COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1599, 16 November 1912, Page 6

COMPETITIONS.

— fr——/ !THB DOMINION CARNIVAL. THIRD DAY, •CHARACTER SKETCHES AND '• HUMOROUS SONGS. CRITICISMS AND RESULTS. I Tho third day of the New Zealand Com.petitions Society's carnival proved entirely (interesting, „nnd-. as the weather proved [■delightfully clement, the public turned lout in largo 1 numbers to hear the singers and -reciters'of. to-morrow strive in the Elista for whatever fame attaches to .success in these artistic affrays. - The (competitions set for . yesterday included tight reading, song for ■ ■• girls under 18, .violin solo fbr students under'2l-,' recitation for girlg under ,14, 'humorous song for anyone,.,.character sketch in and costume, male qiiartet; and tenor solo.; There was a fino range here,. and Veally excellent entertainment for those ' jthe least little bit interested in. . comjipetitions. Day after day sees-many of the . 'eame faces in certain seats—the faithful .'reason ticket-holders, who aro ever so inIwrested in'every, ; section and-performance. ; THE DAY'S IMPRESSIONS. • , MUSIC .AND HISTRIONICS. -' Mr. Wolf commenced in the big hall with, the young pianists, who were given a pretty rippling' by. Heller, jan which several promising young .players' , •' ' did themselves credit. It is, i matter for comment that among the eighteen competitors who . faced, the judge, only one was n male. Perhaps, it'is" that the lads ore more shy than the girls, but there is 'no question that i the lure of the comjpetitions appeals much more effectively to' (the young ladies than it does to the young jinen. Mr. Wolf,very rightly 'dwelt once (more on tho-importanco! of interpretation ■as against the meohanical playing of - a '.piece correctly., .. .. .. . : The song contest (for girls- under 18) 'which followed did'hot reveal any. talent . .tof.a particularly high, calibre, nor does, it, ; '-call at all for comment. ' The ■■ recitation :(for. boys under '11); only produced' five entrants, and in order to be quite consistent the judge'raised the. usual protest Vigainst such classes being neglected by ithe youth' of Wellington./, j At mid-day the few.-who waited'in the . big halt for, the male quartet were reward-: •.fed by a very,beautiful interpretation of- ; I "Lovely Night" (Clnvatal) by the /'Orpheus Quartet" Phipps,. Fletrhor, Allwright, Hutton), of Wellington. (Their tone was' musical,; 'modulation ; ei- • client, , and blending .'all biit" perfect., There were no',' jagged points; no roughEdges; tho chords came but organ-like, and there was understanding in .the'.iead!ine. The only other competitor was the j'TVaiata Quartet,"-.also ■ of Wellington, which was at once -put "out of the hunt," ' bo .-, to _ speak,- -by - the top' tenor.being' quite ,ilat~and altogether insecure: j The judge stated that it was the inside voices that were out of tune, whereas, in the writer's opinion, it was most palpably >the leading-tenor.. This ; quartet had an ' Vceptionally fine bass;, Bud Sing Actors and ; Actresses. ' In the afternoon the visitors to the ■'Concert Chamber were entertained by postume sketches—always an' attractive; class with the public—for an hour, and : Mr. Montague , was pleased to' call the' .performances poor, or at least that they jwero not good. From an average com-, '.petition standard two out of the five entrants, gave 'what seemed to the writer Very excellent performances indeed. The reference ■ as, i firstly, • to •' Mr. ,J.' C. '.Bell's. Pagih. the, night before [his execution;., This' is a compelling /sketch, jwhichV M£c>Bell ..presents j with much dramatic force: and adroitness;../ He . .- is slightly magnetic. 'has."a good', voice, ' land, spoke tho accented language-of'the trazed Pagin quite effectively. Then, seefondly, there was a good performance by iMiss Betty : Purdom, who essayed the shad scene of "Ophelia" from "Hamlet"— go well remembered in connection with ■ sast year's competitions. Mis 3 Purdom teave a convincingly intelligent performance. throughput, perhaps a little too whimperingly plaintive, and not strong [enough-in vthose",sharp - 'changes which (mark the , mad meandering® of the distraught Ophelia;; Still, it was' quite an ; /able performance; - a'- pleasant" demonstra-, lion of what-a . versatile .little lady . Miss iPurdoin is. .: ■■■ . - : . .