THE COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1912, 21 November 1913, Page 5

THE COMPETITIONS.

CERTAIN RUNG DOWN. FINAL DEMONSTRATION NIGHT. ; , At. the Opera House last evening 'tho ;final> curtain was rung down' on ' tho operations.of tho Wellington Competitions Society for 1913. For this final demonstration; night the'building was packed in every part, and those assembled were treated to such a feast of Rood things as can only be enjoyed in Wellington, it is safe to ! say, at Competition time. If anything may be cavilled at, perhaps, the undue length of tho programme was the onlv fault. The ball was set rolling at B'o'clock, and the, end of tjie programme was not reached until 10:45. Dr. Norman Hales was- heard both in song and declamation. His first effort was Henry IV's speech before the "ivalls of Harlleur. This' he rendered very effectively, but in his eagerness to infuse the requisite, amount of spirit into his lines he managed to miss ono phrase: An encore was demanded, and be responded with more Shakespeare— the scene from Henrv IV where Falstaff ruminates on tho attributes of the word honour. In this' he easily outstripped his former effort. Later*in the evening he gave the American character song "I Swan," into which he.introduced some smart topicalities. Shakespearean items were given last nicht in goodlv numbers. Little Hazel Jeffery, as Prince Arthur (King John) gave perhaps the most sympathetic rendering, but Miss G...D. Shepherd as Anne Bolevn, and Miss Zita Chapman as Ariel. ("The Tempest"), were quite effective. Miss Cresswell, the' champion pianiste, played Chopin's "Ballade in G Minor" in faultless style, and proved herself to be possessed of considerable technique. Mr. G. J. .Blackie and Mr. Harry Phipps were tho two gentlemen vocalists of the evening. They are both the possessors of rather sweet tenor voices, which they produce .without any undue straining. Mr. Blackie opened with-tho old favourite, "I'll SingiTheo Songs of Araby," and as an encore sang "Rosamund." Mr. Phipps sang the wellknown' Scotch ballad, "Mary.'.' Miss Bottie Piirdom was heard in J. M. Barrie's "The Twa Texts." Her Scotch accent was faithfully done,'and as she is a hurhorist to the finger-tips, she had no difficulty in keeping the house laughing at the trials and tribulations of tho good people of Thrums. ' .Mr. C.A. Treadwcll gave an allegedly impromptu speech. .'When he appeared on the stage he was informed by Mr.. Dykes that, his subject was to be "The Mother-in-Law." Nothing, loaih, he immediately proceeded to deliver a highly humorous oration on "this unnecessary appendage (or appendix)," as.he termed the subject'of his address. Mr. J. Culford Bell was very powerful as Fagan the Jew. His characterisation was air that could be desired, and the raving's of the luckless old man in the, condemned cell, as the time for his execution approaches, wero -the acme of realism. Evidently believers' in the maxim of "finding out what the public wants and giving it to them," tho'comnutteo called on little Cecile Haines to appear quite a number of times. As a dainty little Cupid she danced divert-' "}gly.\ She was also associated with • Lu . ks ."."V a .-story without words, "Two'in a Train." With Master Leonard -Power,-as the waiter, this •precocious; maiden "was again to the fore; as David Coppe.rfield. 'Miss Mario *is recited the. "Story; of a Faithful is °" l .: ;V rl . t '] much'•expression. Blessed with a fine'stage presence;', this'young lady. uses;hcr; 4 voice ;W,'ith effect.- ■ An entirely different contribution was that p f;'fS'. Y; . P ; 'Hanna:;..;',Armed■,'with a stick "of charcoal; h e -.vigorously Attacked B',:^^flA ; -numerous sheets,of: paper, 'his : versatile hand(trfese,:wero quickly ''filled'' with lightning caricaturesVof; many competiJ 1 ?". 1 l™ vo 'irites ; - proof of the iaithtul«ess;:.:fo\the • likenesses- .was' the quickness'- in' which '.they"were,recognised. ■■■ •■;••■■' \' • ..-.■■. ■•■■.'.- " ; Other items ''pn'/the^lengthy pro-ff'?-u?' e „ S(l '"S s '-'.liJ 'Misses K. I Wheeler \M. and - Boutrell, Master Rodney P.ankhurst; a'humorous recitation%' Master LeitTi A. Riddell • and a series of dances by' juveniles! £hese »wcre as follow :-r-Miss Thurza Rogers-Insh Jig; Misses Plimmer, Rogers, -Haines, and Chapman, in a dainty gavotte;. Misses Peggy and Maisie Reeves, Haybittle, .and Chapman, JJio( Competition. Ballet; and a tan Dance by Miss Wyonne Havbittle. Master. Fergus and Miss Peggy Reovos i lso ,P 6 « ormedla variety "of- dancei movements. -rMr..O..W. Kerry was a tower rt stiength as the| accompanist to the songs; and Mr A. Williams -contributed not a, little to .tho success of the luvemle dancing by his playing' of the rarious items. . \ . . ■