A DRAMATIC RECICAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2495, 23 June 1915, Page 3

A DRAMATIC RECICAL

MR. GILBERT EMERY. Mr. Gilbert Emery, who played the part of the policeman in the "Seven Little Australians" when the company was visiting New Zealand some littlo time ago, gave a dramatic recital in tho Theosophical Rooms in Ballance Street last evening. Mr. Hardio Shaw presided, and introduced Mr. Emery to an audience which quite filled the Chamber j and which throughout manifested its keen appreciation of the clover _ versatility of Mr. Emery in the different characters he portrayed. The programme which was presented gave excellent opportunities for showing his dramatic abilities, and covered many contrasting studies. The throne scene from "Queen Elizabeth," in which in a splendidly stirring speech Sir Walter Raleigh breaks his sword across his knee before Queen Elizabeth, was finely given by Mr. Emery as the opening to the programme. It was followed by a dramatic scene from "The Old Curiosity Shop (Little Nell and her grandfather), after the death of Little Nell, and in striking contrast to this was the following portrayal of Uriah Heap from "David Copperfield." Oliver Twist was the next to be drawn from, and after the interval, in which a collection was made for the benefit of tho war orphans, Mr. Emery gave Sidney Carton's farewell, from A Tale of Two Cities." A scene from The Silver King" followed, after which was given Queen Mab's speech from "Romeo and Juliet." A very clever performance was the "Message from Mars," in which Mr.. Emery gave in ten minutes a condensed rendering of the well-known play, giving the dialogue and taking the_ different characters with excellent individual characterisation. This was eularly enjoyed by the audience, which throughout tho evening did not stint its applause. Musical items were given between Mr. Emery's different performances by the Misses Castle and Mr. Chamberlain, the latter also playing an accompaniment to some of' Mr. Emery s scenes, Mr; Queree, who sang several songs, and Miss Withy.