DRAMATIC RECITAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10965, 29 July 1921, Page 9

DRAMATIC RECITAL

RESIDENTIAL NURSERY CAMPAIGN. As a . means of augmenting the 'Women’s National Reserve Residential Nursery fund a very successful dramatic recital was given at. the Town Hall Concert Chamber last evening by the Rev. Archibald Hunt, assisted by a number of leading local vocalists and instrumentalists in several musical items. Mr Hunt’s personality and outstanding ability aa an elocutionist were alone sufficient to ensure a large audience, and the’ hall was well filled. In his first appearance, Mr Hunt held the audience in. rapt attention as in Robert Service’s “Son of the Yukon” he depicted the dying thoughts of a man whose last twenty years of life had been spent, amidst the- terror of the frozen and lawless northern gold diggings. He painted his picture most dramatically and completely transported his hearers. Bracketed with this number was a humorous recitation by Carter Platts entitled “Gladys Mary,” describing the tribulations attending the receipt of a valuable gift cat. The story produced -much merriment. His next item was again 5n serious vein— W. E. Henley’s “Matri Dilectissimae,” a devoted son’s tender meditation upon the memory of his dear departed mother. Mr Hunt entered fully into the depth of this beautiful work, and once more, captivated his auditors. In the second portion of the programme he further favoured! with ‘‘A Lesson in History” (J. H. Wood) and' “The First Settler’s Story” (Will Carleton). The Harmonic Quartette rendered a pleasing song by Storoh. entitled “Reveries,” and earned a deserving encore; in this they gave an amusjng four-voice Version of the well-known nursery rhyme, “Tom, Tom, the Paper’s Son.” Miss Ava Symons, the well-known. . local violinists, .played Saint-Saen’s “Introduction and Rondo Oapriccdoso,” and an arrangement by Klasthope Matin “Savourneen Deelish” as programme numbers, and had to respond to enthusiastic demands for extras. She played with her usual excellent intonation, quality of tone, and expression. Mrs J. F. Woodward applied her tuneful soprano voice to Owen’s “Invitation Waltz,” which delighted the audience; she also was favoured with a recall. Mi- Herbert F. Wood sai\g on© of his favourite solos, Buzzi-PeociaV “Lolita,” but this in itself failed to satisfy the audience, and he was recalled. Mr Harold Whittle accompanied the soloists with bis customary artistry.