THE EVENING PERFORMANCE.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 126, 21 February 1919, Page 6

THE EVENING PERFORMANCE.

One-of the , largest oudiences .of the season attended tiie evening performance at ilie.' competitions last evening. The programme opened with a really spirited panurimince of the quaint playlet, "The Pudding Made of Plum," tno argument of which concerns the saving of the lives of a ship's company from .'earful and v-Onderful cannitrals in an imaginative island somewhere in the-misty land of fancy. Tho children played the little comedy with verve and confidence, and caused iftgood deal of Amusement. In the classic. dance class little Miss Sinclair i{reen gavd a very graceful exposition of a nymph-like movement. Under tuition this clever child should go far. She already has good looks and personality. Misses Eily Liardet and' Clara Nichols also danced more or less rythmical measures, the former to the>mfisic of Aiiitra's Dance from Greig's "Peer Gynt" suite. 'A-weird and strangely beautiful song was set for the'mezzo-sopranos, in "Magdalen at Michael's Gate." Miss Cicely Audibert, of Christchurch, intoned the number nppealingly. : 'Mrs-. Myrtle llayivard lent a poetic depth to the song. '.Miss Kathleen Lucas, who possesses a promising voice, sang the song in a straightforward fashion, and did not infuse quite so much gleaning into the lyrics as did the other competitors. Fmiu an entertaining point of view Chopin's '•'Etude 1 in 13 Minor" was not a very attractive number. It was played > with rather tedious care by three young ladies of pianistic promise. Tho superior performance was that of Miss Spiro, of Dunediri. ■ 111 the operatic , (contralto) solo, "own selection" class, Miss Bvn Harris sang tho familiar "Clio Faro" solo in off-hand fashion. On the other hand, Mrs. Hayward gave vital meaning j io'the "Stridn la Vumpa" number from j "II -Trovatore." Miss Mabel Dyer, of-: Christchurch, was rather overweighted in the splendid aria, "Softly Awakes My Heart" (from Saiut-Saens's "Samson and Delilah"). This young lady ,has a pleas-, ing mezzo voice, but it is not ono for the great arias of classical grand opera. Miss .Chapman and Mr. K. S. Dillon were admirable in the 6tory with woi'ds, "A Day at the Paces." held (he audience firmly with their capital pantomime. A quartet of sprightly lassies danced the Reel of Tulloch, and were placed by Mr. Fulton in their order of merit. The humorous recitals 'proved to be a very interesting section, Miss Norah Lea and Miss Doris Hulme being particularly happy in tljeir numbers.