ALEXANDER WATSON

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 35, 10 August 1921, Page 3

ALEXANDER WATSON

Another, crowded audience attended at tho Town Hall Concert Chamber last night to hear Mr Alexander Watson in a J. M.'Barrio evening. „ Mr. Watson is a brilliant interpreter, and the audience was enthusiastic over his work in "The Courting of T'nowhead Bell;" from, the "Auld Licht Idylls" ; "A Holiday in Bed" and "Preparing to Receive Company, from "The Window in Thrums." They were delightful character studies, all given with that intelligent appreciation of the: whimsical,' humorous hneß which is such a quality of - Mr. Watson's success as elocutionist. Longfellow's "Golden Legend" is a fascinating conception" and "Tho Monk Felix" is an excerpt calling for vocal control in a more than usual degree. Mr. Watson's interpretation left nothing to be desired. In "At the Concert" (G. L. Gordon), an American's criticism of a pianoforte selection of Wagner's works, there is much humour, and Mr. Watson imitated the American accent and modern ideas on, music to a nicety. Clark Russell's "Ocean Way" left few amonsj the ■ audienca- dry-eyed, so tellingly and convincingly did Mr. Watson impersonate the old sailor narrating the finding- of the babe on the abandoned barque. Kipling's "Bell Buoy" was a high elocutionary masterpiece, the reciter using his tonal contrasts»in a remarkable resemblance of a bell tolling its warning Hilaire Belloc had a place on the programme, too; "Canterbury Tales," a soliloquy for infants on morality and good conduct, a lesson by our great grandfathers, showed Mr Watson in happy mood, *and his work delighted _ the audience. The programme for this evening will embrace the following:—"The Boots at ttio Holly Tree Inn" (Dickens), a new selection from "The Pickwick Papers," "The Song of the Banjo," and "The Shuteye Sentry" (Kipling), "The Amateur Rider,',' by "Banjo" Paterson, and "The Ballad of the Mayower" (Malthams).