DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21734, 27 August 1932, Page 12

DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS

ANNUAL FESTIVAL IMPROMPTU DEBATE CONTEST TIE FOR FIRST PLACE The outstanding attraction at the Dunedin Competitions last night was the impromptu debate contest, the subject chosen being, “That the Age of Chivalry is Dead.” The competitors extracted a good deal of humour from the subject, and provided an enjoyable hour’s entertainment. The competition has been revived by the society after the lapse of several years, and the standard reached in last night’s contest fully justified ats inclusion in the programme. A half-hour entertainment was presented by the W.E.A. arts class. . Mr J. C. H. Somerville presided at the evening session at His Majesty’s Theatre. The following are the results: — ELOCUTION Judge: Mr W. Russell-Wood (Auckland). SCHOLARSHIP FOR GIRLS, 11 and under 16 —(a) Test selection, “ The Darkling Thrush ” (Thomas Hardy); (b) own selection. Recalled: Misses Joyce Ridley (Tai®ui), Jean H. Lister (Musselburgh), and Joyce Hamer (Dunedin). Very highly commended: Misses Joy M. Knowles (Dunedin), Muriel M. Brown (N.E. Valley), and Dulcie M. Hazelwood (St. Clair). Highly commended: Misses Margaret Loan (St. Clair), Norma E. Brown (Dunedin), Ngaire J. Glue (Anderson’s Bay), and Adele Marks (Dunedin). Also competed: Misses Lexie Mathieson (Tomahawk), Loretta Kay (Dunedin), Alice Clarke (Dunedin), Joyce Coventry (Caversham), Joyce Keown (Dunedin), Marion Quartermain (St. Clair), Annie Jenkinson (Invercargill), S. D. Esquilant (Opoho), Jean Lawrenson (Dunedin), Joan Murray (Dunedin), Frances Mitchell (Dunedin), Joan Holmes (Dunedin), Daphne Morrison (Dunedin), Gwen Dewhirst (Roslyn), Elsie Kirkham (Dunedin), Harrea Huddart (Wakan) Shirley M'Clatchy (Caversham), Coll MLauchlan (Mornington), Jean Kirkham (Dunedin), and Ethel Thomas (Dunedin). The final of this class will be heard on Thursday night next.

NAVY LEAGUE RECITATION, competitors under 12 (open to juvenile members of the Navy League)—A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea (A. Cunningham). Miss Mollie M'Leod (Dunedin) and Master Mervyn Fay (Dunedin), equal, 83 points .. ,•• •• 1 Miss Doreen Yates and Master Billy Watson (Dunedin), equal, 82 points i Miss Merle Swanson (Dunedin), 81 points . • • • 5 Highly commended: Misses Stella Harris (Dunedin), Marjorie Brown (Dunedin), Dorothy Paton (Dunedin), Ngaire Glue (Anderson’s Bay), Sylvia Bean (Dunedin), Daphne Morrison (Dunedin), Adele Marks (Dunedin), and Ethel Thomas (Dunedin), and Masters Ra Hould (Dunedin), Fergus Still (NorthEast Valley), and Wilfred Bunting (WakaAlso competed: Misses Gwynneth Watson (Dunedin), Eva Budge (St. Hilda), Irana Livingstone (Dunedin), Mavis Conley (Dunedin)/ Joyce Vickery (Dunedin), Frances Anthony (Dunedin), Florence M'Curdy (Dunedin), June Hill (Dunedin), Marjorie Rhodes (Dunedin), Molly Mitchell (Dunedin), Margaret Roberts (North-East Valley), Pearl Garrick (St. Hilda), Jean Mitchell (Dunedin), Maud Stewart (Dunedin), Phyllis Allan (at. Hilda), Joy Ferens (Mormngton), and Masters R. W. Watkins (Ravensboume), James Robertson (Dunedin), Billy SmaiU (Dunedin), and Ivan Allan (St. Hilda). The class had been well contested, said Mr Russell-Wood, and there had Been 36 competitors. The class had been a little disappointing, however, in that the competitors had failed to enter into the spirit of the piece. - IMPROMPTU DEBATE, amateurs—time limit 10 minutes. Subject. “ That the Age of Chivalry is Dead. Messrs I. B. Stevenson and J. G. Warrington (Dunedin) and Messrs E. S. Tuckwell and J. C. Mowat (Dun-

