THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 45, 22 August 1938, Page 6

THE COMPETITIONS

OPENING NIGHT

MAYOR'S GOOD WISHES

RECORD ENTRIES

The prediction that the Wellington Competitions Society was entering upon a period of renewed prosperity was made by the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) on Saturday night when he declared open the twenty-first annual festival of the society, in the presence of a large audience in the Town Hall.

The president of the society, Mr. J. A. Martin, thanked the Mayor for his services to the society during the past twelve months. Mr. Hislop's advice and assistance, said Mr. Martin, had been greatly appreciated. It was fitting that at this twenty-first festival of the society there should be an entry number that was a record not only for the society, but for any similar society in New Zealand. Many of today's teachers and performers had been competitors at the society's festivals of the past, and it could justly claim to have done its share in encouraging and developing the cultural arts of the Dominion.

Mr. Martin welcomed all the competitors and expressed the hope that their association with the festival would be a happy one. He introduced to the audience some of the judges for the festival.

It was announced by Mr. Martin that Miss Jean Home had presented a silver cup to be won outright at this festival by the competitor over 12 years who gave the most artistic performance in the classes for operatic, toe, classic, character, or character story dances.

The Mayor said that this was an important year in the society's history. To his personal knowledge in the last ten or twelve years and from what he had been able to ascertain from those who knew the society's history from the beginning, the society had been of immense help in creating an appreciation of true art that was a thing to be desired in every country. The society had had its difficult times, but it had surmounted its difficulties successfully, and Mr. Hislop thought that the record number of entries this year would mean record attendances. On behalf of the citizens of Wellington he extended to the society best wishes for a successful festival.

Saturday night's attendance was a very satisfactory one, and it augured well for the rest of the festival. The big audience was treated to a typically bright variety concert, care being taken to avoid repetition by keeping the number of recalls down to a minimum. A demonstration performance by the Palmerston North "Harmonica Rascals" was the high light of the evening, arid the fifteen young men who comprised the band won a deservedly appreciative round of applause after their bracket of four well-known numbers and two encores, all handled in masterly style. Several of their members competed individually in the class for. a mouth-organ solo, which was completed on Saturday night. FURTHER RESULTS. Results of classes judged on Saturday afternoon and night were as follows:— "There was very keen competition in this section," said Mr. RussellWood, "and much of the work gave me great pleasure. It was refreshing to see so many young men doing so well. Most of the own-selection items were well chosen, though the chances of one or two competitors were marred by wrong selection. In many cases there was little or no rhythmic structure, and a slight tendency to pedantry should h^ve been avoided by several of the competitors. Pedantic speaking of poetry is as old-fashioned as it is offensive." BOY'S SONG, 12-16 years. Own selection (15 entries). Peter Williams (New Plymouth} and Warwick Humphreys (Otaki), 85, equal 1 Joseph Lyons (Island Bay), 81 3 Highly commended: Colin Young (Berhampore), Rashleigh Finch (New Plymouth). Mr. Leech remarked that it was an excellent class of boys, but one or two "opened" ther voices, as was a natural tendency with all boys. "Never louder than lovely" was the rule for boys to follow. The two who tied1 for first place both had good voices, and Peter Williams was to be complimented on the fluency of his run. Warwick Humphreys sang "Sing, Sweet Bird" with a good appreciation of the values of pretty upper tones, and the third boy had earned commendation for the heart he infused into the story. They were three really good boys. ACTION SONG, 9-12 years. In costume. Own section. (29 entries.) Beatrice Taylor (Lower Hutt), 83 1 Fay Compton (Kilbirnie), 82 2 Pat McGowan (Ngaio) ,81 3 Very highly commended: Shirley Adams (Rongotai). , Highly commended: Beryl Richardson (Johnsonville), Ivan Lawson (Petone), Valeric Jackman (Wellington), Nathalie Wallace (Island Bay), Beryl Cunliffe (Hataitai), Barbara Towers (Waipawa), Betty Olsen (Palmerston North). "An excellent class of young people, which must be generally commended upon splendid enunciation," said Mr. Leech. "The reference in the rules to costume does not mean that it is so vital as in a character study, but importance must be attached to action as effective in making the songs convincing." The girl placed first was a splendid example of how action could speak, and she gave a vivid representation of the characters in the text. The second was a snappy little dancing teacher full of rhythm and elevation, and the third gave a charming presentation of "Alice Blue Gown." SIMULTANEOUS DANCE DUO. Open class (23 entries). Ashely Cooper and Colin Currie (Wellington) 1 Valeric and Ralph Wilkin (Brooklyn) 2 Very highly commended: Joan Gallagher and Lila Coddle (Wellington), Gloria Kemsley and Peggy McFadden (Wellington), Judy Cooper and Betty Paynter (Wellington), J. Conrick and R. Mullis (Wellington). In this section there were so many of the same standard it was hard to separate them, said Miss Vaughan. CHARACTER DANCE, 16 and over. (Ten entries.) Two recalls: Miss Lorraine Major (Palmerston North) and Miss Marjorie J. Clements (Hamilton). Very highly commended: Miss Vivienne Platt (Lower Hutt). Highly commended: Miss Violet K. Sutton (Nelson), Miss Kathleen McDonald (Brooklyn), Miss Grace Inkster (Nelson). This section was only fair, as most of the items were inanimate, said Miss Vaughan. DANCE DUO, 16 and over. (Ten entries.) Recalls: Miss Lorraine Major and Margaret Pegden (Palmerston North) and Mr. Jack Blake and Miss Helen Smith (Lower Hutt).

Very highly commended: Messrs. J. Conrick and R. Mullis (Wellington).

Highly commended: Misses Nola Mo Leod and Maureen Stove (Wellington),

Commended: Misses Joan Sommerville and Joy Green, Wellington. Miss Vaughan commented that there were several otitstanding items' in this section. OPERATIC DANCE, under 6. (29 entries.) Two recalls: Betty Carman (Berhampore) -and Miriam Emden (Wellington). Very highly commended: Monica Keane (Wellington), Doreen Brown (Khandallah). Highly commended: Jill Tonge (Karori), Dorothy Jenness (Lower Hutt). Commended: Joy Holman (Wellington), Pamela Dallas (Wellington), Marie Bennett (Brooklyn). Miss Vaughan said that this was quite a good class for such tiny people. There were some dainty little dancers among them. <■ MOUTH-ORGAN SOLO, oyer 16, own selection. (Eight entries.) Mr. C. .Thomson (Palmerston North), 75 1 Mr. A. Ingram (Palmerston North), 74 2 I Both placed competitors excelled in a very good vibrato, which was fitting in the rhythmical lines of the pieces performed, said Mr. P. Schramnru