MR ALEXANDER WATSON

Evening Star, Issue 17767, 15 September 1921, Page 4

MR ALEXANDER WATSON

Finding that he had the time io spare, Mr Alexander Watson announced that ho would return to Dunedin and give recitals on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Witli the great majority of entertainers this would have been a proceedin'" attended by risk of failure. In Mr Watson’s case, however, there was no element of uncertainty, and this was proved by the fact that ho began his entertainment at 8 o’clock last even-ing-in the presence of a full house. Mr Watson is a prime favorite in Dunedin, as he deserves to he, for ho is an artist of rare ability, who adds to _ his great natural gifts sincere and painstaking effort. His programme last evening consisted mainly of Kipling selections. As an interpreter of Kipling ho is probably unrivalled, and his audience followed with unflagging interest his recital of a number of selections that are very familiar, and which Mr Watson has given many times in this city. These included tho diverting experiences of Orthoris and Mulvaney, ‘ If,’ 1 Gunga Dhin,’ ‘ The Ballad of tho Clampherdown, ‘ FuzzyWnzzy,’ ‘The Hump,’ ‘/The Recessional,’ and tho Josser known 1 Slmugglers’ Song,’ 1 Lichtonberg ’ and ‘The Glory of the Garden.’ Mr Watson also gave Tennyson’s ‘Defence of Lucknow ’ and a most amusing sketch of tho old coaching days entitled ‘ Early Rising.’ Also, by special request, ho recited a little poem that he has made very popular, ‘ The Ballad of a Wartime Trawler.’

To-night Mr Watson will make his last appearance in Dunedin. This is quite definite, for die doss not intend fe go on any more tours abroad. Ho leaves tp-morrow ■ for Christchurch, where ho will give two extra recitals. After these there will he a _ short season at Auckland. Then he will sail {o'- Sydney en route to England. _ Mr" Watson is offering this evening a miscellaneous programme of popular selections from the works_ of Barrie, Aytoun, Scott, Mackay, Dickens, BelIco, and Mark Twain.