ALEXANDER WATSON

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 274, 13 August 1921, Page 8

ALEXANDER WATSON

A NIGHT WITH KIPLING. That Rudyard Kipling in combination with Alexander Watson still has a grip on the affections was proved last evening/ When Mr. Watson gave his first ali-Kipling recital. There were insufficient seats for those who wished to hear this sterling reciter in these sledgehammer poems of grim realities. Tho programme was constructed in such a fashion as to show the poet in many humours. There was that sterling bit of patriotic pride-of-Lmpire poem, "The English Flag.” There was the brilliant poem, “M‘Andrew's Hymn,” in which the stern old Calvanistio Scots chief engineer reviews his smirched life, and ever and anon harks back to fervent reverence of his wonderful engines, which have become part of his creed of life, in which Mr. Watson is so very effective. Nothing, perhaps, was so heartily enjoyed as I lie adventures of Mulvaney (of "Soldiers Three”), with the elephant, from “My Lord the Elephant.” Using a rich, unfaltering brogue, the giftod reciter was able to bring the picture_of the whisky-charged Mulvaney careering round on the maddened elephant. It was Kipling comedy at its best. Other poems recited with «iual zest and fine intelligence were "Oonts” “ Tho Manned Man,” "The Ballad of the Bolivar” (recited in drunken ecstasy Its by one of the crew that brought the coffin ehip "safe acrost the Bay”) and "Boots,” an impression of the maddening monoipny of infantry on tho march in South Africa during the BoJyF "Wur. This evening will be devoted for the most part to excerpts from Charles Dickens, including chapters from A Christmas Carol,” "Pickwick Papers, and “Martin Chuzzlewit.” Mr. Watson will also recite "Tho Highwayman" (Noyes), "Kniitin’ of the Stockin’ ” (Bellaw), and "The Bule of three (W. W Jacolis). On Monday evening scenes from "Twelfth Night” will he offered, and throughout next week some especially interesting programmes will be presented.