METHODIST CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26228, 12 August 1946, Page 6

METHODIST CHURCH

CHOIR AND DRAMA FESTIVAL CONCLUDING SESSIONS The choir and drama festival conducted by the Christian Youth Movement of the Methodist Church in Dunedin was continued in the Concert Chamber on Saturday afternoon and was concluded at night. At the afternoon session, which was presided over by Miss Thelma Muir, selections were given by the junior choirs. This was a new section which proved highly popular and revealed a particularly high standard. At the night session, at which the Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron) was in the chair, there was a crowded audience in spite of the boisterous weather. Three plays tvere presented,these being interspersed with the senior choirs’ own selections. Mr Cameron complimented those who had organised the festival and also paid a tribute to the competitors, many of whom, he pointed out, had come from as far south as Invercargill. The trophies were presented by the Rev. W. G. Slade, president of the Otago and Southland district. Mr. Slade said the Youth Movement had made 'such progress that it was now in a position to secure a site for a permanent camp.

Presentation of Plays

In the afternoon “The Stoker” was presented by Cargill Road No. 2, the cast being—Mr Archie Railton (Keith Kitchin), Mr Peter Howard (Harold Burley), the Captain (Roy Elliot), the Stoker (Archie Brown), Mrs Leighton (Dulcie Bennett), Miss Sheila Pallant (Joyce McGregor). The producer was the Rev. H. W. Burley. At the night session Mornington presented “The Faithless," which was produced by Mr L. J. T. Ireland, the cast being as follows: Purzah (Elsie Hutt), Leah (Vera Ganderton), the Husband (Howard Harkness), the Centurion (Durham Cathro), the Soldier (Arthur Paton), Saul (Leslie Andrews).

“ Lady Rosa ” was presented by Central Mission No. 3, with Mrs McPhail as producer. The cast was: Doddie (Margery Hughes), May (Maureen Watterson), Julie (Lorna Fraser), Mrs Angela (Doreen Tyrell), Lady Rosa (Isabel McMillan). The Anal play, “The Legend,” was produced by Heather Smith for Cargill Road No. 1, the casting being Mrs Reed (Joan Milnes), Mrs Walters (Mrs Leaman), the Rev. Mr Fallows (Harold Burley), the Stranger (Erie Dale). Choral selections were given by the following: “The Sea Hath its Pearls” (St. Kilda Choir), “The Silent Tide” (Dundas Street Choir), “God So Loved the World” (Balclutha Choir), and a hymn test by the Balclutha Choir. Judges’ Awards

The judges’ awards were as follows: Drama.—A section: Dundas Street (“Twentieth Century Lullaby”), produced by Mrs Stephens, 89 points, 1; Young Women’s Auxiliary (“The Siege"), 82 points, 2; Central Mission No. 1 (“It’s Hard To Grow Old”), 78 points and Mornington (“The Faithless”), 78 points, 3 (equal). B section: Central Mission No. 2 (“Into Thy Kingdom”), produced by Mr J. W. Williams, 82 points, 1; Central Mission No. 3 (“Lady Rosa”), 71 points, 2; St. Kilda (“The Playgoer”), 68 points. 3.

Choirs.—Central Mission (conductor, Mr C. Vince), 148 points, 1; Cargill Road and Dundas Street, 147 points, 2 (equal); Balclutha, 145 points, 4. Junior section: Central Mission, conductor, Mr C. Vince, and Mornington,. conductor, Miss Elsie Hutt, 1 (equal); Cargill Road. 3. ' Judges’ Comments

The judge of the choirs, Mr Robert J. Matthews, commented that the balance in the part-singing was good, but he considered that greater contrast was needed as in some of the choirs the men showed a tendency to dominate the singing. Mr Matthews also pointed out that a serious fault was the lack of rhythm. The diction was excellent and good tonal contrast was shown. Referring to the junior section, Mr Matthews said he had been impressed by the freshness of the voices, but he thought there had been a poor choice of selection which had not given full scope to the abilities of the singers. Mr Roland Watson, who judged the drama section, referred to the excellent choice of plays on this occasion. They had been of a high standard throughout. The settings had been most commendable, particularly those for the Biblical plays, and the production had also been satisfactory. There had been a certain amount of slurring of vowal sounds and he emphasised that for the sake of the purity of speech of the young special attention should be paid to such a serious fault.