THE COMPETITIONS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17437, 24 April 1922, Page 5

THE COMPETITIONS.

OFFICIAL OPENING.

T"' MTI DAT.

The competitions, which started on Thursday, were officially opened on Saturday night. On the platform at the Theatre Royal, the leading officials of the Competitions Society were seated, also the. judges, likewise theJMayor. Dr. Thacker, M.P., in declaring the competitions open, said it only seemed like a stroke of the pen since the last competitions were held, and a great deal of water had gone under the bridge since then. The competitors did not seem to do as well outside as they should, for the reason that they seemed to be wondering whether the people

we're thinking they were singing or reciting right. Ihey were too selfconscious They seemed to sutler slightly from shell-shock, and did not seem to have what the Americans called "pep."- During the last tow days he had noticed live or six of last year's competitors, and he thought they should have been beJtter than what they were. He_did not know why that should be. He would suggest that the competitors should go in for a better way of living, should consume less confectionery, sugar and rubbishy food, and should adopt a more natural diet. That would check the prevalence of goitre among girls, and would enable all to become stronger and more brilliant artists. „ Mr B. C. Bishop, one of the founders, and the present patron of the Society, extended a welcome to t!ie judges, Mr Victor Galway of Dunedin (music), and Mr Claude Hall of Melbourne (elocution). Mr Galway resoonded at length. We congratulated the committee on the progress made and mentioned the fact that the entries this year were 200 in excess of the previous record. His remarks were interrupted by the failure of the light. "When illumination was restored he continued. He said he proposed to award marks to papists for memorising their pieces. When he judged two years ago he thought it was a great pity to see so many processions hie on to the stage, one to play and the other to turn over the leaves. People who played without the music always played better, and this year five points would be awarded for memory playing. Singers should pay great attention to phrasing, accentuation and enunciation were important, and intonation was essential. If two people were in any way equal the one with the better choice of song would inevitably win. He w:uild enter an emphatic protest against children singing songs associated" with the vaudeville stage. There was plenty of good music available, and the Competitions Society was not intended to be a nursery for the vaudeville stage. As far as action songs were concerned, a lot of children thought that costume was quite sufficient. Actions, suitable to the words, were, however, absolutely essential. He congratulated the committee on the strength of the concerted music in the programme—quartettes, trios, etc. ' Mr Claude Hall was brief. He said he would ask the competitors to take his criticisms kindly and to regard him not as an ogre, but as one who had come a long way to help them. The evening concert was then proceeded with. Results of Saturday's competitions are as follows:

PiATCO. DUET. Under ten. Own selection. Joan' Ciieack and Nancy Mackie, 81 points .. •• •• •• 1 Lorna De la Cour and Beryl Roberts, 75 ~ points. ... .. •• •• " Ellio . Holland and Archie McKay, 7 * •points ' .. •• . • • •• .Also competed—Freda Calvert and Ellen Best, jack Pohl and. Veronica Tulloch. RECITATION (girls under nine). "Daisy Dill.") Queenie McLean (Wellington), 81 points 1 Pnylliß' Round 80 poinis ..' 2 Kathleen Head (Woolston), 78 points .. 3. Also competed—Sadie Rc-ntoul, Una Cox, Betty Thom'son, Gladys Chappell, Molly \Vileon, Marjoiio Cooke, Betty Alexander, Jean Staunton, Freda Oudkins, By Ho Brown, Jean Lynch, Molly Leo, Naida McAnlay, .Sybil Hull, Patty Reeves, Joan Harper, Dori3 Hamer. SONG IN CHARACTER. Boy or girl, twelve and under sixteen. Myra Pollard (Sydenham), 117 points .. 1 Frank Foster (DUnedin), 116 points .. 2 Kathleen Philpott (Riccarton), 113 points 3 Highly comiuonded—Ellis Fraser and Pearl Also competed—Juanita Manhiro, Ruby Blythe, Dorothy Manhire, Mavis Ritchie, Claridge Bishop, Edna Loader, Olga King. RECITATION. Boys nine and under twelve. ("The Frosting Dish.") Frarik Otten (Christchuich), 80 points .. 1 Ruby Watts (Christchuich), 76 points .. 2 Lester Hey ward (Riccarton), 75 poiuts .. 3 Also competed—Ronald Foster, Wallio Moses, Jack Jackson, Jack Baker, Sefton, Daly, Etric Pesrce VIOLIN SOLO. Under 12. Own selection. Thelma Cusack (Christchuich), 81 points 1 John Partridge (Lyttelton), 74 points .. 2 Freda Mcir (Lyttelton), 70 points .. 3 RECITATION. Boy or ginl, nine and under twelve. In character. Stella Chapman (St. Albans), 81 points .. 1 Alice Chapman (Sydenham), 80 points .. 2 Ronald Foster (Wcolston), 79 roints .. 3 Also' competed—Jim Wicks, Ena' Malzard, Ethel Pilgrim, Hazel M-cCaughran, hathk'en Chappie, Nancy Lee, Winnie Pilgrim, Joyce Froward, Plicobo Hif.rt, Beryl Roberts, Veronica rir.jiie, llelva Cater, Eunice Whitdeld, Sefton Daly,' Kathleen Cullen.

CHILDREN'S DIALOGUE. Under sixteen. In costume. Stella and Alice Chapman, '"The Lost Partner,;' S2 points .. .-. . • 1 Enid English r.nd' Mavis Ritchie, "Guenivcre and the. Novice," 81 points 2 Josephine and Bert Goojland, "Queen Isabella and Prince. Edward," 80 points 3 Also competed—Joyce Staff and Kathleen Chanpell, Eria- Malzavd and Ronald Foster, Ethel and Winnie Pilgrim, Phillip Munn and Jim Wicks. BOYS' SONG. Under fourteen. Own selection. Recalls.

Norman West (Dunedin), "I Love the Moon." Howard Tapper (Christchuich), "Orpheus with hi 3 Lute." Jack Mcunsey (fiiccarton), "Orpheus with his —ute." Ki?hly commended—Coleridge Bishop and Frank Foster. Also compet-d—Boy Campbell, Jack Godmnn. Eric Pearce, Trevor Mathieson, Jim Wicks, and Lfo Gill. DUET IN CHARACTER. Under sixteen. Own teiection. Myra and Vera. Pollard, "0 No, John," 125 noinls .. .. ■• .. 1 Mavis Eitchip and Kathleen Philpott, ''No, Sir," 3C9 points .. . ■ Ellis Frasev and Jeyce Forward, "Little Baggv Breeches," 100 points ..3 Also conneted—Peggy Jensen and Coleridge Bishon, "Home .to Our Mountains; Josephina and B"rt Good'.and, "What are the Wild Waves Saying?"

TO-DAT'S PBOGBAMME.

To-day'B programme will be: Choral Hail— Morning: Recitation, ladies, "Marguerite"; recitation, gentlemen, "The Grate Fire." Afternoon: Recitation, girls, 9-12, "The Tempest." Theatre Royal—Morning: Piano solo, under 1(>, "Asphodel"; vocal solo, baritone or bas<= own selection. Afternoon: Vocal eolo, mezzo, own. selection; violin solo, 12-16, own selection. Eight finals will be decided at the evening concert, and the competitors m the open piano duet will be heard.