edinj, equal, 109 points ........ 1 Messrs J. S. D. More (Wayerley) and D. Neill (Dunedin), 104 points .. .. 3 Messrs N. G. Hay and J. H. Kemnitz (Dunedin), 100 point* 4 Also competed; Messrs J. E. Efrost (Gore) and A. R. Scott (Dunedin). Mr Russell-Wood, in announcing the judge’s decision, said that he was sure that the audience would realise that in any competition of this kind the pair must stand or fall by their joint effort. Otherwise, in this case the result might have been different. For instance, Mr More had produced excellent argument, but his opponent had not been quite up to his standard. The_, competitors’, ideas of chivalry seemed to be associated with schoolboys' and tramcars. Mr Hanlon and he felt that they could not separate the first prize-winners, as their matter had been equally good.

DIALOGUE, in character, own selection, boys or girls under 16. Misses Lexie Mathieson and Ngaire Glue (Dunedin), 68 points ....... 1 Hisses Frances Mitchell and Nancy Dickinson (Dunedin) and Miss Dulcie Hazelwood and Master K. ft. M'Kenzie (St. Clair), equal, 64 points 2 Mr Russell-Wood said that he had been very disappointed in this class, the work in which had not been up to the standard that he had heard since coming to Dunedin. Compared with the dialogues which he had heard in other places, the work had been very poor. He felt that he, should say this so that the teachers next year would put on someting more worthy of their studios. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC Judge: Mr W. H, Dixon (Christchurch). PIANO DUO, two pianos, eight hands—- “ Oberon" (Weber). Misses Betty Blamires (Dunedin), Audrey Kirk (St. Hilda), Muriel Ironside (Dunedin), and Leslie Comer (Dunedin), 88 points .... 1 Misses Jessie Armstrong (Roslyn), Jean Gilmore (Dunedin), Betty Harris (Dunedin), and Nancy Newman (Dunedin), 86 points '2 These were the only competitors. This was an unusual class of great interest, said Mr Dixon, and it called for a good deal of practice together, technique of a high order, combination, and under; standing. A very*' fine massed effect of piano music might be obtained if -each player made perfect entries and the group kept well together. It was necessary if one player started a phrase for another player to continue that phrase with exactly the same touch, expression, and mood. The- perfect understanding which this class of work required could be obtained only by keen players who could frequently practise together. The winners had kept a better pace than the group placed second, and had obtained slightly better effects in detailed expression. VOCAL MUSIC Judge: Mr W. H. Dixon (Christchurch). SONG FOR GIRLS, under. 13—“ Sister, Awake” (Ivy Klein). Miss June Lawrence (Christchurch), 79 points ...... . • • • • ■ 1 Miss Peggy M. Harvey (North-East Valley), 78 points .. .. .. ... 2 Hisses Deslys M'Kenzjc (St. Clair) and Joyce Smith (North-East Valley), equal, 77 points .. .. ...3 Highly commended: Misses Moira Biggs fOpoho) and Annie Jenkinson (Invercargill). . _ , Also competed: Misses Eveleen M Evoy (Dunedin). Lily B. Shrimpton (Dunedin), Enid Peterson (North-East Valley), Irene Scott (North-East Valley), Margaret Laing (North-East Valley), Lilian Scott (Balelutha), Jean Biggs

(Opoho), Elsie Kirkham (Dunedin), Mattie Hall (St. Clair), and Shirley D. Esquilant (Opoho). The judge said that the performances had not reached a high standard. He suggested that girls under 13 as a rule could sing better than_ the majority who had taken part in this class. The song was a good test, but he admitted that it was fairly difficult for girls of this age. The great difficulty had appeared to be tone control in the upper register.

