COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL

Evening Star, Issue 20292, 28 September 1929, Page 12

COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL

ANOTHER DELIGHTFUL PROGRAMME The festival of the Competitions Society was continued in His Majesty s Theatre last evening before a large and singularly ■ appreciative audience. The finals of eight sections were heard, and these provided very pleasant entertainment. Results:— INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. Judge: Dr 0. A. Jarman. VIOLIN SOLO, under 10 years, * Bouree in G ’ (Handel-MacMahon). Miss Merle Wildey, 70 1 Master Kelvin S. Clement, 69 ... 2 These were the only competitors. ■ Dr Jarman stated that Miss Wildey showed uncertainty at the start. The finger work was rather much for her. The tone was not had at all. Master Clement secured a rather better tone. A number of inaccuracies were apparent, and the tempo was rather slow. VOCAL. SOLO, operatic, ladies, amateurs or professionals, own selection from grand opera. Miss Aileen Young, 86 1 Miss Mary Bald (Greymouth), 85 ... 2 Miss Ethel Docherty (Sawyers Bay), 84 ... - 9 Also recalled: Miss Kathleen Bond (Christchurch) 83. ■ Highly commended: Misses Netta Wilkie, Alva Myers (Kaitangata), Dorothy M.. Sligo, Evelyn Shepard, Margaret "E. Howden (Port Chalmers) 81. _ Also competed; Mrs J. A. Aitcheson 79, Misses Mary Somerville, Helen Wilson 77, E. B. Ritchie 76, Tui I Pennell 74, VVinnie Collier (Port Chalmers) 71. Dr Jarman stated that Miss Young chose a nice selection which suited the quality of her voice. She enunciated nicely, though the vowels might be broadened. She had a nice conception of the scena. Her deportment was dignified and her singing very pleasing. Miss Bald interpreted the recitative nicely and sang the aria beautifully. One would expect some excitability there. She interpreted well hut the final phrase was much too abrupt. Miss Bond’s recitative was a little too stilted. Her voice was beautiful in quality. The aria was nicely sung, but the phrasing was not always smooth. She had slight trouble with the Italian test, SOLO, amateurs, gentlemen, open to those who have never won a prize in vocal sections at previous festivals, own selection. ; The following were recalled; Messrs J. Montague, S. Kershaw, A, R. Dreaver, and William Ruffell. Also competed: Messrs Douglas S. Napier 80, Noel H. North, John Kennedy 78, John P. Mayhew (Gore) 77, J. G. G. Macfarlane, R. A. Liddell 75. The. final will he heard on Tuesday evening. SOLO, ladies, amateurs, selection, from light operas or musical comedies. Miss Evelyn Shepard, 83 ... 1 Miss Dorothy M. Bligo, 82 2 Miss Netta Wilkie, 81 ... 3 These competitors were recalled on Thursday. Dr Jarman stated that this was an interesting section, in which one did not look for or get quite the same standard as in the grand opera solo. But still it was an interesting and pleasing section. Miss Shephard displayed commendable spirit in interpretation. Sho lost the trill in the sustained notes, but she showed a bright-, ness of tone and animation of appearance. Miss Sligo chose a pleasing selection and sang with good control of tone. Her phrasing was well done, but she should try to contrast the tone cplour more. Miss Wilkie’s tone was not always well controlled or even, but she gave a pleasing interpretation. Her phrasing was well done. ELOCUTIONARY. Judge- Mr Culford Bell. RECITATION, Boys under 11 years, ‘ Never Give Up ’ (Tupper) . The following were recalled: Masters Harold Robinson, Charlie Cooper, Ivan Templeton. Highly commended; Masters Allan Ramsay and Ernest Salmon. Also competed: Masters Jack Sapsford 77, Wilfred Bunting, Raymond Ramsay 72, H. Claridge 60. The final will be heard to-night, RECITATION, under 12 years, own selection, not humordis. Miss Ngaire Glue, 90 1 Miss Joan Thomson,, 87 2 Miss Lesie Mathieson, 86 ... ... 3 . , Very highly commended: Misses Clarice Warwick, Daphne Morrison, Muriel Brown 83. Highly commended: Misses Mabel Caple, Ethel'Gibson (Oamaru) 81, Gwen Dewhirst, Royce Carmen, Norma Brown, Marie Naylor, Shirley M/Clatchy, Master Wilfred Bunting), Miss Joyce Ridley 80. . ■ Also competed: Misses Loretta Kay 79, Run Holland (Waikouaiti), Master Harold Davidson, Misses Dons Miller 78, Pat Gatehouse, Betty Barling, Joy Knowles 77, Billie Sapsford, Jean Kirkham, Ngaire Steel, Master Earl Collie 75, Misses Alwyn Nichol (Waikonaith, Jewel George, Jean Marshall, Annie Stevenson, Evelyn Knight, Marion Morrison 74, Joan Jamieson, Master Allan

