THE COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1929, Page 6

THE COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

SECOND DAY. The second day of the Westland Competition was continued yesterday in more favourable weather. The attendance was ve*-y good, culminating in a large attendance at night. The Competitions disclose an improved standard in both elocution and music. The instrumental sections are better, and the vocal items were all well received. The juvenile efforts in elocution show a marked advance. The Competitions are excellently conducted. The Revd-. G. Knowles-Smith was supervisor all day yesterday, and despite the lengthy programme the tong list was through and results announced by . 10.30 o’clock. Miss Daly discharged the duties of accompaniste very capably. Mr Osmers had all matters of detail well in hand and. the whole proceedings are pass*ig off very smoothily. The festival promises to give improved results all round.

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS. Musical Monologue, 12 to 18. Humorous. Own Selection. — The competitors were: Joy Lilian Ward,''-“Rosies’ Relations;” Sydney Blank, ‘‘The Street Watchman’s Story;” P.at McGavin. “Girls;” Mary McGavin, “Rosies’ Relations.” Joy Ward, 174 1 M. McGavin, 168 ... ... 2-. S. Blank, 156 3 Recitation in Character. 9to 12. Own Selection.—

Those who compdted were : —Betty Brown, “Red Riding Hoqd;” June Heenan, “The Flower Faity;’’ Paul Sparkes, “The Pants Mother Makes;” Milly McKay, “Bubbles;” Helen Renton, “Peter Pan;” Gordon Windsor, “The Country Man at the Telephone;” Nancy McKane, “A Nest to Let;” Clara Kielv, “I’m a Kitten.” Helen Rerfton,, 154 1 G. Windsor, 150 ... ... 2 B. Brown, 146 5

The -Judge remarked it was not desirable to give dialect pieces to children. They do not help the training for a purer enunciation. Also in regard to costumes, it was difficult te hear tlie words through masks.

Song for Girls. 9to 14. Own Selection.—

The following competed: Dorothy Stopforth, “You’ve got your Mother’s Eyes;” Joyce Andrews, “Three Green Bonnets;” Connie Staines, “I wish T were a tiny Browny Bird;” Dorothy Inwood, “A Little Coon’s Prayer;” Audrey Olsen, “Red Roofs;” Peggy Gfllooly, .“Happy Song;” Ceaflin Keating, “Hanging out the Clothes;” Colleen. Phillips, “The Night Nursery;” Annie Thompson, “Farewell;” .Millie Coulson/ “The Second Minuet;”/Jean Thompson, “Little Brown Owl;” Phyllis Resticaux, . ‘‘Little Coon’s Prayer;” Gladys Higson, “Butterfly Winers:” Alice Radcliffe, “Valley of Laughter;” Betty Callanan “There are Fairies at the Bottom of our Garden;” Mavis McDonald, selected; ijare Keating, selected. Gladys Higson and Alice Radcliffe, 156, equal ... 1 Clare Keating, 150 ... ... 2 i P. Restieaux, 148 3 The small girls were weak in the upper notes. The upper register should be trained. Breathing exercise would improve them.

Prepared Reading. “Tlie Leonids.’ 12 to 15.

Tlie competitors were: Pat McGavin, Sidney Blank, -Toy Ward, Mary McGavin, Noeline Wormiimton. Winston /Reynolds, Ena Clark, Violet Ross. Edna May Fowler, Ella Groufsky, George Johnston. M. McGavin, 156 ... 1 E. Groufsky, 154 2 P. McGavin, and E. Fowler, 136, equal 3 Hornpipe, six entries:—-V. Cooper 7(3, 1; E. Armstrong 57, 2; lE. Hoslin, 44 3.

