. Duff (Christchurch), and Miss Alice Saunders (Christchurch) did well, and even the others—Mr Norman Aitken (Wellington), Mr A. B. Gladding (Auckland), and Mr K. Vincent (Chrißtchur?fc'—were far from negligible. A hard eectich to judge. Mr Frank McDonald (Christchurch), 74 points .. .. .. .. 1 Mr P. A. Dale (Wellington), 73 points .. 2 Miss E. Devereux (Christchurch), 72 points 3 CONTRALTO SOLO, own selection. - Mrs Evaline Sharp "A Summer Night," 79 points .. .. 1 Miss Agnes Macdonnld (Christchurch), "Still as the Night." 77 points .. 2 Mr Ure said competitors should study the subject. Miss Macdonnld song pleaein-jly, but she pronounced "love" badly. Mrs Sharp had a fine strong voice, which shs used felicitously. STORY WITHOUT WORDS, ladies or gentlemen. Three performers appeared last evening in this section, which will bo continued throughout the festival. Mr Vincent G. Carter was very good indeed in his representation of "A Lady's Visit to the Dentist," and Mies Alice Biowning and Mr Will Lyon wore also very amusing. COMEDIETTA, up to fivo characters (open). Miss and Mr Vincent gave " After the Dance"' with some effect. The competitions will be continued to-day in bo*-i tho Alexandra Hal! and the King's Theatre, starting at 10 a.m.