COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL

Evening Star, Issue 21810, 28 August 1934, Page 3

COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL

EVENING SESSIONS HIGHLY POPULAR TWO ELOCUTIONARY SCHOLARSHIPS DECIDED A bright half-hour entertainment opened the session of the competitions festival in His Majesty’s last night, and a diverting programme followed. Ibere was another excellent house, and the various sections were iollowed ith keen and pleasurable attention. Iwo of these were robbed of some interest by the fact that in each one of the recalled competitors was unable to appear, and,' according to the rules of the society, could only be awarded second placiugs. Mr W. H. Mackenzie was chairman for the evening. Results: VOCAL, Judge; Mr Bullock. VOCAL SOLO, Gentlemen, selection from light opera or musical comedy. Mr W. Stevenson, 91 points I Mr F. G. Taplin, 90 points 2 Mr Gordon Proudfoot, 89 points ... 3 Highly commended: Messrs R. Dunbar, Jack Stevens. . Also competed: Messrs J. J. lait (Waikouaiti), Leslie Dunbar, C. H. N. Howell, J. L. D. Ritchie, J. D. Hanning, Aubrey Clarke. . There was" some very good singing in this section, said Mr Bullock, and the markings were very high. Mr Stevenson put great verve into his song (‘Goodbye,’ from the ‘White Horse Inn’), ami brought out excellent contrasts. Mr Taplin’s quality was not particularly suited to the ‘ Yeomen of England,’ "which required more brilliance of voice. CHILDREN’S DUET, 13 and under 16, in character, own selection. Margaret Laing and Peggy Harvey, 89 points 1 Matty Hall and Jean Calder, 88 ’ I o points ••• Pat Johnson and Lila Murdoch, 83 points Also competed: Elsie Kirkham mid Ivan Douglas, Pat Woods and Lily Shrimpton, Deslys M'Konzic and Ethel Thomas, Peggy Shaw and Evelyn Williams. The two recalled pairs gave very charming work, said Mr Bullock. The winners presented a very pleasing piece of part singing. CHILD’S ACTION SONG, under 12, own selection. I. Montgomery, 87 points 1 Hannah Race, 80 points ... 2 Marjorie Rhodes, 85 points 3 Highly commended: Joyce Smith, Lilian Scott (Balclutha), Edith Wallace. Also competed: Dulcie Rout, N. Forsyth (Christchurch), Nola Christie, Shirley Jones, Irene Scott, Betty Christie, Gloria Cameron, Enid Carter, Rowena Lawson, Joyce Rowley, Jean Race. The winner sang with truer pitcli than any child Mr Bullock had heard at the festival, and her actions were in keeping with her song. Her rhythm was excellent. The second competitor was perhaps more graceful (as her song allowed), but her singing was not us good. ii'!; in the afternoon. VOCAL DUET, Lady and Gentleman, ‘ Night Hymn at Sea ’ (Goring Thomas). This section was abandoned, as the only pair that entered failed to conic forward. ELOCUTIONARY. Judge: Mr Bailey. ELOCUTIONARY SCHOLARSHIP, (a) test selection, ‘ Musing on Great Soldier,’ (b) own selection. Miss Billie Robinson (86-84), 170 points 1 Miss Nanna Newey (84-85), 169 points ... 2 Mr Norman West (84-81), 165 points 3 Also competed: Misses Isobel Clark, Norma Brown, Hazel M'Guire, Lexie Mathieson, W. Fosbender (Invercargill), V. T. Pearce, Joyce Clarke, Edna Lun'gley, Elsa Jacobs, Molly Robertson, Frances Mitchell, Winifred Dyer. Molly Baker, Joyce ' Messent, Nell Wan an, Irene Crookshank, Messrs R. S. M'Konzie, Ernest Moller. There were difficulties in both the scholarship test pieces, commented Mr Bailey, and many failed because of these. The markings in this section changed slightly in the evening performance. The winner gave a very good presentation, and recited with much artistry. ELOCUTIONARY SCHOLARSHIP, Boys, 11 and under 16, (a) test selection, ‘ The Turkish Trench Dog (b) own selection. lan Wilson (85-84), 169 points ... 1 R. Watkins (82-82), 164 points ... 2 A. Mundie (83-79) and John Murie • (84-78), 162 points ... ... 3 Also competed: lan Buckley, E. Scott, Ivan Templeton, Gordon Lamond, Mervyn Fay, Frank Ponton, Fergus Still, John Parr, Sydney Davies, A. Henaghan, Trevor Larsen. Mr Bailey remarked that there were, even greater handicaps in this section. The winner was the only one who succeeded in achieving the atmosphere of 4 No Man’s Land.’ He did very well, and recited' with good restraint and boyish feeling. RECITATION, Ladies, own selection, not humorous. Miss Nanna Newey, 85 points ... 1 Miss Molly Baker, 84 points 2 Miss Isobel Clarke. 82 points 3 Very highly commended: Misses Billie Robinson, Nell Warren, Sybil Henderson. Highly commended: Miss Joyce Clarke. Also competed: Misses Joyce Messent, Winifred Dyer, Hazel M'Guire, Irene Crookshank, U. Fosbender, Norma Brown, Anzac Patton, Edna Lungley. . . . The winner’s dramatic ability was very good, commented Mr Bailey. The second competitor lost points in modulation at one passage, but gave a very good performance. RECITATION, 16 and under 18, own selection, not humorous. Miss Norma Brown, 83 points ... 1 Mr Ernest Moller, 80 points •- Mr R. S MTCenzie, 79 points ... 3 (Mr Moller was unable to appear in the evening as the result of indisposi tion.) Highly commended: Misses L. Mathieson, Joyce Hamer, Anne Heenan (Waikaia), Mr Bruce Mark. Also competed; Misses Bessie More, Jean Lister, J. Mac Lean, Frances Mitchell, J. A. Messent (Middlemarch), Messrs H. Davidson, lan Falconer. ; Mr Bailey said that it was unfortunate that Mr Moller could not appear, as he and Miss Brown had equal points in the preliminary markings.

DANCING. Judge: Miss Hall. BALLET DANCE, toe, 13 and under 16. Daphne Morrison, 88 points 1 Shirley M'Clatchy, 85 points 2 Joyce Collier, 84 points J (The second competitor Avas Ainable to appear in the evening and AVas judged on her original performance.) Highly commended: Frances Bryan, Norma Gore. Also competed: Thelma Anthony, A. Jenkinson (Invercargill). Miss Hall remarked that this was quite a good class generally. In particular, the -winner Avas one of the most promising young dancers she had seen in New Zealand. HALF-HOUR ENTERTAINMENT. (musical section). Miss Anita Winkel’s party presented ■ The Naughty ’Nineties.’ A second entry will be staged to-night.