- . Mr. Norman 'Aitken.'chose'the difficult Heath scene of from Bu Mauripr's play • "Trilby"—a 'most ambitious, land a slogging 'dramatic effort for the - most 'experienced, actor. As was quite inevitable,. Mr. Aitken could hardly be said to have convinced, and if an actor does not thrill'in such a scene, he fails. Mr. Aitken has a. good, deal of talent, and has played - some characters—chiefly irascible old meii-kxcellently, but it has its . limitations,' and. Svengaii "is beyond ' them.: Mr. Sydney" Tirigey appeared as Napoleon in "A Royal Divorce, and delivered a long speech made up of excerpts ■ from that play, blended "jvith bits that - Mr. W. 6. "Wills, never- wrote. Mr. Tingey's costume and make-up were really : . {capital) but the speech did. not ring-.true, and there were times when Mr. Tingey . was incoherent. Miss Churchill delivered ■ Queen ■ Margaret's speech from - "Richard. Ill" with fair ability,"'but with,a somefwhat colourless delivery. , %■ \ I The tenor solo produced a very' nice leading of "Good Night, Beloved," from / the Wellington ' Jenor,'-Mr. ; . Phipp's? I One of the most.'interesting section's; was. the recitation,. domestic' '- Asides" ,:(for ' girls under 14).' This class produced quite 'a wealth,of talent, and,in'at least, two oases the standard reachcd'wa's very high, •indeed, for the little 'dots ,of. humanity • |-who faced the judpe. Tiny-Cecile Haines .possesses a natural humour, quaint and •brilliant in quality.,.'.She is, a._l)orn com-. Wlienne. Another very talented -child -isMiss H. P. .Teffery. '.wlicss, iending.'.ofithe, ■(humorous (though .not ■ well written) frerses was exceotionally. "more so in ■ %he afternoon than at night. The placing -of this child .by the -judgo was one -of ■those mysteries over '.which' .'no "one! has My control. f Male Quartet. (Jlale Qnartet—TestlPiece,. "Lovely Night" (Chwatal). .First, 'prize, J2l; ' second, il," Third, Certificate. Entrants—"The Orpheus Quartet farty,". Wellington; -."Waiata Quartet- ■ Tarty," Wellington." ' ' ' . ! Mr. Wolf said that lio'nwarded the first, '.prize to No. 1 (the : .''Orpheus _ Party"-— .Messrs. Phipps, Fletcher;, Allwright,.. and 'Hutton), with 133 point's.To the others he allotted 12-1 points.- Tho first perform--ance was very goodr-rmisical, and as to /the blend, .beautiful;-' Thljy dropped their pitch, but diropped ;.it. at the commenceiment, and then held.,time. 'The second . quartet was , out of'. tune in tho inner parts. They retained pitch: This quartet , had a very fine bassr-and ,the bass was the most important voice in tlie quartet, hot ithe tenor" cr .soprano.."''3s' 'was ! generally supposed. The bass'.was tlie. foundation, and if he was true the pitch was retained. If a quartet was out of. tune it lost : balance and expression; ; Both performances were good, but tho first was very igood indeed. .■■ | ■ Sight Reading. ) Eight Reading (ladies and gentlemen), ' First prize, .£2; second, third, Certificate. r Entrants—Miss E. Churchill, Dunedin; CHlss B. Purdom, Island Bay; Mr. J. C. '8011, Lower Hutt; Mr. W- B. Lambert, ■Wellington; Mr. J. Lennox, Wellington; 'Mr. A. T. Perry, Rilbirnie; Mr. Byron ■Brown, Otalri; Mr. S.-Orr, Waikaka'; Mr,C. A. L. Treadwell, Lower Hutt; Mrs; M; Herrick, Wereroa; Miss D. Blanchard, Wellington; Miss P. Knight, Wellington. Result—l, Mr. J. C. Bell (149 marks); 5, Mr. S. Orr (143 marks); 3, Mr. B. Brown (139\ marks). Commended, Miss Betty Purdom.' ' ■ ■' The ifassago. chosen for the reading waa one from Macaulay's "Essay on the Impeachment .of Warren Hastings. Mr. Slontague said that several of' the competitors, most of them indeed, made mistakes in English or diction, as it is called. Reading at eight was not easy—it was a better indication, of intelligence than mere reciting. Some of the mistakes were in words lite multitude, which most nf the competitors called "multitchude" : ■ real was not "reel"; and suitor was not "nooter/- Another popular, mljtafe, iraa

