THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23041, 20 August 1938, Page 15

THE COMPETITIONS

ANOTHER ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMME FIVE IMPROMPTU DEBATES There was not a very large house at His, Majesty’s Theatre last night, when the third programme of the thirty-seventh annual festival of the Dunedin Competitions Society was presented. This was a pity, because the .programme, was an exceedingly wellbalanced one, containing a full measure of entertainment. Proceedings were opened with the first of the 20 to 30minute plays, Mrs Hamer’s party presenting ‘ Slow Curtain.’ The pianoaccordion section proved a most enjoyable treat, although the field was small. The audience was not slow in expressing its appreciation of the performers’ efforts.

The first section of the impromptu debate.was perhaps the highlight of the programme, and the subject, ‘ That the Modern Tendency Towards Living in Flats' is. Detrimental to Family Life,’ being so topical and of considerable importance generally, met with the audience’s immediate approval. Some of the debaters were less ready to register approval and took some minutes to get under way. However, once “ steam was up,” each of the five teams competing gave good accounts of themselves. The winning team, Messrs J. D. Neil and J. S. D- More, created a real impression, and the judges gave them high praise. Mr J. W. Bailey added to the remarks made by bis associate. Mr J. M. Paterson, the statement that he had been judging debates for many years and had not heard better than that given by the winners. Unfortunately the third of the children’s, action choruses, ‘Gipsy Folk,’ which was to have been presented by Miss Joy Knowles’s pupils, was not presented. Measles and influenza depleted the size of the chorus to an extent- necessitating the , postponement of the item until August 30. Results of classes held yesterday afternoon and last night are:—

ELOCUTION. Judge: Mr J. W. Bailey. RECITATION, humorous, ladies, own selection. Miss Beryl Baggs, 82 ' ... 1 Miss Billie Loan, 81 ... ... ... ... 2 Miss Alice Clarke, 80 3 Highly commended: Misses Pat Strachan, Christine Wallace, Dorothy Shah (Christchurch). Also competed; Misses Margaret Ufton, Edith, Luuam, Peggy Griffiths, Frances Anthony, Freda Cubitt, Margery Fitzgerald (Invercargill), Joan Masters (Christchurch). The judge considered that there were some good performances in this class. It was difficult to find selections with true humour in the lines. Competitors should not attempt to caricature pieces, as the effect was spoilt by such a procedure, In some of the selections the raaint point of humour was in the last line, but there must bo humour in the context throughout the piece. Burns Recitation, 17 and under, own selection.—There were 12 competitors in this class, the following, who will bo heard on Tuesday night next, being recalled;—Misses Christine Wallace and Chris Justin.—The judge had very high praise for this section, claiming the work was of a standard such as he had never before encountered. He had the greatest of difficulty in deciding his recalls, and it took him some time to divide the competitors into order of place. Under the circumstances he would be forced to place, and specially commend, every performer, a thing he had never done before, and, moreover, had never heard of being done on any occasion. IMPROMPTU DEBATE. Judges: Messrs J. W. Bailey and J. M. Paterson. First Section. Subject, ‘That the Modern Tendency Towards Living in Flats is Detrimental to Family Life.’ Time limit, 10 minutes. Messrs J. D. Neil and J. S. D. More, 85 1 Messrs G. H. Boyes and S. A. Grave, 78 ... 2 Messrs D. L. Wood and M. G. O’Callaghan, 72 ... 3 Also competed: Messrs B. O’Donnell and H. C. Bullen, N.D. Ferguson and H. L. Gibson. “ The performances generally were very good,” Mr Paterson remarked, “ and they added greatly to the

pleasure of the evening. The audience was evidently most appreciative, and we are sure they were entertained.” The winners showed an excellent conception of real debating, and the amount of good argument introduced in the time at their disposal was a most commendable feature. The quality of their English was specially delightful. The second pair did some clever impromptu debating, but their argument suffered from lack of weight. The third pair did some clever aud entertaining work also, but the treatment of the subject by the first and the third team suffered when comparisons with the weight introduced were made. VOCAL. Judge: Dr James Lyon. SOLO. Men, Open: (a) Operatic Air, Own Selection; (b) Modem British Art Song—e.g., Vaughan Williams, Parry, Stanford, Holst, Delius. Mr Donald Munro, 182 1 Mr G. C. M. Angus, 181 2 Mr John E. K. Edgar, 177 3 Also competed: Messrs A, Thomson, Edward Ombler, Fergus Barton (Mayfield). In the modern division the winner selected a difficult song for a baritone, but carried it off splendidly, stated the Judge, and offered the advice that he should watch his vowels, which wore a little unsteady in the introductory passages. His words in the operatic number wore well moulded. The competitor was a true artist, and gave a thoroughly interesting performance. The second competitor was too meticulously careful, and was consequently not quite convincing in his modern song, but he gave really fine work in the operatic number. He possessed a fine voice, and there was good musicianship behind the singer. BURNS SONG. o wn_ Selection, Musical Setting. Mr Roy M'Dougall, 93 1 Mr Charles M‘Arthur, 92 2 Miss Kathleen Chappie (Christchurch), 90 3 Also competed: Misses May Allan (Ruapuna), Thelma Thomson, Messrs Nevill Power, William Sutherland, Harold Barnes, Fergus Barton (Mayfield!. The judge expressed approval of the type of song presented in this class, so much better, he said, than the pernicious and desecrating jazz so much favoured to-day. The winner's singing

was intimate and full of expression. His rhythm was slow, but well maintained, and he showed excellent vocal control. The second competitor was very natural, and gave a splendid rendering of a thoughtful character piece. He was j ust a little strained in his upper notes. DANCING. Judge: Miss Gwen Gibbs. TAP DANCING, Suitable for Musical Comedy, without any apparatus, 16 and over. Miss Daphne Finnerty, 79 1 Mr Billy Canning (Invercargill), 76 2 Miss Ngaire Wix, 74 3 Highly commended: Miss Millie Baxter. Also competed: Misses Yvonne O’Neil, Mary Spence, Marjorie Bryan, Eileen Faull, Mr W. M'Kinlay. The judge severely criticised the accompaniment in this section, and declared the competitors must have found it trying to give a performance to such music as was played. The time was erratic, and she suggested the use of records for this particular type of work in future. The two recalls each gave a well-beaten performance. The man’s footwork was exceptionally good, and he displayed nice rhythmic tapping. Although ho put his work over well, his deportment was bad. The winning competitor gave a very bright performance. She had an attractive personality and a good stage sense. INSTRUMENTAL. Judge: Mr James Dixon. PIANO-ACCORDION SECTION, Amateurs, any age, own selection. Time limit 4min. Miss Winifred Pile, 83 1 Miss Noeline Plank, 82 2 Mr William Swanson, 81 3 These were the only competitors. The playing was of a good standard, stated the judge. The left-hand work on a piano-accordion was recognised as the most difficult, and he expressed pleasure with the proficiency shown by all competitors in this respect. The winner gave a nice interpretation, showing excellent technique, and making, more of the light and shade than did the others. The second player also showed excellent technique, and struck a good and even tempo. The performances generally were close.