Ramsay, Misses Christian Wallace, Joy Mitchell vßalcluthn) 73, Velma Grerar, Dorothy Bentley 72. Norma Murie, Alison Williams, Audrey Ramsay 70, Then Lindsay, Master H. Claridge, Misses Elsie Kirkham 69, Verna Thompson 67. Mr 801 l said that this was a large class, some forty eight competitors appearing, and m addition to the three competitors recalled three were very highly commended, being close up in marks, and a number were highly commended. The work of the whole class was of medium quality only, the chief fault being mechanical expression. Miss Glue gave ‘ Market Square,’ one of the delightful Milne poems, quite successfully. She got some nice childish touches in hei rendering, but some of her gestures were inappropriate. Miss Thomson’s choice was ‘On Saturday Morning Early,’ which she recited with animation. The rendering was rather uneven in parts,, bnt the general effect was good and the work natural. Some faults of gesture were apparent. Miss Mathieson recited 1 What the Thrush Says ’ very nicely, being artistic and natural. Her bird intonations were very good, and her general expression bright. DIALOGUE, Own Selection, in Character. Misses Dorothy Clark and Tui Bowman, 89 ... 1 Mr H. M. Bain and Miss Margaret Seelye, 87 ... ... ... 2 Misses Nancy Abernethy and Dessa Stabb, 85 ... ... ... 3 These competitors were recalled on Thursday. . Mr Bell stated that in the winners’ presentation of ‘ Viola and Olivia,’ the character of Viola was * very well assumed, with just the right touch of masculinity, and showing subtlety of technique and expression. The facial expression was excellent, and a magnetic performance was given, Olivia was very nicely and artistically presented. A fine appreciation of tlie lines was shown, although the performance was not good in parts. The finish was excellent The characters were correctly costumed. Mr Bain and Miss Seelye presented a scene from ‘ Macbeth.’ The part of Lady Macbeth was played with fine tragic tensity, Miss Seelye being alive to the possibilities of the scene all the time. Her movement and facial expression were good. The character of Macbeth was not so consistently good, although parts were well done. There was a weakening in some of the tense situations. The make-up was, not quite satisfactory, but the costuming was very good. Misses Abernethy and Stabb gave ‘ The Death of Ase,’ a new presentation, which was quite well done. The mother was excellent, and could hardly bo improved on. Peer Gynt was picturesque, and assumed the correct manner. The speaking of verses was not altogether satisfactory, being taken too much in one pitch. The scene was not so attractive as the others He had to consider which was the best balance and which came nearest to possibilities of the characters in the scene chosen, taking into consideration the dressing, acting, and expression of the dialogue. RECITATION, Amateurs, Gentlemen, ‘The Press’ (Alan Davenport). Mr Lester Moller. 92 1 Mr H. M. Bain, 88 2 Mr Norman AVest, 81 ... 3 Also competed: Mr F. C. K. Foster, 77. Mr Bell stated that Mr Moller’s selection was finely expressed, and with good voice, and he made the thoughts stand out. He gave a very correct rendering, but he had a slight tendency to force. Mr Bain had a fine voice and excellent rhythm, and gave an artistic rendering His fault lny_ in the timing of the pauses, thus making the points of the lines a little blurred. Mr West made various small mistakes in emphasis and inflection. He used a similarity of pitch throughout, and his voice was rather hard. Otherwise his work was sound; DANCING. FANCY DANCING. Judge: Miss G. Gibbs. FANCY DANCE, Character, not to include Ballet, Greek, or Eastern, under 10 years. The following were recalled: —Misses Winnie Todd. Loretta Kay, Peggy Steele. Highly commended: Miss Joan Bryan, 72. Also competed: Misses Joyce Todd 71. Mercia Donaldson 70, Marjorie Rhodes 70, Nora Steele 67. The final will be taken to-night. BALLET DANCE, Toe, 10 and under 13 years. Miss Cora Duff. 80 1

Miss Ethel Todd, 79 ... ... 2 Miss Rona Lord, 78 3 The above competitors were recalled on Wednesday. Miss Gibbs stated in the classical art of operatic dancing, important as execution was, execution alone was merely gymnastics of the dance. _ ft meant nothing and conveyed nothing without the perfect use or arms, head, and body. There should be an absolute harmony of head and body. Every part of the body in each movementj each pose, flash of the eye, the facial expression—in one word, the soul—must be m the dance otherwise there was no dance, only the well-rhymed antics of the marionette The poetry of motion was a phrase often used, but seldom carried out. Too much scrambling upon the toes at the expense of knees turned in, bent legs, angular arms, and a general gaucheness of movement, was very far indeed from the, poetry of motion. The competitors should keep to side practice, centre, and adage is long as they possibly could Port de bras exercises and plenty of epaulement, and then whatever they did would be well and correctly. executed. A toe dancer should also cultivate balloon, strength, and plasticity Miss Duff would make a nice little dancer if the body would only soften She was nicely en pointe, but she should watch her feet in emboite. Miss Todd used her head and body well, but her feet nedeed attention. She should strengthen at bar. Miss Lord’s balance was bad ; and her port de bras needed softening. She should put more light and shade into the dance, the arrangement of which was just a little monotonous; but she should not slur the briso coupe. BALLET DANCE. Toe. .13 and under 1G years. Miss Dorothy Judd, 87 ... 1 Miss Phyllis Eckhoff,-80-... ... ... 2 Miss Margaret Davey, 79 3 Also competed: Misses Kitty Eckhoff, 77, Anzac Patten 76. Orma Ross 74. Miss Gibbs stated that the standard in this section was the highest she had had before her since the competitions commenced. The winner gave an extremely graceful performance; -the only thing that marred it was the lact that the balance was bad. She would advise this competitor to concentrate on balance and poise. Miss Phyllis Eckhoff also gave a - very delightful performance. Miss _ Davey' displayed nice expression and interpretation. SPECIAL PRIZE. The following special prize was awarded Arthur Barnett’s (Ltd.) prize of 10s 6d for the winner of recitation, under 12 years, own selection, not humorous—Miss Ngaire Glue.