in such words as opposition, confusion. Many of the competitors ended the word "shin," "instead of "ion.". Others read "Eurup" and "Eurupeens" for Europe and Europeans. Messrs. Brown and Orr were recoiled, and read a passage from Mnfaulay's "Essay on Hampden," tho two having been equal on tho first reading. Recitation (Boys Under 14). Recitation (Boys under li)— Test Piece, "Planting. Trees," Bunnor.. First prize, Silver Medal; second, Bronze Medal; third, Certificate. Entrants—Master C. Stockbridge, Brooklyn; Master Fergus Ecevea, Wellington; Master L. Power, Wellington; Master L. A. Riddell, Wellington; Master W. 'F. Robson, Napier. Recalls—ilnstcra Reeves and Power. Result—l, Master Leonard Power (131 marks); 2, Master P. Reeves (130 marks). This, the judge said, was a disappointing, section on account of the small number of entries. When he heard the boys or even adults, recite, 'lie often felt as though he would like to get up and. recite it for them, tut on rellection did not think it would do much good, and probably when lie had finished they would think their own interpretation the better, for tlie simple reason that it was only those who were trained and very intelligent who knew where to look for information and hints; and profit by them. He thought the piece a very beautiful one. Piano Solo (Under 18). Piano Solo' (under, 18)— Test Piece, "Tarantelle" in A, Flat, Heller. First ' prize, £.1 10s.;' second, 155.; .third, • Certificate. , Entrants—Miss D. Toomer. Danneyirke; Miss Ruth Ranson, Dannevirke; Miss Ethel'Bignell, Marton; Master'M. Dixon, Berhampore; Miss K. M'Keown, Wellington; Miss Eileen Corby, Wellington; Masr ter L. E. Von Keisenberg, Wellington; Miss Rita G. Smith, Auckland; Master B. Kingan, Christchurch; Master. N. IC. Thomson, Wellington; Miss Amy Watts, Hastings; Miss 5L H. Shepherd, Welling,ton; Miss Stella Boon, beatoun;' Miss Pearl' Kean, Wellington; Master H.. L. Moody, Christchurch; Miss Elsie Judd, Otaki; Miss Eileen' Naughton, Otaki; Miss B. M. Crump, Wellington. ; Recalls—Miss Rita G. Smith, Master B.' Kingan, Miss Amy Watts, and. Miss Pearl Kean. Result—l, Miss Pearl Kear (134 marks); 2, Miss Amy Watts (128 marks);' 3, Master Thompson (127 marks). . Song (Girls under 18). Song (Girls under. .18)— Test Piece, • • ," 'Neath your Casement," C. /Willeby. First, prize, Silver -Medal; second; Bronze Medal; third,, Certificate. Entrants—Miss Maggie Rhynd, Brooklyn; Miss Nellie Foster, Petone; , Miss Lily Weston, Wellington; Miss Marjorie Jones, Wellington; Miss Marie. Fix, Wellington; Miss Eunice Wyatt, Wellington. Result—l, Miss Eunice ■ Wyatt (134 marks); 2, Miss Marie Fix (132 marks); 3, Miss Marjorie Jones (180 marks). The judge (Mr. Wolff) said that, if he wished to hear the voice he' would have set • the , competitors an . exercise, tut he . had selected a. song .not so much to hear the quality of the voice, but to hear them give an interpretation of it. There were many fine voices in the world, but remarkably few with brains at theback of them. Many had a contempt for a small'voice, but he could assure them that a small voice well. produced would fill the largest ball. . Character Sketch, Character Sketch, pathetic .or dramatic (in costume and with make-up). ■ Time limit, 8 minutes.' First prize; £3; second, Jsl; third, certificate. Entrants—Miss Ethel Churchill (Qneen : Margaret, in. "Richard III"),. Dunedin; Mr. Norinan Aitken ("Svengaii"), . Wellington i'Mr. Sidney Tingey. (Napoleon, in "A Royal Divorce ), , Wellington;; Miss Betty Purdom ("Ophelia"), Wellington; Mr. Jas. Cnlford Bell ("Fagin's Last Night in the Condemned Cell"), Lower Hutt. Recalls—Miss . Betty Purdom, Messrs. Aitken and Bell. : Result—l, Mr. J.-C. Bell (150 marks); jj, ■Mr.' N. Aitken and Miss Pijr'd6m : ' (148 marl®.each). ".1' • Tho judge said -that the : acter sketch.'was. always an' interostiflgi 'one to the public, and he regretted , ithatf there werel not , more entries; Perhaps there were other costume classes in which others were, interested. The work was not of a very high standard. In this class he had made the maximum points 225, having added 25 points for costume and make-up, and as he had said that if candidates'did not, secure .150, points, (on tho . 