COMPETITIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 121, 15 February 1919, Page 11

COMPETITIONS

MONOLOGUES, VOCAL SOLOS, AND HIGHLAND DANCING ADVICE TO COMPETITORS The competitions at the Town Hall were resumed yesterday morning, when the increased size of the audiences showed an awakening interest in the efforts ot the contestants in the artistic arena, ihe only section taken in the morning was the "recital with musical accompaniment," which is usually classified as a musical monologue. Mosifc of the performers were young ladies, and the degree of colour and refinement which they lent to the lyrics—some of them quite commonplace in characterwas particularly pleasing to note. It •was, for example, a. rich treat to hear Miss L. C. Adams recite "A Bunch of Roses." She has personality, refinement, and that indefinable attribute usually known as "charm." In delivering judgment in this class Mr. J. F. Montague offered some very sound advice to competitors. He wished to say in all sincerity that. all competitors should do their utmost to approach the competitions in the right spirit. "Don't come into them," ,he said, "with the idea of winning—that you are going to carry all before you. If you do, you deliberately court disappointment. I do say to you— come in to do your best in all modesty. Come in a good sporting spirit, remembering that if you do not win there are other competitors, and, thank the Lord, other judges! Come with a meek and humble heart, and the pleasure of the time, whether you win or lose, will be the greater." Mr. Montague said that computers often marred their _ own chances by selecting pieces that did not suit them. Some lie had heard that morning would not win under any cirstances, and their selections, old and threadbare, were not at all suitable to their style and personality.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS, Recital witn musical accompaniment (pathetic or dramatic). Open class, own selection.—Recalls—Miss Fanny Kutner, Wellington; Miss Doris Stevens, Wellington; Miss F. Hargreave.s, Greymouth; Miss L. C. Adams, Christchurch. Highly commended—Miss Flo Gow, Hataifai; Mr. K. S. Dillon, Greymouth; Mis 9 Airini R. Stubbs, Dunedin. Recitation for Ladies (who have not won a prize at any competition), VThe King of Denmark's Ride" (Hon. Mrs. Norton).—Recalls—Miss Edith M. Sullivan, Wellington; Miss Hazel Jeffery, Hataitai; Miss Doris Stevens, Wellington; Miss Iris Trim, Wellington. Finals not jtet decided. Recitation (Gentlemen), "Bannerman Rode the Grey" (Alice Werner).—Recalls —E. C. Smyth, Wellington; F. Hargreaves, Greymouth; L. H. J. Power, Wellington. Finals not yet decided. Highland Fling, in Costume, Boy or Girl (12 and under 16). Result—Doreen M'Clatchy, 95pts„ 1; Annie Currie, Wellington, 90pts., 2; Rita Hands, Kilbirnie, 88 pts., 3; Elsia Burns, Wellington, SOpts., 4. Baritone Solo, "The Blind i Ploughman."—Recalls—Mr. W. B. Brittenden, Christchurch; Mr. Horsley, Wanganui. Result—W. B. Brittenden, Christchurch, 130pts., 1; R. Horsley, Wanganui, 12flpts., 2.

Piano Solo (13 and under 16), "Told at Sunset" (from MacDowall's, "Woodland Sketches"). — Recalls—Miss Constance Dowling, Wellington; .Miss Pearl Jacobs, Wellington; Miss May F. Talbot, Kelburn. ,

Result—Miss Pearl Jacobs, Wellington, 136pts., 1; Miss Constance Dowling, Wellington, 181pts., 2; Miss May Talbot, Kelburn, 128pts., 3. Vocal Solo and Aocompaniment (ladies or gentlemen. Own. selection)— Recalls W. B. Brittenden, Christchurch, and Miss Healy, Wellington; Mrs. Myrtle Hayward, Wellington, and Miss Clapp, Wellington; Mrs. E, Paterson, Wellington, and Miss Evii Harris, Wellington. Pinal not yet decided. Recitation, "Cane-bottomed Chair."— Result—Lionel Inch, Wellington, HBpts„ 1; E. C. Smyth, 144pts., i; It. A. V. 03wiri, Wellington, 143pts., 3. Girls' Song, "The String of Pearls."— Miss Cicely Audibert, Christchurch, 145pts., 1; Miss M. V. Newman, Wellington, 143pts., 2 Miss Mona Castle, Wellington, 140pts., 3.

THE EVENING PERFORMANCE There was a large audience to enjoy the evening performance, which was interesting from beginning to end. The programme opened with the children's P}?y. "The Ladies' Academy," which was glibly played by ten young ladies, who were quite easy in their comedy intentions. The fault of the comediotta was its length—it was quite unnecessarily wordy, "Told'at Sunset," of the MacDowoll 'Woodland Sketches" set for young girls '(under 1G), is, shorn of the correct interpretation, not a very attractive solo piece for the piano. In its setting it represents a mood difficult onough for an artist to enter into; it is not music for the very young students. Miss May Talbot and Miss Pearl Jacobs gave creditable performances. On the other hand the ballad, "The String of .Pearls (Lyall Phillips) was admirably suited to the pure young voices it was given to. Misses Mono. Castle, V. Marion Aewman, and Cicely Audibert each lent a certain beauty to the song, tonally and intellectually. The soul of this song was touched by both Miss Newman and ™ 15 ' „ V l dfbert. "The Cane-bottomed Ohair (of Wm. Makepeace Thaokeray) came back from the past fragrant with memories of more youthful days, a poem that has given birth to many vefises of similar sentiment. Its exponents last evening were Messrs. L. Inch, E'. C. Smyth, and K. A. V. Oswin., ,The judge toid the competitors that none of them, quite realised the infinite charm and humour of the piece. Mr. Inch's Kindliness and placidity of jnanner won its way. Mr. Smyth .underestimated' its emotionalism, and Mr. Oswin was inolined to overdo it. A bevy of charming wee lassies, "wi' springtime in their taes, danoed the Highland fling to the musio of the pipes gladsomely, to the great delight of the audience. The soprano (or mezzo) competitors provided acceptable contributions to Uie programme. Mrs. Myrtle Hayward (mezzoeontra.lto) sang "A Summer JJiglit" quite nicely. Her giuging was onlv slightly marred by nervousness, which caused her to lose tone liere and there Alfred ■Noyes's "Sherwood" breathes the spirit of of oldi England—a pretty fancy, most charmingly recited by several clever girls, the best, of whom were Misses Edith Sullivan, Doris Stevens, and .Teffery. It was delightful, too. to hear once again that sterling song, "The* Blind Ploughman, so well sung by Mr. Peter Dawson. It was made n test song. Mr. W. B. Brcttenden, of Cliristchurch, was rather easily the Ijetter exponent of the song. The entertainment concluded with the comediotta, "By Accident," interpreted by Miss Sylvia tidy, L. Inch, V. Evans, 0. Zorn, and C.. G. Kirk.

TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. To-day's sections will include the piano solo for young children; boys' sotg (own saleotion); patriotic song for ladies; Highland fling; children's chorus; juvenile ohoirs; operatic dance; sailor's hornpipe; reoitation for girls and hoys; readat sight; character recitation; action Tecitation, and recitation for boys'.