THE COMPETITIONS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15237, 26 March 1915, Page 9

THE COMPETITIONS.

CLOSING SCENES.

Ycste.-ciav Mr Harold GregBon and Mr J. H. Hopkins, the two ; adjudicators at tho Competitions, now i in their \ final stage, attended at tho Theatre Royal to meet competitors and discuss their performances with them. ' A largo number wero present, and they all receive i much, helpful advice from boih. adjudicators. ELOCUTIONARY WORK IMPROVED. Spciking to a. "Press" representative* yesterday, .Mr J. H. Hopkins,'adjudicator in tho Elocution classes, said that tho standard ot work this year was, on thd whole, slightly better than that of last year. Tho competitors were a fairly oven 10. and each, class was fought out on its merits. The Shake- ' sneqreau • and oratorical work had jeached a higher level than that of ■ last year, but in tho former it was evident in some cases that the competiJtors had neglected to study tho play .'/and tho atmosphere from which the ex,eerpt was taken. The dramatic work * ? »s not particularly strong, tho prin--1 ripai weakness being lackjof stage techuiquo and a deficiency in "business" * and by-jjjny. Hβ would strqngly recom-!-'niond 'competitors'''to* endeavour 'to-get .'•' away from so much of the low comedy. \ element, and etage niece* of, higher. * literary valuo. ■• In many caseg it was ' ?> very obvious that tho performers had not mastered the elementary rules of " < the art tbey essayed to interpret, and ." thav could not reasonably expect to be - before they bad mastered the ■ rwdimflnte- of tbe work, wbfltever tbo subject was. Tbo children's, classes .' were most enjoyable, and there was Vorae very promising material antrum ■the comri'atitors. It was an admirnb'e c irlca to demote'•jspeeial Hf>ys to the ebil-i rlren's work: it Krave t>em a rp»l live interest in., Hβ was ■ rather surprised at tho nancity of entries in clashes, for in a rjtv Wβ Cbrist< , J»un»h tb«ro should ]b«r»» been a mucb better entry," as eloruiioTi wns surh an important part of ' a boy's irnming. DEMONSTRATION CONCERT. - Tho first of the demonstration concerts in connexion ' with tho annual Competitions of the Christchurch' Liter- -• sry and .Musical' Society was held in ' the- Theatre Roy a Wast night, and tho quality of the programmo submitted . merited ft far larger audience than that -which gathered. The star item was a splendid recital, "Ursus and tho Bull,'. ■> Km ,! Quo Vadis," by the elocution =, c . judge. Mr John H. Hopkins. Mr Horn • kins held his hearers in a spell until : - the- delivery of tho final word, when ;*v aapturous applause burst forth, and ho ~was prevailed VP°" *° respond to the ■Insistent encore, giving a short seno- .' tumorous Australian character, sketch, entitled "Dunno." His work was a re- : '" velation to all. Tho other -items • on the programme wero:--Cnil<iren s chorus, "Comrndes , Song of Hope, by " pupils of tho Girls' Collegiate School; .■vptono solo "The Mill on tho Brook, by- Miss Ratio Cassidy; recitation, "'Tbe Ihicklings," by Master Kric ' ' "girl's song, "T>awn of Love,- .. -by Miss Cicely Audibert; violm solo, "Liebersfreud," by Miss Gladys Via--cent; recitation, "Betty Smiths AdTentures, :, by Master E. D. Farrant; •character song. "'Tho Mayor of Muckendyke," by Master Douglas Martin ; recitation, * "The Hero of the Com.

munc," by Miss May Brown; pianoforte duet, "Russia," Misses -- Norma Middleton and Moya , McManawav; solo, "Take a Pair of v Sparkling Eyes," Mr A. S. Mitchell; recitation, "Sandalphon," Miss Pauline . Brown; soprano solo. 'The Lord ia My Light." by Miss E. it'chards: .recitation,. "The Eve of Waterloo," by Mr , Byron Brown; vocal solo and acconi- ■- paaimeut. "Mv Heart is Weary," by - „Mrs Cot her and Mrs Beck; Dickens "■' sketch, by Mr F. J. McDonald; boy's ' wng, "May Morning." by Master. S. ".-Brown; piano solo, ''Cracavionne Fan- • by 3 f iss *R.. North j recita- ""' t*«m. "Baldy's Proix>sal," hy Mrs T. ' baritone solo. "Paean," by Mr F. "J. Hanna: contralto solo, '"Hoire." by Miss Le'Fevre: inFtnimental trio, h*c M"' L". Swan, Mrs D»i<Twall. an( j Wi'son: Fne'ish bilM. -"n. e Arrow and the So"<r." br Mr .T. H Ock*: vocal «*uet, "Tho f}»v if. Tie'-ei' by Mis* 0. Thorpe and MrF .1 Hnnna -7«"d "Kitf •"■-en On-k." by M ; «"* F*>i'l *R*'M*ff,. Olh-ft and n Hi»""n Williams. SECOND CONCERT TO-NIGHT. Tho second demonstration concert •ill be given in the Theatre Royal to*i**.bt;. tt The programme consist of "«■' entirely new set' of items, the *-""4afth of material available being euch that several first-class entertainments <*» be provided without the necessity w any repetition. RECITAL BY MR HOPKINS. In response to numerous requests, •»r J. H. Hopkins will give a recital . • mthe King's Theatre on Monday night ' under the auspices of tho Competitions .Society. Mr Hopkins.is one of the foro- ■ "Wtet exponents of the elocutionary art L

in Australia, aud the opportunity afforded of hearing him in the leading branches of the work should bo taken full advantage of. The programmo ho wijj present will consist of excerpts from Shakespeare, dramatic recitals, humorous recitals, and monologues and character sketches. Leading vocalists of the city will also contribute items-.