200 maximum),,; they might ' gather, that" he did not think' very highly of their performance; in this case the class was not very ,satisfactory. * He. would recall, three—Messrs. Aitken and Bell and Miss, Purdom. v ' • Humorous Song. .. , Humorous Song (lady or gentleman)— Own selection, ' not in character. .. .First • prize, £2; second, XI; third, certificate. Entrants—Mr. Zante Wood, Wellington; Mrs. Ivo. Symcs ("A 'Lesson With a Fan"); Wanganui; Miss Dorothy' Jones ("A Wee Bit Shv"), Wellington; 1 Mr. Stanley Ranldne, Wellington;' Mr; Arthur Davie ("Hey DonalV), Dunedin; Mr. Gerald Bell ("When I was a Boy at School"), Wellington; Mr. Arthur M'Donald,' ("Simon the Cellarer"), Christchurch; Mr. D. V. Cymfo, Melbourne, Victoria; Mr. John H. Andrew ("Simon the' Cellarer"), Manakau; Mr. Alfred Geo. Thompson, Nelson; Mr.-G. S. Davidson' (The Vicar's Song, from "The Sorcerer"), Wellington; Mi6S Ivy Jones ("Marjorie Green"), Wellington. ' Recalls—Mrs. Symes, Mr. Gerald Bell and Mr. A. G. Thompson. Result—l, Mrs. Symes (141 marks): 2, Mr. A. G. Thompson (137 marks); 8, Mr. G. Bell (135 marks). Tenor Solo, ' Tenor Solo—Teßt piece, "Good-Night, Beloved." :Balfe; First prize, £2; see-. ond, j01; third, certificate. Entrants—Mr. Harry Phipps, Wellington;' Mr.. E. Richards, Nelson; Mr. W. F. Howse, Wellington; Mr. J. B. Bowman, Wellington; Mr. Dan Evans, Wellington; Mr. H. P. Green, Masterton; Mr. Harry Gill, Christchurch; Mr. W. E. Saunders, Lower Hutt. Recalls—Messrs. Phipps, Howse, and Gill., Result—l, Mr. Phipps (129 marks); 2, Mr. Howse (128 marks); 8, Mr. Hill (119. marks). Recitation (Girls Under 14). Test piece, "Domestio Asides." Hood. First prize, ' silver medal; second, bronze medal; third, certificate. Entrants—Mies Vera- Mason,- Wellington; Miss :G. Dickel, Palinerston North; Miss ?ita H, Chapman, Lower,Hutt; Miss E. M. Aitcfieson, Wellington;. Miss E. -Robertson, Palmerston North; Miss P. Adams, Wellington; Miss M. J. M'Laren, , Wellington; Miss Cecile Haines, Wellington; Miss 0. Tamblyn, Wellington; Miss L, Rowntreo, Wellington; Miss Boutell, Wellington; Miss E. Williamson, Wellington; Miss S. Cairns, Masterton; Miss H. P. .Jeffery, Wellington; Miss Maffie Bishop! Miss V. Johnson, Wellington; Miss Olive Smith, 'AVellington; Miss D. M.~Crosse, .Lower Hutt. Recalls—Misses Zita Chapman, E. Rob-' ertson, Cecile Haines, M. J. M'Laren, H, F. Jeffiery. Result-rl,- Miss Cecile Haines (150 marks); 2, Miss Robertson (145 marks); 3 Jliss Zita Chapman (141 marks); 4, Miss Jeffery (140 marks). The judge thought that in such an interesting competition he was justified in recalling more than three, the usual number.. He would recall five.. He could not. understand how- all the teachers of the competitors had missed the point—the most!humorous point—iru the recitation. Of ooiirse, h« could not toll them what it was, but they had all missed it. Still, some hai given very pleasurable i»rformancefl, though thoy had not "found the spot." Another fault was the desire of so many. to hurry through. There was T«ally plenty of time—thoy had all tho afternoon before them, if neeessary. Violin Solo. Violin Solo (under . 21)— Test piece, "Legende Wieniawski." First prize, i! 2; second, jCI; third, certificate. Entrants—Miss Maud Remington, Levin j Miss M. M'Lauglilin; Wellington. Result—l, Miss Renlington (159 marks); 2, Miss M'Laughlin (129 marks). The judge (Mr. Leon Cohen) said that, considering the difficulty of tho piece, the performances were exceedingly good. . THE EVENING'S CONCERT, COMMENTS BY THE JUDGE. Last evening's conoert, by fax the beflt sirw la Qoaneotiftn tho poajsetii

tions, attracted an audience that almost fijled the Town Hall. The talent was of a high average quality, and in some instances was exceptionally good. The audience.was particularly tickled by the littlo girls' humorous recitation. There were five little ones, and all were very good, but in Cecile Haines was discovered a little artist who sliono like a precious gem, and her reading of tho poem fairly brought the house down. Master P. Reeves, a bright, intelligent youugster, gave a capital account of himself in tho recitation "Planting Trees," which was also tellingly treated by Jtaster Leonard Power. Tho costume character sketches were quite good. Miss Betty Purdom gave her clever delineation of Ophelia in the mad scene from "Hamlet." Mr. Norman Aitken appeared in Svengali's death scene from "Trilby." It was, however, left to Mr. J. Clifford 801 l to rrivo the . audience a real thrill which he did