RADIO AND STAGE TALENT

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24676, 20 September 1945, Page 3

RADIO AND STAGE TALENT

——«— CHRISTCHURCH QUEST PROGRAMME AT CIVIC THEATRE A email boy in knee breeches and green stockings who sang that he was off to Tipperary in the morning, a youth who played boogie woogie music in the Fats Waller manner, and a returned soldier who imitated birds singing in the Vienna woods, were among the candidates lor the votes of the audience at the Civic Theatre last evening in the radio, and stage talent quest sponsored by the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association to assist its building campaign fund, The audience not only contributed to this fund by its attendance, but also was given the opportunity of deciding for itself who among the competitors really had talent , „ , ~ Voting papers were issued, and an the competitors were announced on«y by a number, although it was obvious that several had friends or supporters in the audience. Some were good, some were bad, and a few showed signs of nervousness, but whatever numbers the members of the audience mav have placed on their voting papers, they were quite impartial m their applause. ... . One competitor who seemed likely to receive many votes in both the open class and the class for those under 16 years of age, was a little girl in a pink frock who had to stand on a box to reach the microphone. Twice she made a confident entrance, and carefully recited stories of her broken toys and her doll which had the measles. In amusing contrast was a tall youth, wearing a black wig and a scanty costume, who sang of that weu known lady “Salome,” and twisted and turned in the approved manner The returned soldier mutated the song of the skylark and the cheerful notes of the thrush in the early morning, and one pianist gave a brilliant performance of George Gershwin s “Rhapsody in Blue.” There were singers who crooned their songs, one with a pseudo American accent, and a gin who tap danced brightly after singing that “her dreams were getting better all the time.” Guest artists on the programme were members of the Students ,9 rc^l r .~; Society under the baton of Mr Arthur Gordon, and pupils of Miss Bessie Macdonald’s School of Dancing, who presented two ballets. , The talent quest will be continued each Wednesday evening over a period of 12 weeks. Last evening members of the audience decided who should enter the semi-finals in the two classes.