ALEXANDER WATSON

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 24, 28 July 1927, Page 5

ALEXANDER WATSON

A large audience In tho Town Hall Concert Chamber Jast night was delighted with tho finished performance of tho great English elocutionist, Alexander Watson. Tho art of elocution lias not the universal appeal of music. This is strange in view of the universality of speech and tho limited development of musical expression; tho explanation is no doubt that people appreciate words more completely than harmony, and are quicker to discern artificiality of, expression hi tho spoken word than to dispute musical phrasing. Mr. Watson's art, however, is exceptional. Ho talks, giving the just words of others their lust expression, and leaving his hearers with a full sense of satisfaction. Last night's programme was, as to Us first section, drawn from J. M. Barrio. The delightful sketch, "The Courting. of T'Nowhead's Bell," a talo of deep deception, and a quick change marriage, was followed by a Hfo-llko comedy sketch, "Preparing to Receive Company." As a change from these dialect sketches, a little wisdom on the enjoyment of "A Holiday in Bed" was as valuable as it was amusing. Mr. Watson then presented Crosblo Gartin's poems, "The Dream Ship" and "Tho Figurehead and tho Mermaid." and Tennyson's dramatic Irish story, "To-morrow." C. F. Adams's wellknown "Ifawcob Straus" showed Mr. Watson's skill in vocalising tho German accent, and this was followed by an American dialect item, Russell Lowell's Courtin'." Kipling's everpopular "If" was added to tho programmo by request. Tho entertainment concluded with an amusing sketch by James Payn, "Mrs. B's Alarms."

To-night Mr. Watson has arranged another attractive programme, including tho quarrel of tho Montagues and Capulcts, and the tragic deaths of Mercutib and Tybalt, from Shakespeare's "Borneo and Juliet," and the laughable scene between Caliban, Trinculo, and Stephano, from "The Tempest," also "An Ocean Waif" (Clark lUisseU), "Mrs. Po.vser Has Her 'Say' Cut." from George Eliot's "Adam Bede"; Alfred Noyes's popular poem, "The Highwayman"; "Tho Shorter Catechism" (John Buchan). "Why Thomas Cain was Grumpy" (James Stephens), "The Dutchman's Dog" (C. P. Adams), "Early Rising" (an incident of the English coaching days), by John Poole. Tomorrow's programme will include humour and sentiment from Dickens, and - miscellaneous ltemi.