COSTUME RECITAL

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 52, 25 November 1930, Page 6

COSTUME RECITAL

Mr. Clement May’s Pupils The Concert Chamber was comfortably filled last evening, when a costume recital by Mr. Clement May’s pupils was given, with much success. There was variety andwide diversity in the elocutionary selections, from Shakespeare to A. A Milne, from Dickens to Tom Bracken, and all were essayed in an earnest and intelligent spirit, which showed studj’ under good instruction. Attired in white togas, a sectiono f young men pupils revived the glory of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” by enacting the scene which follows the assassination of Caesar. As a tall bewhlskered Marc Anthony, Mr. W. J. Mountjoy declaimed the 1 telling lines with force and expression, and the modulation of Mr. B. Cahill’s voice as Brutus was also effective. Mr. F. C. Pears was Cassius: Mr. Jack Storr Caeca, and Mr. Cedric Muir Decius Brutus. Another good exposition of impassioned, acting was the murder of Nancy by the brutish Bill SykeS. Happy memories of that pleasantly septimental comedy-drama, “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” were revived by the scene between the old Sark, (Mr. Clement May), and the juvenile Lord Fauntleroy, whose quaint lines were clear--ly spoken by Miss Irene Nelson. Mr. May was admirable aS the gruff goutstricken Earl. Miss Edith Hand showed that she know and appreciated the spirit of Drinkwater's beautiful poem, “The Crowning of Dreaming John,” and in pitch of voice and inflection carried complete conviction. Miss Madge Thomas figured as that ominous character of the French revolution, Madame Defarge, in a scene from Dickens's “Tale of Two Cities.” The same author was represented by the everpopular scene between David and the waiter, from “David Copperfield,” well done by Misses Annie Mitchell and Marjorie Elliott, and also by an impersonation of Fagan from “Oliver Twist” by Mr. Cedric Muir. Four small girls recited in unison, with studied uniform gesture, A. A. Milne's quaint “Disobedience,” and "Christopher Robin.” Master Robert Cheyne was rather juvenile for the somewhat sophisticated verses, “The Girl on the Stairs.” Dolly Vardon was prettily characterised by Miss Iris Austin. Humour was greatly suggested in the whimsical musical monologue, “And Yet I Don’t Know,” by clever Miss Betty Day. Mr. John Watchman was good in the monologue, “The Umpteen Serial Story,” and MisS Audrey May made a sweet Peter Pan in an excerpt from Barrie’s delightful fantasy. Mr. Errol Muir recited Bracken’s “Not Understood," and Miss Tui Hail soliloquised bn “Her Day Out,” “Do You Remember,” and “Tea in the Garden," were prettily spoken by Miss Evelyn Goldsmith and Mr. John Storr and Miss Madge Thomas were seen in a scene from “Macbeth." The costumes and lighting added greatly to the completeness of the recital. The only vocal numbers were “On With the Motley” (from “I Pagliaccl”), and “La Donna e Mobile” (from “Rigoletto”), sung by Mr. R. Trewern, a light tenor of some promise. He was rather overweighted >y the dramatic demands of the Leoncavallo number, but looked very well in the traditional costume of the rote. Mr. H. Brusey was at the pianoforte.