THE COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1282, 10 November 1911, Page 9

THE COMPETITIONS.

<> CAPITAL CONCERT. GRAND DEMONSTRATION NIGHT. Thero must have been about 3000 people present nt the Town Hall last evening on the occasion of the first demonstration night in connection with tho New Zealand Competitions Society's first annual carnival. As a "house," it. was a spectacle, and proved to a point, tho hold which tho competition idea has taken on the Wellington public. Not only was the main body of tho hall crowded, but many had to be allowed io pass over the stage to tho choir seats, and thereafter to be content with a full view of the backs of tho performers. The programme consisted of nineteen items, sixteen of which were provided by winners of die competitions held during the past fortnight. The other items 0011S 11 'i'! m ?rons American monologue entitled "A Trip into tho Countrv," recited with point, but with little character, by Mr. C. N. Baeyertz, au organ solo Lemmen's "Storm Fantasia," by Mr. Harold Gregson, of Auckland (judge of tho instrumental sections), and an American dialect yarn, "Uncle Joh's Chinese Laundry," told with raro humour and character by Mr. Alan M'Elwain, the society's gifted stage manager. Ihe or;pm^solo, jilayed in a "dim religious light, was impressive up to a point, but owing, apparently, to Mr. Gregson's linfnmiliarity with Wellington's big instrument, the pauses which he made in the setting of new combinations were unduly long. The storm effects . were nighty realistic, conveying a perfect picture of the approach, the climax, and the muttering farewell of a thunderstorm and in fano contrast, tho hymn-like cadence which follows provides tho silver-lining to the receding storm clouds. Miss Rita ,u-, ons ,„ snn S "The Jewel Song" from lanst very brightly, and Miss Madeline ivmght contributed Tschaikowsky's song —an artistic rendering of an artistic number.

The brightest gems in the long". progiamine were the two items supplied by Miss Lilian Pricliard—tho brilliant' Melbourne elocutionist, and one must add. actress. ihss Pricliard gave a vivid example of her pronounced versatility bv mSf'te h STi rs .? f ." A Bri(le ' s Visit to the Butcher" in a vein of delicious comedy, and subsequently acted Ophelia S mad scene in "Hamlet "-a iug of finished dramatic act-

Clever Ihelma Brown, of Launceston. gave Arthur's spcech (with Hubert) from b.iakc,peare s lung John" (in character), and Miss Helen Gardner of Dunedin, gave some clever imitations of children recitini?\,m,asa^ lauca '" antl also sang amusingly of lho Curate and the Maid." Mr. O. h. larrow, of Auckland (tho champion \ocnli.st of tho competitions) repeater! his hue reading of Gounod's "Vulcan Song," and was heard e,gain with .Air. William Aspmall in the duet, "Watchman, What of the Night.' Miss Florence Pacev, of JJunedm, sang "Molly Bawn" charmingly. J.his young lady is artistic in everytiiinr? she does, and must bo accounted ono of the most versatile performers whom tiio competitions has introduced to tho Wellington public. li° winner of the "Bechstein," Mr. Baxter Buckley, played Beethoven's "Rondo a Uppriccio in G" excellently. Miss M.na \\ ard contributed a Liszt Ehapsodio, Mr. F. V. Blandford sang smartly ot ihe Woman's Penny Paper." .Air. Zante Wood recited "The Anatomical Tragedian, and Mr. S. H. Osborn gave Kipling s ' ballad of the Bolivar." Tho Four", were beard once more in Jenlcs A'egetable Compound," and finally the Grafton Road Methodist Choir, under Jit'. Gatland, 6ang with good taste tho part song "Moonlight" (Eaton Faning). FINAL NIGHT. A magnificent programme has been arranged for the final demonstration to bo held in tho Town Hall this evening. AH the best performers will appear in numbers selected by themselves, and Miss Pricliard and Mr. Osborn will be seen once more in the quarrel scene from "The School for Scandal," which was received with so much favour earlier in the week. As this will be the final opportunity which the public will have of hearing tho bright ayray of talent brought to Wellington by tho competitions, there is sure to bo a crowdcd • house. ....

JUDGES ENTERTAINED. At tho conclusion of last evening's entertainment, tho judges, Messrs. H. Gregson and C. N. Baeyertz, were entertained pleasantly at supper in the Town Hall. The opinion was expressed that the competitions had come to stay in Wellington, and that,- judging from 'the wide-spread entries received, tne New Zealand Society's carnival would very soon becomo recognised as the National Eisteddfod of the Dominion.