ALEXANDER WATSON

Evening Star, Issue 19658, 10 September 1927, Page 2

ALEXANDER WATSON

SHAKESPEARE AGAIN To hear Mr Alexander Watson in Shakespeare is tantalising to say tho least of it. One's appetite is merely whetted by short selections, and at lash evening’s recitals it seemed that underlying tho audience’s physical symbols of appreciation at the presentation of passages from ‘Romeo and Juliet 5 and ‘The Tempest 5 was an urge for the elocutionist to give more. But no, the programme had been so compiled that the interval came all too soon, and a number of Shakespearehs characters, perfectly impersonated, were, for the novice, whisked away. The selection from ‘ Romeo and Juliet 5 involved the quarrel of tho Montague and Capulets and contained a vivid description of the duels fought on a street of Verona between Mercutio and Tybalt and between Romeo and Tybalt. The proof of the acting is in its reception by a critical Dunedin audience. At ,the conclusion of tho piece Mr Watson won much acclamation. The tit-bit from ‘ Tho Tempest 5 was a light-hearted ■ affair, full of devilment and complications, she scene portrayed being tho amusing encounter of the beast, the drunkard, and the fool. As Stephano, tho elocutionist gave a wonderful imitation of the alcoholic sway complete with a thickness of speech and a hiccough that, were not exaggerated—altogether a tricky bit of acting. Mr Watson handled no fewer than seven Kipling items in the second half of the programme. Although all were splendidly done, special praise should he given to the interpretation of ‘M‘Andrew 5 s Hymn, 5 a poem which, spiritually and materially, has helped its author to attain tho designation ** genius. ss Old salts may shake their heads and sigh for the romantic days of sailing ships, hut that the romance of tho soa did uot die with tho advent of steam is amply proved in Kiplinghs masterpiece. As Mr Watson pointed out. ‘ The Smugglers Song 5 contained a striking example of the skilful use made by Kipling of a sudden change in metre. ‘ Lichteiiherg, 5 a ballad of a Now South Wales contingent in the Boer War,_ was full of a haunting pathos which, was not entirely swept Away-by the drolleries of ‘The Shuteye Sentry. 5 Hilaire Belloc 5 s cautionary talcs are irresistible at all times, and it goes without saying that when given with the sympathetic naivety of Mr Watson tho result is nothing short of a treat. ‘ Rebecca 5 and ‘ George 5 were very popular. The least convincing of the elocutionists roles last night were his American impersonations in Mark Twain 5 s ‘ European Guides. 5 To be sure, there were many periods when the American intonation and twang were given verv well inded, but occasionally Mr Watson lapsed into his own, rich, pure English (or should it be “lapsed 55 ?). Last evening s s recital was worthy of a larger audience. It is to bo hoped that Mr Watson 5 s many admirers will rally round and give him a hearty send off at his final appearance to-night. LAST PROGRAMME. The programme this evening is full of variety. It includes Sir Janies Barrio’s delightful study in artistic malingering, ‘ A Holiday in Bed ’; ‘The Seven Ages of Man,’ from Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It ’; the laughable adventures of Terence Mulvaney, from the first part of Kipling’s ‘My Lord the Elephant ’; Tennyson’s poem, ‘The Revenge’; Clark Russell’s popular story, ‘An Ocean Waif ’; Whitcomb Riley’s ‘ The Elf Child,’ better known as ‘ Little Orphant Annie ’ (‘ Tho goblins ’ill get you if you don’t watch out!”); Christina Rossetti’s beautiful poem, ‘ Jessie Cameron ’; two pieces of Longfellow, ‘ Tho Old Clock on the Stairs ’ and ‘ The Maiden and the Weathercock 5 ; and Crosbie Garstin’s ‘ Tho Figure Head. 5