DRAMATIC RECITAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 20, 18 October 1917, Page 7

DRAMATIC RECITAL

MR, AND MRS. CULFOBD BELL'S PUPILS. There was a.' distinct improvement in the standard of dramatic effort on the part of the pupils of Mr. and Mrs. J. .Culford Bell at tho second recittrl given .in the Concert Clumber before an appreciative audience Inst evening. The performers were almost entirely new. to the public, and almost without exception wore unusually bright and intelligent in their work, -whilst the adaptability to character l impersonation- was," in certain instances, remarkably noticeable. Indeed without straining in tho least tho recital ranked with the very best pupils* entertainments held in Wellington, for years. Among the oustanding performances were those of Leith Eiddel in. 'The Landlady," an eft'eotive low-comedy sketch,; Miss Fanny, Kntner, in "I Cuban Refugee," showing a, deal ot finish in dramatic recitation; and Mr. Theo Hills, who got a lot of nisty fishhooks into his strong sketch of Squeers, tho villainous master of Dotheby School in Dickens's etory, "Nicholas Nickleby;" Another clever sketch was "Behind the Curtain," very admirably done by Miss Alba Greening, who has a. rare asset in a. well-modulated, low-pitched, speaking voice. Miss Lottie Harris recited "Maoriland* tin character); Miss .Jessie Lees, "Stolen Sweets"; Miss Marjorie Troup, "Bo Britons"; and Mr. Vyrn Evans ga.ve his audience etrong meat in "The Shooting of Dan M'Grew," which (sacrifices refinement for brutal realism. The programme wae graced .by the inclusion of an interesting and brightlywritten play in three acts, entitled "Transformed" (author's namo i.ot given). It was a comedy in which fairies i got comically intermixed with an amusing set of mortals. The leading sprite is Smoke (a goblin), alias Spark (a. fniry, who is condemned to a grey lif« by the Fairy Kin? for a misdemeanour against the fairy laws, an offence that can only be pardoned on hie winning the lovo of a lady of royal blood. So, being a cute Tittle ohap, ho purloins_ a Princess, and holds her captive pending tho subjugation of her heart. This is oventually accomplished, after many advontures in which a woodcutter and his family and tho Princess's royal parents take part. The Tole of Smoke was acted with "Puck-like insouciance by Pearl Jacobs, whoso natural aptitude for the stage was obvious. Hiss Eita M'Gce wns as bright and natural as ever as liobin, tho woodcutter's son; Mies Kathleen Keeco was also bright and glib as his garrulous mother, and Miss Kathleen Sullivnn as the woodcutter was excellont. Tho delightful feature of this jilay was the manner in which tho lines (which were extremely humorous i> nd up-to-date) fell trippingly from (he tongues of tho littlo performers, all of whom entered keenly into the spirit of the comedy. It will be a pity if this play is not repeated on another occasion. Among those present wero His Excellency tho Govornor-General and the Countess of Liverpool and the Mayor and Mrs. Luke.