RECORD AUDIENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 50, 27 August 1931, Page 14

RECORD AUDIENCE

AT THE COMPETITIONS

YESTERDAY'S AWARDS

Yesterday afternoon the Town Hall held the biggest audience since the inception of the Wellington Competitions. Some lime brt'ure the dancing classes commenced most of^ the ■ hcbls wero occupied, and soon the hall was'filled to capacity. ' The attendances at the clnsscs heard in the Concert Chamber mul Nimmu'a Hall were also larger than usual. Last evening (ho Town Hall was afi.llll uell filled, and the programme \v:is cauied through without a hitch. Tho following awaids were made:— TOE DANCK, orcr 16. Klcills: Mlsi PhjUH Rodger (Wellington) iMli.ii Mlrlamn Hpkota (Wellington). Also compplcil: Mlsspi .loan Bengo OVellliißton), Audrey Hum" 0" lWcm"Eton>' HlW* Webster (Loner Vlnnl. Jilas Mlrhium HekcU (Wclllngion), 79 points 1 Jllhi fhyllls RodEcr (Wclllnk'toii). T2 points 2 Mlbi Cecil Hall, who Judged, commented that tlio two toe-dancing classes she had judged so far In the dancing section had both been \cry Weak nu tho whole. NATIONAL DANCE, Jig. linger 16. Jtl.ibter Charlie Stewart (Welllnetou). 8» polm? j Miss Joan Scutt (Talmerston' North), "'H points j. JUtw June Scott (Island Bay), 77 points .. 3 A very Interesting class, and the two recalls wero splendid, said Mrs. J. Batrd, Judge. Most of tho competitors spoilt their work by taking It too quickly. CHARACTER DANCE", not hornpipe. Jig. or Scottish; 9 and under 12. Recalls: Roma Elsmoro, Fetone ("Pierrot"): Margaret Oates, Wellington ("Charlie Chaplin ). Aery highly commended: Jojcf Oilier (Wellington), Errol Wood (Wellington), Jean O'Connor (Wellington). Highly commended: Juno Swalnson (Pllmmerton), Lomah M'Kercher (Pctono). Thirty-six' competed. Final. Roma Elsmora (Petone) and Margaret Oates (Wellington). 79 points, each, equal •.. 1 Miss Hall said both prize-winners bad been artistic, and she iiad found It Impossible to separate them. IRISH FOLK SONG, gentlemen, any voice; own selection. Mr. Ray Trewern (Bataltal), 86 points I Sir. J. S. Rped (Wanganul), 84 points 2 Sir. R. J. Madlgan (Wellington), 83 points 3 Mr. Dixon remarked that thfre was again a disposition not to practice,adequately because of familiar songs. , As a result, many points of artistry had been missed. ■ JUNIOB TEST KECrrAli. own selection; 11 and' unde^ 16. Miss Joyco Dinntson (Brooklyn),. 123 points 1 Miss Grace Nixon. (Chrlstchurch), 118 points 2 Miss Nola Hyde. (Brooklyn) v 110' points .. 3 With the exception of the prlge-wlnnere, said Mr. Baeyertz. taost of the competitors lacked poise and finesse. Other) faults < were constant rising Inflections, false -emphases, and poor pausatlon. He criticised the practice adopted by aome teachers of attempting-to teach to a pattern Instead of deTeloplng the - soul and. intellect of their pupils, and allowing self-ex-pression. EJome of the pieces were maudlin, cheap, and unhealthy, and almost .Invariably the worst performers, were heard in the longest selections.. SOPRANO OR MEZZO-SOPBANO SOLO; own selection. Mlss~-Dorothy Newman (Roseneath), 86 points i Miss Dorothy Gentry (Khandallab), 84 points • 2 Mrs. Truda Young (Palmerston North), 83 points 3 A moderate class, only, said Mr. Dlxon, aad the solos were .inclined to be conventional and In 'Isome cases . hackneyed. He advised competitors for the sake 'of' their own mentality I o break new ground in their choice of songs in the future. GIRL'S SONG. .12 and under 11; own selection. Miss Margaret Fox (Hawera), 86 points .. 1 Miss Patricia Tonnsend (Chrlstchurch), 85 points " Miss Audrey Lawsou (Wellington). SI pointi 3 VOCAL SOLO,' negro spiritual, ladies, any voice, own selection. Recalls,: Miss Edith Ptnßolly, Mltamat ("John's Gone Down to de Island"); Mrs. Gwen Clajton, Wellington ("Were "You There"). Highly commended: Misses Dorothy Gentry (Khandallah). Kathleen Chappie (Christchurch), Gladys Bartop (Auckland). •.'Also competed: Misses G. Uugglns (Hataltai), Kathleen O. Sawyer (To iHorc), Ruby. V: Jacksnn (Wellington), Winifred Tricker (Island Bay). Final.' Miss Edith rengelly, 88-p0int5 r...:......:.■ 1 Mrs; Gwen Clayton, ■ 86- points 2 There. was a poignancy in . most negro spirituals because they came into existence during a time' of great oppression; Mr. Dixon said^ The poignancy was: due to the constant being sold like sheep and patted from .their dear ones, arid a 1 great many turaed to religion as the only solace- and refUEf: ' It Wat the understanding of that which gave negro spirituals, real atmosphere. RECITATION* IN CHARACTER, not humorous; girls under. 