COMPETITIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 299, 12 September 1921, Page 7

COMPETITIONS

A DAY FOR THE CHILDREN CLEVER DANCERS, SINGERS AND RECITERS ’ Saturday’s competitions were reserved almost exclusively for the children, and, thanks to numerous entries in all classes, it proved a very full day for all concerned, the day-time classes not 'finishing until nearly 6.30 p.m. There were big audiences in both halls in tho afternoon, and the evening saw the biggest house of the season. , The results were as follow :—

Piano Solo, under 10. “Elves At Play” (E. A. Miller).—Recalls: Myroe Boocoek, Katherine Hall, ..and Kathleen Sims. Final: Kathleen Sims, 182pts., 1; Myree Boocock, 180pts., 2; Katherine Hall, 179pts., 3. Action Song, Boy or Girl, 9 and under 12. Own selection.—Final: Alice Chapman, 175pts., Ngairo Green, 171pts., 2; Sinclair Breen, 170pts., 3. Action Sbng, Boy or Girl, Under 9. Own selection. —Final: Phyllis Round, 160pts., 1; Queenie M'Lean, 158 pts., 2; Elsie Smith, 156pts., 3. Duet in Character. Own selection.— Recalls: Sinclair Breen and Zelma Carroll, Kathleen Chapple and Alice Chapman, Dulcie and George Orme. Final; Sinclair Breen and Zelma Carroll, 170pts., 1; Kathleen Chapple and Alice Chapman, 169pts., 2; Dulcie and George Orme, 16upts., 3. Oporatio Dance. 12 nnd under 16.—Recalls: Zelda Bailey, Thelma M'Kenzie, and’ Betty Jacomb. Aivard not yet made. Song in Character, Boy or Girl, under 9 Own selection.—Recalls: Elsie Smith, Phyllis Round, Jean Coker. Final: Elsie Smith, 1; Phyllis Round, 2; Jean Coker, 3. Toe Dance, under 12.—Final: Grace Ward, -87pts., 1; Zelma Carroll, 86pts., 2; Phyllis Oliver, 85pts., 3. Humorous Recitation, Boy or Girl. .Own selection. —Section A —Recalls: Edna Purdie and Joyce Julian. Section B—Recalls: Ngaire Phipson'and Linda Carter. Awards not yet made. Recital, with Musical Accompaniment, Pathetic or Dramatic. Own selection.— Recalls: C. G.'<Kirk, Leith-Riddell, and Leonard Power.

