A VERSE-SPEAKING RECITAL.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 125, 23 November 1926, Page 6

A VERSE-SPEAKING RECITAL.

Miss Clodagh Russell gave a "dramatic and verse-speaking" recital to a large audience at the Concert Chamber last evening. The subject matter was excellently chosen, and ranged from "Lines from 'Hippolytus'" and the 107 th Psalm to the delightful nursery rhymes of A. H. Milne. It was in dealing with the latter that Miss Russell had most success, for she is able to give to them the light and whimsical touch that the author no doubt intended. In the other items Miss Russell's delivery was much too fast (perhaps due to nervousness), and a sameness of treatment was noticeable throughout. Nevertheless, the evening's performance was most meritorious and deserved the encouraging applause which greeted each item. Apart from Milne's story verse, "Pierrot" (Drinkwater), "Drake's Drum" (Newbolt), and Scotch ballad "Helen of Kirkconnel" were most attractive, and, in parts, the scene from "Much Ado About Nothing." Miss Russell, who has a charming stage personality, Js a pupil of Miss Marjorie Gullan, Speech Training School, Glasgow; a silver medallist (with honours) on the art of speaking verse in the Poetry Society; holds the honours certificate of the League of Arts and Guildhouse in poetry speaking; and is a gold medallist of the London Academy of Music.