Verse-Speaking

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 242, 9 July 1938, Page 9 (Supplement)

Verse-Speaking

To An Entertainment With Detective Lloyd.

Af EMBERS, how I wish you all could have come with me to hear the Wellington Verse-Speaking Choirl The programme was ever so entertaining, and I learned lots, too. In versespeaking all the pitfalls of everydayspeech must be specially guarded against, so pronunciation, emphasis and modulation of the voice are all Important.

The first part of the programme consisted of verse-speaking by the choir and by children from various schools. The Miramar School Choir recited two poems, and the story of poor "Sir Olaf,” whose tale ended when his body was found in a wood. The Wellington North Junior Choir set out. to amuse everyone, and their first poem was about the escape of the five members from Charles the First’s Parliament. (Remember the history story?) They recited this poem with much merriment, because, while King Charles entered the front door to arrest them, the five members escaped by the back! Another humorous poem given by the same choir was “The Battle of Bingo.” In this poem someone kept repeatedly losing his hat. A porcupine sang “Clementine,” and a bee drank tea, and I laughed very loudly! To my mind one of the best poems recited during the evening was Tennyson’s "Lady of Shallot,” by the Te Aro school choir. As I- heard them speak those beautiful lines I could see the Lady of Shallott imprisoned in the four grey walls; I saw her mirror, and I saw her pacing the room; the cracking of the mirror and her final ride to Camelot. The choir recited the poem with great expression, and it was a joy to listen to them. The second half was the play by John Masefield, “End and the Beginning.” This was the story of Mary Queen of Scots—history again! Some older people acted the parts very- well, but, of course, I was most interested in the junior choirs. I wonder' how many League members 'took part?— Detective Lloyd, Wellington.