ALEXANDER WATSON RECITALS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 37, 12 August 1921, Page 3

ALEXANDER WATSON RECITALS

Mr. Alexander Watson drew from Shakespeare as the main source of his refreshing entertainment at the Concert Chamber last evening. There was, as usual, a crowded: and highly-appreciativo audience. The principal items in Mr. Wateon's programme were :—l. From "The Tempest," Act 11., soene 2, introdiicing Oaliban—stumbling in with liis faggot on his back, tbe timorous TrinculS, and the drunken Stephanc—and completing the act. 2. From "Romeo and Juliet," Act 111., scene 1. The entry of Mercufcio, Benvofio, and), later, Tybalt and Romeo, ending in th© deaths of Mercntio and Tybalt. The tragical scene was taken first, that from "The Tempest" next. Mr. Watson neededl no assistance from scenery or other theatrical aids in his depiction of the fatal brawl, and all that led Tip to il.' In this scone, as in.the lighter one, he made each oharacter live. This task was, perhaps, easier in the tragedy than in the romantic ptay, because all the persons ( in "Romeo and Juliet" were, essentially human, whereas Caliban, half-man, halfbeast, was a creature of the poet's imagination, as much so as th» jabberwook. Mr. Watson's presentation of the character was as if some frightful, loathsome thing, yet manlike in its perception of the beauties of Nature andi poetical^in its description of them; manlike, too, in falling readily enough under the influence of tie bottle. Mr. Watson thrilled his audience ac h« portrayed a OaKban of malignant scowls and snarls, spitting out envenomed sentanceß. He made His audience laugh long, and noisily, too, at the bJurred speech and queer antics of the drunken butler; and made it understand and enjoy also the quiet wit of Trinculo. The passion, braggartry, jeers, insults, and pathos withal, too, of the scene from "Borneo and Juliet" were all brought into .high relief in the fashion of a master. Mr. Watson gave selections of a totally different character, demonstrating his remarkable versatility, including "Singing Soldieis," from "Ginger Mick," "To-morrow," by Tennyson, "The Elf Child," by James Whitcombo Riley, and concluding with his greatest humorous success, Mark Twain's "Punch, Brothers, Punch." This evening he will confine himself to Kipling, to-morrow, mainly to Dicken3, and on Monday scenes from "Twelfth Night" and miscellaneous pieces, will be given.