12; own selection. Recalls: Vcra Gilmour. Lyall Bay .■('•Prince Arthur"); Rita Casf, Isjand Bay ("The Falr.v Tailor") ; Pauline M'Kain, Lower. Hutt ("A Maori Princess") " Highly commended: Mon» Perry (Northland), Elaine Weebcr .(Newtown), Boma B. Topp (Ljall Bai). Marjorie Ede (Ngaio), Jojce Graham (Wellington), Patricia Boocock (Island Bay),.-Ruth Stone (Lyalt Bay). Thirty-two entered. Final. Vcra Gilmour (Lyall Bay), 110 points .... 1 Rita Cass (Island Bay), 106 points 2 Pauline .M'Kaln (Lower Hutt), 104 points 3 "One of the most interesting classes I have listened to," remarked Mr. Baeyertz. Parents and teachers nuist have, taken'-an immense amount of trouble with the children and ' tinscenes. Outside: the prize-winners there, was a tendency to exaggerate and. over-emphasise." " DANCE DUO. uuder 9. Recalls: Bryant Ashbridge,' Melva Doriej, Wellington ("The • Princess- and :tho Golden Ball") ; Juno Wallace. Alex. Grant, Wellington ("Moonlight"). ■ Highly ' commended': Judy Lewis, Noelinc Wllspir (Wellington).' • Also competed: Colin Ashbridgc, Shirley Blundcll (Wellingtoii), ■ Elizabeth -Pearce, Patty Collins (Lower Hutt), Peggy M'Kinnon, Ngaire Ward (Berhampore), Keith.Woollet,'Joy Vardey (Wellington), Dolly Weaver, Joyce Workman lington)Final. Br.van Ashbridge and Melva:Doney, 77 points" 1 June Wallace and.Alex. Grant, 76-points.. "2 ACTION,- SONG, boy or girl, under 9. own selection. Joyce V. Webster, Lower Hutt ("The Dancing Lesson")-, 83 points .......i........ 1 Joyce Beverldge, Ngaio ("Dolly,, Dolly"), 78, points - 2 Tarepa Calvert, KUbirnie ("Oh, Dear, What Can the Matter Bo?"),-76" points ...i 3 Also competed: Betty Capper (Kllblrnle), Jessie Hope (Johnsonvllle). Tho judge considered that "(lie winner's rendering of "The Dancing Lesson" was the best he had heard at. tho festival. , RECITAL WITH MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT, humorous,' gentlemen, open class; own- selection. Recalls: Mr. Enrol It. Muir, Stokes Valley ("Suicide"); Mr. Hedley Aitken, Wellington ("Au Awfully Nice Fellow to Speak To). Also>>competed: Messrs. J. W. Davidson (Palmerston North), Ccdrld A. Mulr (Stokes Valles). Final. Mr. Errol H. Muir, 113 points ....... 1 Mr. Hedlnj Aitken, 111 points 2 Neither of the .prize-winners choso quite as "good ii piece as. ho.might liave done, said Mr. Baeyertz. Both selections were fairly cheap! VOCAL SOLO AND ACCOMPANIMENT, lady \ocjlist, lady--.or ; gentleman accompanist (both amateurs), own selection. Recalls: .Miss Edith Pengelly ("If Sly Songs Were Only Winged") ; Miss Madge Freeman and Miss Edna Eyre (ace.) ("The- Last Hour") ; Jllsa Gladys. Barton and Mr., J. Rich (ace.) ("Love's;Lament"). .Highly commended: Miss Elsie M. Smith, Mrs; Emma Astlll and Miss 'Janet. Brlggs (ace.).. Mrs. Gwen Clayton and Miss S;imson (arc). . Also ..competed: , Miss Ruby y. Jackson,. Mrs. Jennie Booth and Miss D.. Splnks (ace.)',' Miss Phyllis Martin and Miss C Conlon (.ice), Miss Dorecn Storj and Miss 0. Conlon (ace;); Final. Miss Madge Freeman,'B6'joints ...,....'.-. l Jliss Gladys Bartou, 85 points 2 Mips .Edith .Peiißelly, 81 points 3 All the singers ..had-to depend.a good deal upon their accompanies, said Mr DKon. In such a class tho accompanist w.is piven au opportunity to appear in public,.and'the singer wnsenablcd to rehearse the piece, so .that not only should the accompaniment be accurate, but tlie two should be as one in spirit with recard' to ■ the e-tprcssiou. Two moro competitors In the rham'plon or ■.•liamploiis class were Miss Grade Kprr, Island Bay ("The Hißhwnjnian"), and Mr. Geo. A. C. Power, Borbaniporo .' ("Hope") 111 the piano solo class, open to any amateur over 16, which was decided on Tueadaj, Miss Ella ReII (Hataitai) was placed third with 90' points,' and tlie following, wore specially commended —Mr. Ronald Thorby (Miramar) Misses Betty Goodwin (Miramar), Jeau Watts (Halaitoi). Tbeluia Edwards (retone). On Satunlay afternoon a special dancing proKramme will he presented, and In the eien--1118 the first demonstration concert will he given, at which the performers will Include three of the judges.. Messrs. Ernest Jcnner (piano section), W. H. Dlxoa (vocal section), and C. N. Baeyertz (elocutionary section). Headphones are supplied for the .use of ihe deaf in Kime theatres 111 Chicago and Germany; this is an , innovation in reSiilai tlieaties, although it has aheady been tned succesfifullj- in at least one London "talkie" theatre.