THE CULFORD BELL PUPILS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 302, 15 September 1920, Page 10

THE CULFORD BELL PUPILS

JUNIORS' NIGHT. Mr Culford Bell is conspicuously successful in the management of children, and in" the inculcation ot n the t 1)l l lnC , iP if 6 t < lfe < enmontarv elocution, One feature of the <.n tertaininent given in last evening was the clarity ol diction tli.it was generally noticeable. A n p\|icr was the training" of the memory, which found o. pressiou in almost perfect renditions of the sketches and recitntions set for pcrfor«ance. The outstanding aim of al good elocutionists should be naturalness of expression and intonation—to be dramatic only when the sceuc or speech calls for dramatic emphasis, and always, as htiaKeepoaro has advised, to suit the action to the word. It is somewhat difficult to get children to speak memorised lines naturally; indeed, it is even a rare faculty in adults, which is probably tho reason tnat good elocutionists are as rare as good tenors. The performance last evening commenced with a pretty little fantasy entitled "The Forest of Every Day," in which a wayward little Princess is taught by the Guide {Happiness) that Contentment and Self-control are the elements in character that produce happiness. Kathleen O'Brien played the Princess, Eva. Olay the Guide, whilst Bdf, Arithmetic, Grammar. Measure, Euvy, Bad Temper, Contentment, Imagination, and Self-Control were represented by a bevy of attractive children, each and all well coached In their simple lines. A touch of Charles Dickeim's sweet and fragrant humanity was given ill "The HollyTree Inn," in which Fay Smith was narticulurly good as Harry. Walmcrs, and Mr. (lulford Bell figured as the waiter Cobbs. Jean Drew was Norah Gay, Sidney' Newton was Mr. Walmers, senior,', and Eileen Murphy was satisfactory as Mrs. Craddock Tho. chief d'oeuvre of the evening, however, was ihc trial scene from "The Merchant of Venice," a difficult scene to ask juveniles to reproseut, yet one in which they acquitted themselves extremely well. Willio Knox made Shylock a very spiteful old gentleman, and showed throughout an in toiligence quite romarkable. Portia was sweetly played by Gladys llanderson, and Esine Crow spoke the Duko'6 lines with commend,iblc gravity and repose. Antonio was represented by Violet Egerton, Bajinanio by Hetty Tolley, and Gratiano by lan Cook. In the miscellaneous part of tno programme, recitations, in character anu otherwise, were cleverly given by Billio Murphy (a tiny dot), Joyce Wli if Dulc:« Orme, Jonie Bailey, Donzil Murpliy, Bessie Hunter, Joan Banks, Dorothy Sawyor. Eileen Norris, Raymond Whitehead, Gladys Hall, Olga, Burton, and Nancy Cashman. Tho senior pupils will give an entertain ment this evnnlna.