Colour and Variety

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 444, 28 August 1928, Page 13

Colour and Variety

GOOD PROGRAMMES AT COMPETITIONS

LARGE ATTENDANCE

At the Embassy Theatre the Auckland competitions still continue to attract large attendances. The returns for the morning and afternoon sessions show big inu ! provement this year, quite a large section of the public having adopted the habit of dropping in at the Embassy during the luncheon hour or at odd times during the day. At the evening session the recalls from the classes heard during the day provided an interesting programme. I The large audience was in an appreci- i ative mood and all items were well received. The appearance of Miss Cecil Hall's Sicilian ballet teas a bright feature of the evening session. The combined ballets are always well received, and last evening’s performance proved no exception to the rule. In their picturesque peasants' costumes of russet brown the dancers ade « a ,y e , ry effective stage picture. The finalists in the character dance oyer 16. and national dance (11 to 12). also added variety and colour to ~ a very entertaining session, v The results at the evening session weye as follow: RECITATION, Boys. 11 to 3 2 years. ‘ “It Couldn't be Bone'* (Guest). Man SvS S fP° n | h |!?P.\ Points .. 1 fy an Ryan (Bayfield), 82 points o Norman Pearson (Ponsonby). 82 points 5 , Kden) h,y commen <Jed: Gibson Frith (Jit. j J es iL pi s ce was we!l executed b-v ! turll St the ? aid the judge, and < three -were recalled instead of two. as at i nrst intended. Although the perform- I ances were good, the phrasing of some competitors was not accurate, and thev I lin** 6 inc^ to quote the piece line by CHARACTER RECITAL, in costume; over 10 and under 12 years. Rosalie Daniels (Epsom), 101 points.. 1 M dson (Mount Eden) and Olga Elsmore (Grey Lynn), 96 points.. 2 A tendency to select too mature passages for such young children was referred to by the judge, who said no child could adequately represent the emotions of such a character as Juliet. However, some true recitals were given, the winner contributing a charming performance and winning remarkably high marks. TEST RECITATION, girls under 16 years. Audrey Ivil (Marrow Keck), 84 points 1 Hilda Davies (Epsom)- and Rosalie Daniels (Epsom), 76 points .. .. 2 Highly commended: Mavis Dreaver (Newmarket). Ruth Gourdie (Herne Bav), Mollie Needham (Grafton) and Edna Tullett (Mount Roskill). High marks were again awarded in this class by the judge, who said Rosalie Daniels gave a fine effort for one so young. NATIONAL DANCE, over 9 and under 11 years. Elva Parr (Auckland), 77 points .... 1 Gladys Cain (Point Chevalier). 76 points .' 2 Patty Gilmour (Devonport), 72 points 3 The finalists in this section showed a good sense of rhythm and sound footwork, said the judge. The chief fault in this class was the complete disregard of the music, which was a very essential background to the dancer. In the accompaniment of the dance the notes must be accurately play-ed. the time alone not being a sufficient aid. CHARACTER DANCE, over 12 and under - 15 years. Edna Tullett (Mount Roskill). 78 points 1 Kathleen Boyle (Ponsonby), 76 points 2 Joyce Howie (Epsom), 75 points .... 3 Highly commended* Stella Vernon (Reinuera). The first and second prize-winners, in this section gave amusing and well-sus-tained characterisations. The judge remarked that the borderline of character and national dancing was difficult to define, and some of the performers gave dances combining both types. CHARACTER i)ANCE, 16 years and over. Miss Tsabelle Brook (Epsom), S 3 points 1 Miss Peggy Holmes (Parnell), 78 points 2 Miss Kitty Smallbone (Remuera), 75 points 3 Highly commended: Miss Claire Seale (Herne Bay). This was a very good section, said the judge, and both the winner and runnerup showed clear conceptions of their characterisations. SHAKESPEAREAN RECITAL, Men. Mr. W. R. Atwell (Kingsland), 66 points 2 The judge said that ,in this class he had been unable to make any recalls, as his duty was to see that a certain standard was attained before a first prize could be awarded. He would make the award of a second prize only. HUMOROUS RECITAL, Men. Mr. Jim Sharp (Auckland), and Mr. Rasmus Jacobsen (Auckland). 68 points 2 The judge said that as in the previous class, no competitor merited a first prize. He bracketed two performers as joint winners of a second award. PIANO SOLO, Over 12 and under 14 years. (a) “Minuetto-Sonata” (Beethoven); (b) Own selection. Richard Walton (Mount Albert), 140 points 1 Sunday Mowbray (Takapuna), 138 points 2 Phyllis Purchanse (Ponsonby), 134 points 3 Highly commended: Colin Raffetry (Onehunga) and Lois Shortland (Glenmore). The time and rnythm displayed by competitors in this class were favourably commented upon by the judge, who said the tone quality was also good, but lacked variety. One fault was that performers failed to differentiate between the style of the Beethoven test piece and the selection they had chosen themselves. He was pleased with this section as a whole. NATIONAL OR FOLK SONG, Open. Miss Edith Strange (Ponsonby), 165 points J Miss Aimee Clapham (Auckland-), 163 points 2 Miss Doris Moore (Devonport), 161 points 3 Highly commended: Miss K. Christie (Grey Lynn) and Miss Helen Taylor (Northcote). This was easily the best class he had judged so far. commented the judge, and all- the performers gave really excellent performances. He had never before heard “The Lass With the Delicate Air." the song given by the winner, sung so charmingly. OPERATIC SOLO, Ladies, own selection. Mrs. Arthur Wallis (Devonport), 154 points 1 Miss Doris Moore (Devonport), 151 points 2 Miss Edith Strange (Ponsonby). 148 points 3 Highly commended: Mrs. Helen Kersey (Auckland), Miss Distin Strange (Ponsonbv) and Miss I\. Christie (Grey Lynn). The judge said there were no striking competitors in class, but no per- | former did not do well. They were all | nearly equal in merit, none gaining less than 70 per cent., or more than SO per cent. The only point where they failed | was in their interpretation, which became | difficult in the case of translations of i Italian and French songs.

TO-DAY’S CLASSES

PICTURESQUE DANCING This morning’s session was devoted to children’s classes, two of the principal events being a character dance under 12, and national dance, 12-15. Both dances afforded splendid opportunity for attractive costuming, of which full advantage was taken. The national class, which embraced Russian, Dutch, and Hungarian dances, etc., was responsible for some very picturesque and enjoyable perform-

ances. The piano solo (16 and under 19) also proved a. very good class. This afternoon the principal events will be the oratorio solo (women), violin solo (14 and under 18), operatic dance (16 and over), and the bass solo. “Myself When Young.” In addition to the usual recalls from | the day sessions, a. combined ballet , will also be danced at the evening scs- ' sion, and section B of the impromptu speech will also be held. • The following recalls were announced: — RECITATION, Girls 9-10. Recalls: Marie Isobel Best. Audrey Ivil, Olga Elsmore and June Carter. NATIONAL DANCE, not including Scottish or Irish, but covering Russian, Dutch, Hungarian, etc., 12-15. Recalls: Loloma Kay, Irene Long. Edna Tullett. Highiv commended: Stella Vernon. Kathleeij Boyle, Diana Lodge, Joy Simon. CHARACTER DANCE, under 32. Recalls: Dallas Lethaby, Gladys Cain, Elva Parr. ; Highly commended Shtrley. Thomson.