AN EXCELLENT ENTERTAINER

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2211, 25 July 1914, Page 3

AN EXCELLENT ENTERTAINER

REV. A. E. HUNT'S RECITAL. AVellington is fortunate to have secured the Rev. Archibald E. Hunt as a resident. Not only is he an able preacher, ,lrat last evening he proved to an audience that filled the Concert Chamber -that he is a capital' entertainer." He was pleased to call the entertainment a "dramatic recital," but very quickly established the fact that his talent has a wider range than ihemere reciting of dramatic pieces.. Aβ a matter of fact, his style in" that class of ivork' is somewhat though effective enough in the main. Mr. Hunt was most effective and appreciated • in his humorous and character recitations, notably so in the comic recital, "A Night With the Baby." ana the Mel. B. Spun- edition of "Jack and Jill," in which is reflected the manner in which such poets as Edgar Allen Poe,' Tennyson, Cowper, Burns, •' Tony Hood, and Kipling -would treat such a/theme. Excellent, too, was the reverend gentleman in a very .telling monologue, entitled "A Dickens Reverie," in which is. conjured' up familiar ' scenes from "David-Copperfield," "The Old Curios, ity Shop," and "A Tale of Two Cities;" In this recital ho showed a distinct gift for characterisation in bringing Uriah Heap, Little- Nell's- grandfather, and Sidney Carton before the eyes and mind. Mr. HiiVit also recited interestingly "The Highwayman," "The Green Eye of the Yellow' God," and "The Old Cremona." • •

Mr. Hunt had the assistance of Mr. Hamilton Hodges, who sang the Wagnerian romance, "0, Star of Eve" (from "Tannhauser"), "None But the ■Weary Heart" . (Tschaikovsky), and an unfamiliar sotting.of, "Good-Night, Beloved" ; Miss Freda Walter and Mr.. Eric Meier, two promising youiig violinists. Miss Walter played a .very difficult Sarasate arrangement of airs ffpni Gounod's "Faust, , ' which was slightly beyond her Rapacity, but. which displayed a healthy ambition in the right direction. With Mr. Meier she played a, "Polonaise" by Kotake, Miss Violet Lewis and Master .Walter prorided the accompaniments.