THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Star, Issue 24288, 1 September 1942, Page 5

THE COMPETITIONS

IMPROMPTU SPEECHES ELOCUTION SCHOLARSHIP DECIDED A large and enthusiastic audience greeted last night’s programme of events at the Dunedin Competitions Society’s festival in His Majesty’s Theatre. It is interesting to note that the takings have been up each night and that the receipts for the festival are so far well ahead of last year’s. Dr James Thomson was in the chair last night, when there was an interesting and varied programme. An amusing interlude provided by Mm Anita Oliver and her talented company, who presented a scene entitled 4 The Naughty ’Nineties.’ The impromptu speech contest aroused a good deal of interest, five competitors, including one lady, coining forward. The judges of this section were Mr W. R. Brugh, one of the veteran competition adjudicators in New Zealand, and Mr Errol Muir. - Other interesting items were a piano duo (two pianos, four hands) and a further entry for the piano concerto contest, for which a championship cup is offered. The results were: — INSTRUMENTAL. Judge: Dr T. "Vernon Griffiths. Piano Duet, 17 and under 21. —Miss Marie Winders and Miss Rosalie Ferry (Invercargill), 84 points, equal, 1. The only competitors. DANCING. Judge: Miss Kathleen Mathews. Demi-Character Dance, 10 and under 13. —Valerie Fox (Invercargill), 82 points, 1; Colleen Finlin, 80, 2; Shirley Harvey (Browns), 78, 3. Highly commended: Valmai Gilmour. Seven competitors. Tap Dancing, suitable for musical comedy, under 10. —Marion Cain, 77 points, 1; Eunice Bell, 75. 2; Aileen King and Elaine Uren, 74, equal, 3, Highly commended; Maureen Williams, Ivy Mathewson, Patsy Ward. Thirty-five competitors. VOCAL. Judge: Mr H. Temple White. Song for Boys, under 16.—Brian Parke, 87 points. 1; Jack Geddes, 85, 2; Bobby Cornish and Billie Chambers, 83. equal, 3. Highly commended: Alan Scott, Neville Madden. Commended; Billy Mason, Ray Gibson, John Mason. Seventeen competitors. Child’s Action Song, under 12.—Joan Ledgerwood and Alan Ledgerwood, 106 points (equal), 1; Billie Chambers, 105, 3. Very highly commended: Betty Webber. Highly commended: Patricia McGrath. Bobby Cornish! Commended: Aileen King, Nola McEwan. Sixteen competitors. Children’s Duet, under 13. —Aileen Cornish and Bobby Cornish, and Bernadette Lamb and Raewyn Lamb, 101 points (equal), 1; Joan Mclnnes and Alma Me Allan, 97. 3. Highly commended: Bruce Evans and- Eldora Reynolds, John Cornish and Valerie Littlewood, Maureen Keenan and Betty Webber, Francis and Betty Applegate. Eighteen competitors. The judge said that the performances of the winners were excellent, and he had found it impossible to separate them. Vocal Solo, ladies or gentlemen, own selection.—Miss Gertrude Ardagh, 88 points, 1; Miss Pat Woods, 86, 2; Miss Elsie Kirkham, 85, 3. Very highly commended: Miss Margaret Pratt, Miss Lorna

Pile, Mr Geoffrey de Latour. Highly cornmended: Miss Patricia Beauchamp, Mis* Olive Terry (Sutton), Miss Noeline Moody, Miss B. A. Herlihy, Miss Enid Aitcheson, Miss M. H. Mcßae (Dipton). Twentythree competitors. Bass Solo, ‘ The Bells of San Marie.’—Mr Geoffrey de Latour. 84 points, 1; Mr Lloyd Spears, 79, 2. Four competitors. ELOCUTION. Judge: Mr Errol Muir. Elocution Scholarship, boys, 12 and under 16.—Grattan O’Sullivan, 160 points, 1; Jack Cain, 159, 2; Melvin Taylor, 3. Seven competitors. In his comments the judge said that both first and second prize winners had exceptional talent, and should go far if they continued with their studies. The winner, in particular, had great dramatic ability and exceptional emotional control for a lad of his age. A notable feature of the section was the fact that all the competitors chose very difficult selections. Recitation, ladies or gentlemen, own selection.—Miss Winnie Dowie, 82 points, 1; Miss Billie Loan, 81, 2; Miss Cavell Trask, 80, 3. Very highly commended: Miss Enid Carter, Miss Margaret Uftou. Highly com. mended: Miss Nanette Muir. Fifteen com. petitors. The judge said that this had been a very good section and a close contest had resulted. The selection of pieces had been good. The winner had excellent repose and admirable restraint in all her work.

Impromptu Speech. Subject, ‘All Is Not Gold That Glitters.’—Mr Leonard Jones, 85 points, 1; Mr Brian Berg, 82, 2; Mr lan .Jamieson, 80, 3. Five competitors.