COMPETITIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7970, 29 November 1911, Page 8

COMPETITIONS

AUCKLAND SOCIETY ELOCUTIONARY AND MUSICAL EVENTS. THE JUDGES’ COMMENTS. SPECIAL TO THE “TIMES.” AUCKLAND, November 2S. The Sydney boat, with tile singing and elocutionary judges on board, arrived at 2.30 this morning after a good passage. She was cleared by the Port Health Officer about S o’clock, and several members of the executive committee welcomed tlie judges to New Zealand. The piano recital for the X'M-0 Alison Grandette pia.7lo began at 9 a-m. There are 40 entries for this section, and the preliminary contests are being taken in four sections—ton each morning. A number of people were anxiously waiting to hear Miss Rene Qneree, of Wellington, who was due to come on this morning, and wore disappointed when it became known that she had been unable to get np. As this section is incomplete it may be as well to offer no comment on this morning’s performances. During the day a number of preliminary trials were got through, though there was a tendency not to keep very closely to the time-table. Several sections were late in starting, and at least one was begun before the schedule time. The following are the comments on the various sections, the results of which were announced to-night, when there was only a moderate attendance of the public, there being probably more than 800 people present. Piano Duct (under 16).—There were only three entries in this section, and none of the performances were very good. With regard to the winner, the judge (Mr Ives) said that ho wished to specially notice the work of the little girl, who did not appear to bo more tiian 11 years old. Contralto Operatic Solo, ‘Tierce now the Plaines Glow” (II Trovatore). —There were only four entries in this section, and only three appeared before the judge. In the same section in Wellington there wore eleven entries, six of them being from outside the Wellington province. The selection was much beyond the capacity of tho competitors. Mr Ives said that this class of work was tho highest possible kind of vocal work. To succeed in this class of work temperament was essential. None of the singers possessed this capacity for tense emotion, without which no dramatic effect could be obtained. Still, these young ladies sang the song very nicely. He had been accused of using the word “nice" thirty times in one evening—well, there were some performances for which no other word seemed to fit. Their singing was not really good, it was not exactly excellent, but it was jilst ‘‘nicely" done. Bass solo, “Hybrias tho Cretan" (Elliott).—There were seventeen entries for this section, of whom two came from outside Auckland. In Wellington there were sixteen entries, of whom eleven cams from outside Wellington. Mr Ives remarked that men were something like women—they changed , sometimes —and on this occasion the winner had greatly improved since the afternoon, when he had not placed him first. Performers sometimes varied greatly between a day-and a night performance. He would have gained more marks still if he had . sung from memory. As it was the judge gave him 91 per cent, marks; tho two seconds both scored 89 per cent, marks. Ladies’ Shakespearian recital (Juliet and Portia's speeches).—Total entries thirteen, outside Auckland five. In Wellington there were thirty-eight entries, seventeen of whom were outsiders. The judge (Mr Hopkins) said these were not easy pieces to recite; in fact, they were beyond the capacity of most of the reciters. There was a lack of emotion and real grief; they did not realise the atmosphere of the piece.' He would advise them all to study the whole play. Miss Lulu Arnold, of 'Wellington, who was placed first with 78 per cent, marks, gave a fine rendering, particularly of tho ‘‘mercy” speech, though she was labouring under difficulties, having been indisposed earlier in the day. The judge warned the competitors against speaking too much into the wings, when their voice and their facial expressions wore both lost to tho audience. They mtist not forget that they had an audience. Misses Bartley and Bain, who were bracketed third, did not have an opportunity of reciting att night, though they were recalled during the day. DramaticArecital, gentlemen (own selection) —Eleven entries in this section, with no outsiders. In Wellington there were 27 entries, including 13 outsiders. Hr Barradale gave a splendid rendering of “Clarence's Dream," and very properly gained the first prize. The second prize iveut to Mr Tressider, and the thirdMo Mr Armstrong. It was certainly hard to understand why these two positions were not reversed. The judge remarked that in this section he allowed marks for the nature of the piece selected, and that if No. 3 had chosen something better than Kipling’s "Gunga Din" he would probably have scored more marks. Shakesperean Recital, Hamlet’s speech, “Now I am alone."—Mr P. Larking, w-ho visited Wellington with the Auckland Shakespeare Club recently, was a veryreal and convincing Hamlet, and Well deserved his win. He got 74 marks. Mr Barradale was a good second with 72 marks, and Mr Harris got 70 marks. These three performers are all members of the Shakespeare Club, and their excellent readings gave marked evidence of the guiding hand of that Shakespeare enthusiast, Mr Montague. They were head and shoulders above tho other performers, and considerably better than any of the men in the Shakespearian classes in Wellington. At the momipg session some of the rejected ones reminded their hearers of old-time melodrama, and one man had evidently been learning golf, as he used all the gestures, that, the young golfer learns with so much trouble. Still, Shakespeare is not golf. Humorous Recital (gentlemen)—ln this class there were eight entries, with one outsider, who did not turn up, as against 37 in Wellington, with 14 outsiders. The standard was by no means up to the Wellington standard in this section.- Air Zante Wood was again excellent in the anatomical - tragedian, but the others did not seem . to possess tho true spirit of humour.. Mr Barradale had an excellent piece, hut -, missed many opportunities in this class. Taking all the classes together the judges are giving very much higher marks than did the judges at Wellington. If Miss Prichard or Mr Pauon had entered here it is difficult to see how they would have avoided beating "bogey." Mr Ives’s quaint observations amused the audience more than almost any of the humorous items on the programme. DETAILED RESULTS PEESS ASSOCIATION. ' AUCKLAND, November 28. T-lio Auckland Competitions were continued to-day. Results: — Baas solo—J. Atkinson (Momingside) 1, J. W. Ryan (Mount Eden) and P. W. Powell (Waihi) 2. Sacred soprano solo—Miss L. Gardiner (New Lynn) 1. Miss M. White (Mount Eden) 2, Miss M. Coleman (Devonport) 3. Contralto operatic solo—Alias E. Carter (Auckland) 1, Miss E. Young (Taranaki) 2. Dramatic recitation (men)—-H, Barradale • _ • r' r r Y - !, v V’ i*

(Auckland) 1, A- Tressider (Onehunga) 2, E. Armstrong (Auckland) 3. Piano duet (under sixteen) —Misses 1. Stubbs and It. Smith 1, Master Stevens and Miss M. O’Grady 2, Misses A. Webster and D. Payne 3. Shakespearian recitation (ladies)—Miss Arnold ('Wellington) 1. Mrs Tait (Mount Roskill) 2, Miss Bain (Auckland) and Miss Bartley (Auckland) (equal) 3. Shakespearian recital (men) —F. Larking {Auckland) 1, H. Barradale (Auckland) 2, T. Harris (Auckland) 3. Humorous recital—Mr Z. Wood (Auckland) 1, IT. Barradale (Auckland) 2, T. HarrA (Auckland) 3.