VOCAL SOLO, gentlemen, open to allfa) operatic air, own selection; (b) ballad, own selection.

Recalled: Messrs C. A. M'Dowell (Dunedin), D. Dowling (Ranfurly), and J. E. Davies (Dunedin). Highly commended; Messrs J. Galloway (Ravensbonrne) and E. Ottrey (DunAlso competed: J. B. M'Farlane (Ros-, lyn). Jack Stevens (St. Kilda), Erie Brebner (Balclutha), John Kennedy (Dunedin), and R. I. Douglas (Opoho),. The final of this class will be heard on Tuesday night next.

CHILD’S ACTION SONG, 12 and under 16 (in character)—Own selection.

Recalled: Misses Joy Knowles (Dunedin), Norma E. Brown (Dunedin), Natalie Hall (St. Clair), and Gwen Dewlurst (Roslyn).

Highly commended: Miss Olive Biggs (Opoho), Shirley M'Clatchy (Caversham), and Lexie Mathieson (Tomahawk). Also competed: Misses Lydia Henderson (Mornington), Martha Andrews (Dunedin), Annie Stevenson (Caversham). Joyce Coventry (Caversham), Shirley Esquilant (Opoho), Elsie Kirkham (Dunedin) and Master A. Mutimer (MormngtoTh’e final of this class will be heard on Monday night next. BARITONE SOLO—“ Curfew ” (Gould). Mr D. Dowling (Ranfurly), 88 points 1 Mr S. E. Kershaw (Dunedin), 86 points .. • • 2 Messrs Eric Brebiler (Balclutha) and J. Galloway (Ravensbourne), equal, 84 points 3 The preliminaries in this class were heard on Wednesday. . In announcing his decision the judge said that the song oifered a great deal ot scope for expressive and dramatic singing, and the winner, in particular, had taken advantage of every opportunity for expression and had shown first-class vocal quality and good diction. The other singers had brought out a great deal of interest and detailed expression, DANCING Judge: Mrs E. Hulme (Levin). BALLET DANCE, operatic, other than toe, under 10. Recalled: Misses Winnie Todd (Caversham), Marjory Rhodes (Dunedin) and Joyce Rowley (Dunedin). Also competed: Misses Mercer Donaldson (Dunedin), Irene Scott (North-East Valley), Edna Winter (North-East Valley), Lillian Scott (Balclutha). Mamie Amalfitano (Dunedin), Joan Townrow (Fairfield), June M'Clatchy (Dunedin), Noeline Reeve (Mornington). Bessie Shirley (Belleknowes), Peggy Halley (Dunedin), Lorna Marr (St. Kilda), Joyce Smith (North-East Valley), Zoe Prebble (Tainui), Lorraine Hill (Kensington), Joy Gray (Dunedin), Sheila Calder (Roslyn), Gwen Cox (Concord), Althaea M'Clatchy (Dunedin), Joy Vickery (Dunedin),- Loma Hewitt (Dunedin), Violet Glengarry (Dunedin), and Pamela Page (Dunedin). The final of this section will take place oh Wednesday night next. HALF-HOUR ENTERTAINMENT DRAMATIC SECTION. The fifth of the seven performances in the dramatic section of the half-hour entertainment was given by the W.E.A. Arts class, which presented a play, “ Tnb Stoker,” the scene being the captain’s cabin in a liner. . TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES At the competitions to-day the programmes will be presented by. juveniles. The half-hour entertainment by the pupils of the Yates-Quaife School of Elocution and the Stan Lawson School of Dancing will be followed by pianoforte solos, child’s action songs, recitations (boys), character dances, piano duets, children’s duets, recitations (girls 11-14),, character dances, songs for girls, and songs for boys. The item arranged at His Majesty’s Theatre this afternoon should also provide a delightful concert programme. The box plan is open at the Bristol.