Final: C. G. Kirk, 105 points, 1; V. Evans and Leonard Power, 95 points each, 2. ' Irish Jig, in Costume, Boy or Girl under 12. Final: Mavis Howard, 91 pointe, 1; Martin Carroll, 90 pointe, 2; Evelyn Wright, 89 points, 3. Sailors’ Hornpipe, in Costume, Boy or Girl, 12 and under 16. Final: Willie Brown, 95 pointe, 1; Phyllis M'Millan, '94x pointe, 2; Thelma M'Kenzie, 92 points, 3. Sailors’ Hornpipe, in Costume, Boy or Girl, under ( 12. Final: Martin Carroll, 89 • points, 1; > Mavis Howard, 88 points, 2;'Gladys Smyth, 87 points, 3. Recitation; in Character, Humorous, Boy or Girl, 9 and under 12. Own selection.—Recalls: Sinclair Breen, Igiwrcnce Searle, and Zelma Carroll. Recitation, in Character, under 9. Final: Kathleen Chapple, *llO points, 1; Elsie Smith, 108 points, 2; Dorothea Tossman, 100 points, 2. Skipping Dance, under 16. Final: Evelyn Wright, 56 points, 1; Zelma Carroll, 55 points, 2; Phyllis M'Millan, 54 points, 3. '' ' Scottish Song, Ladies.—Final: Violet Reith, 188 points, 1; Lillian Hanham, IS7 points, 2; Marjorie Clarke, 184 points, 3. Character Recital, Gentlemen. Own selection.—Vryn Evans, 86 pointe, 1; Leith Riddell, 81 points, 2. Humorous Song, in. Character, Lady dr Gentleman. Own selection. —Final: Madge points, 1. Only one award made in this class. Children’s Action Song, 12 and under 16 (15 to 25 voices). Own selection—Final: Petone Convent, 166pts., 1; Mrs. M'Caytio’s pupils, 158pts., 2. Ballot’ Final—Danse de .Ballet, 83pts., 1; Danse de Carnival, Slpts., 2; Wild Youth, 77pts., 8. THE EVENING CONCERT. The recalls for tho day, and one or two from previous days provided a thoroughly satisfactory concert programme in the evening. Especially pleasing was the high standard of the children’s work in ail departments, the truly wonderful array of budding talent promising Wellington plenty of performers in the near future. The programme opened brightly with the sailors’ hornpipe, nimbly danced by Willie Brown, Phyllis M'Millan, and Thelma M'Kenzie, capital little dancers all three. The boy, was more traditional in his style, the girls affecting a theatrical hornpipe; rather than the legitimate one, and naturally,, and properly .(ho boy was awarded first prize. The duet in character for youngsters produced three interesting little couples, the most comical of whom were a sister and brother, who were both hoarse with colds. It was very amusing to see how the sister (the elder) mothered rather than sweet-hearted the little fellow. tiny girls who sang “I Don’t Want Io Play In Your Yard” were fresh and bright in their acting and attitudes. In the skipping-rope dance, Phyllis M MilJan, Evelyn Wright, and Zelma Carroll danced with rare grace and agility; In the recital with musical accompaniment, Mr. Vryn Evans revived that tale of the wild North-West, "Dan M'Grue"; Mr C. G. Kirk selected “The Last Token, a story in poetical form, based on ‘Th® Sign of tlie Cross," and delivered it with refinement and-feeling; and Mr. Leonard Power recited "The Yogi’s Curse. Honours went to Mr. Kirk. In the Scottish song section for ladies there was some nice singing, and Miss Marjorie Clarke again established her right to be considered one of Wellington’s most promising sopranos.' Her singing of “Bonnio Mary of Argyle” was artistic. Her pure, brilliant tone just lacks that touch oi warmth which complete# the appeal to the senses. The discovery of the Competitions, as far as lady singers in Wellington are concerned, is Miss Violet Reith, a very fine temperamental mezzo, who should be in' eager demand for concert work. She sang "John Anderson My Jo” with a world of tender feeling, though, perhaps, she, took the song too slowly to sustain its'rhythm. Miss Lillian Hanhan is not so well suited in legato singing as she is in coloratura work vet she sang "Auld Robin Gray very well indeed. An astonishing and disconcerting announcement was made by Mr. Gordon Lavers in announcing his decision in this section; namely, that he had put out of consideration competitors who had selected such songs as "Angus Macdonald’’ and "My Ain Folk, as they were not the old traditional Scotch songs. Tho query arises: Does a song have to bo old to bo Scottish? Surely composers of to-dpy may write Scottish songs. The attitude of the judge caused a good deni of talk among the competitors in, the section, and not a little heart-burning. Mr. ’Leith Riddel] for his charactersketch revived "Squeers Opens His School” (Dickens), and in the same class Mr. Vryn Evans donned the toga of ancient Home, and delivered Marc tony’s ■ speech over tho dead body of Caesar (from "Julius Caesar") in a cool and almost cynical air, whereas it was Antony’s earnestness and sweeping powers of conviction that turned the temper of tho Roman crowd. In tho humorous song section, Miss Madge Shearer again showed her penchant for comedy work in "Tho Short Cut,” a yokel song in dialect. Tho judge correctly summed up Misp Fay Bain’s effort, “Hullo, Tutu,” when he said sho was off the pitch and her humour was unconvincing. A Judgment which created tho greatest surprise of the evening was. that given in the children’s chorus.