ALEXANDER WATSON.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19852, 13 February 1930, Page 8

ALEXANDER WATSON.

FAMOUS ENTERTAINER'S VISIT. % That master of elocutionary art, Mr Alexander Watson, Anil commence a season of recitals of the works of poets, dramatists, novelists, and humourists, under the direction of E. J. Gravestock, Ltd., at the Kadiant Hall on Saturday, February 22nd. Tn the span of twenty or more years of world touring, Mr Watson has made for himself a unique place in dramatic and elocutionary art, and his name is now almost a household word; indeed, he has b'ecome a British institution. The fact that one man can hold the attention and rapt interest of a large audience for more than two hours with excerpts from various writers is surely a great testimony to the resources of his art. Mr Watson is a company in himself; his characterisations are vivid, and his dignified, graceful, untheatrical style is surprisingly adaptable to ' the portrayal of all sorts of human types. Not the least factor contributing, to his success es an unacting and uncostumed raconteur is his mastery of dialect. The unaffected culture of his diction is an essential part of his art, but above that there is in his. interpretations emotional power, fervour, earnestness, and dramatic force which could not but cast a spell over his audiences. Mr Watson's repertoire is a wide one. and he has not to add to it. His first recital on Saturday,. February 22nd, will include selections'from Sir J. M. Barrie's famous story, "The-Little Minister," a work "which was highly popular on Mr Watson's last tour, with a group of selections in the second part' new to his" Christchurch audiences, including Walter de la Mare's "The Listeners"; two Uems from Harry Graham's "The World's Workers" ("The Millionaire" and "The Actor"); "Laughing Ann" (A. P. Herbert), and extracts from A. A. Milne's works, "When We Were Very Young," and "Now We Are Six." A feature of the second recital on Monday, •'February 24th, will be the performance of John Masefteld's thrilling narrative poem, "The Everlasting Mercy." A special matinee will be given on Wednesday, February 26th. There will be no evening performance on that date. The programme for the first four recitals may be obtained at The'* Bristol. Box plans open at The Bristol on Wednesday next.