in his repulsively graphic sketch of Fagin's last night on earth, from "Oliver Twist." Miss Remington, tho winner of the day's violin solo, played Wieniawski's difficult "Legende" very nicely, considering her state of nerves. Messrs. Phipps and Howse (both of Wellington) gave very nice readings of Balfe's beautiful song "Good Night, Beloved," and the "Orpheus Quartet" sang "Lovely Night" very charmingly. The surprise of the evening was tho "Stories Without Words," at the ond of what was a much too lengthy programme. Here again Miss Purdom and Mr. J. C. Bell scored heavily in a humorous "Sketch in a Railway Carriage," both acting the little comedy scene in the best comedy spirit. Miss Lena Lennox and Mr. Zante Wood appeared in ' a wordless sketch ontitled "Shopping." Mr. Wood's pantomime as a shop assistant was exceedingly good, and Miss Lennox looked and acted very sweetly. Mr. N. Aitken and Miss Eva Russell were amusine in "Mr. Bumble's Courtship" (from "Oliver TVistr"). The decision in this class (not programmed in the ordinary way) was given by ■Mr. Montague after the public had rushed to catch its car. Miss Purdom and Mr. Bell_scored first place with 120 marks. Miss Lennox and Mr. Wood second with 102 marks, and Mr. Aitken and Miss Russell third with 95 marks. • delivering his judgments Inst ©venlng Mr. J. p. Montagus remarked that in the recitation, "Domestic Asides"' (for girls) there was some /remarkably good work—indeed, very delightful performances altogether—and no had greatly enjoyed hearing such work. The humour of the piece lay in the 6udden change.necessary after the third line in each verso, which most of the competitors did not emphasise enough. .Miss Haines, the winner, was a remarkably clever actress with a great comedy sense. In the recitation for boys, "Planting Trees," Master Power had his revenge. He' was awarded the first prize. Master Reeves's work was not so good as the previous evening. It was stilted and jerky; still he spoke the piece very well. In the character sketch, better work had been done that evening than during the day. Mr; Bell's .work as Fagin was very good, and Mr. Aitken's Svengaii was appreciably better than in the afternoon. He placed Mr. 801 l first, and bracketed Mr. Aitken and Miss Purdom second. ! Mr. Wolf, in delivering judgment in the music classes, commenced with, the "Tarantelle." He remarked that the competitors did not seem to know what a "Tarantelle," was, and described it as a whirl, and the swiftest of all dance music. Originally the "tarantella" dance was supposed to be an .antidote for the bite of the tarantula spider. It was spoilt .by most of the competitors by too much pedal. . He commended Miss Kean's (the winner) performance, and stated that tho second prize-winner had lost 6ix points through having" the music before her. Competitors should always try to play their pieces .without the music. Mr.- Wolf described Mrs. Symes's singing of "A Lesson With a Fan" as refined and artistic. In this class some' of the competitors had not been able to discern the difference between a humorous and a comic song. One had sung Harry Lauder's song, "Hey Donald"—purely a comio song—and had at once been put, out of. the class. . He praised the tenor singing of both Mr. Harry Phipps and Mr. Howse, both'of-,whom appreciated that the song "Good Night,-Beloved;" was a love seren-!acle;,:-Mr.'Howse was.not so secure.ip ;hja hea'di-notes.as the winner/-) TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME: ■ Town Hall—9 a.m., piano solo (over 18); 10.15 a.m., bass solo; 11.15 a.m., Shakespearean recital (ladies), speeches.from. "As You Like-It"; 2 p.m., solo (ladies), oratorio or operatic number and a ballad. ■■Concert Chamber—lo a.m., Girl Peace Scouts' physical culture competition; 10.30 a.m., G.P.S. first-aid competition; 11 a.m., G.P.S. signalling competition; 2 p.m.,bugling competition; 2.15 p.m., Boy Scouts shelter-building.; 3.30 p.m., Boy Scouts'first-aid competition. A splendid programme for this evening, should result from the sifting/process in connection with tho above classes. 'As a' bon bouche Mr. Alan M'Elwain,- described by Mr.' Dykes as the funniest man in New Zealand; will give some comedy sketches, including his pieco do resistance, "On Strike."