THE JUDGES AT PLAT.

Evening Star, Issue 12026, 26 October 1903, Page 4

THE JUDGES AT PLAT.

TO TUS EDITOR.

Sir,—Allow me to say I thought thf judges of tie Competitions Socdety should hiive commanded a crowded audience af; their entertainment on Saturday last-, -when Mr J. M. Clark recited several gems in his most graceful and masterly style. Mr Barton successfully gave two readings. Mr 0. In. Baeyertz recited well, but. his reading of the story of the Prodigal Son was marred by an extraordinary attitude and failure to show sufficient contrast between the voice of the prodigal son and those of liis father, brother, and servant. Surely the judge does not desire every reader to hold a book in the left hand as far as possible from the eyes, and to keep the right arm in the form of a big bow. When reading, Walter Montgomery, the celebrated actor, gracefully held a book in his hands, and_ (without using his eyes to court the audience) his success was unsurpassable. In one scene on Saturday Mr Whitson posed as reader and reciter, and met the fate of the man between two stools, 'while the audience were gracious. Having read part of the well-known address of Henry V. before Harfleur. Mr Whitson waved" the book in a most amusing way, blundered over his lines when he was speaking from memory, and then returned to the reading. This was a beautiful illustration, portraying the fact that a man should be either reader or reciter in the scene. Mr Hanlon recited 'Clarence's Dream' remarkably well, but I thought ho used his hands too freely for a drowsy, conscience-stricken man like Clarence in the Tower.—l am, etc, W. A. W. Waxhkn. October 25.