Pas do Seul, toe dancing 10 to 14 vears, 16 entriesM. Cullen 70, 1 : B. Cooke 68, and E. Armstrong 68. 2: N. Mussen 67, commended. Classic Ensemble, under 14 years: Mrs Staveley’s pupils 1. Corps de Ballet, over 14 years, Airs Staveley’s pupils 1. Referring to the Hornpipe, Miss Waugh remarked the winner of the class danced very well, Tlie positions and heating were good. She must remember whatn pulling ropes to lookup. When high cutting, knees should be right hack Mo the sides. Good interpretation and quite a good performance. * ■ln respect to the P« tie Seul, the Judge said this was quite a good class. The one placed first danced very gracefully. Posit’ons and technique were quite good. Nice facial expression and a very dainty perfoiman.ee. Referring to tlie classic ensemble, won bv Mrs Staveley’s pupils. Miss Waugh said it was a very nice performance. Enter very good, rhythm excellent. Body and aim movements improved io-dav. The steps and groupings well arranged, a very good performance with a good finish. _ .. , In regard to the Corps Ac Ballet given at the Theatre in the evening and popularly received, Miss Ytanefi criticised the , performance pointing out some shortcomings, hut remarking that the presentation was a bright performance. ■ Musical Monologue. Open. Own Selection.— The following competed-. Madeline King, “Goodbye Lvnette;” \ iolet Ross, “Playmate Noelle Dunford, “Blind,” Edith Knight, “Lonesome;” j Lynch, “Not Understood;” H. Perry, “Gentleman of France,”

J. Lynch, 154 ... 1 H. Perry, 15S 2 N. Dunford, 150 3 Piano Duet. Open. “Valse Bril-

lante in A Flat.”—-

The following competed:—Monica Knowles and Ada- Lynn, Moira Stopforth and Maureen Fitzgerald, Jessie E. Mclntosh and Olive Chesterman, Winnie Stevenson and Madeline King-, Rone Jacobs and Gwen Jacobs.

R. and G. Jacobs, 168 ... 1 M. Stopforth. and M. Fitzgerald, 154 2 W. Stevenson and M. King, 144 3 Mezzo-Soprano Solo. Open. “The Time of Roses.”—

The competitors were: —Doreen Fleming, Rita Morgan, Ada Lynn.

R. Morgan, 174 1 A. Lynn, 1?0 2 D. Fleming; 110 ... 3 Shakespearean Recitation. Ladies Portia’s Speech.”— Those who competed were: Madeline King, Noeline Wormington, Ena Clark, Jessie May Veale, Edith Knight, Noelle Dunford, Flo Sparks, Phyllis Bond. F. Sparks, 144 1 1 M. King, 140 2 N. Dunford, 138 3

. Mr Cliffe Stanford said he fousd it difficult to mark this test selection. There was a high standard it-, elocution, but the technique was missed, aiid points were lost, because tier- one of the competitors had the right conception of the piece. They should have read the play carefully. I’orfia was really acting a part- -the part of counsel for the defence, and that should have' been interpreted in the delivery of the speech. Violin Solo. IGpcn. ‘-‘Souvenir.”' (Franz Drdla). — Percy Crouglr, Jaclc. Ackers, Frank Houlahan, Charles Leech were' the competitors. ' C. Leech, 166 1 J. Ackers, 160 2 P. Crough, 146 3 Oration, Open. Prepared Speech.— Miss Bush.. “Earl Haigh’s speech on who won : the war, 174 1 J. Lynch, . “Britain, in America,” 170 $... . 2 Soprano Solo. Open. “Like to a Damask Rose.”—

Those who competed were: Una Groufsky, Maureen Hanrahan, Charlotte Wylie. M. Hanrahan, 170 . i ... 1 O. Wylie, 160 2 . U. Groufcky, 144 .. _ ... 3

The Judge remarked the volume of the tone might be improved. The technique was good up lo a certain point, but 'the performers would benefit V attention to breathing exercises. Recitation. Ladies. Open. Own Selection. — Those competing were: Noelle Dunford, “Romeo and Juliet;” Edith L. Knight, “In an Indian Garden;” Madeline King, “The Rose out of Reach;” Hazel Perry, “Marpessor Speech.” N. Dunford, 158 ... ... 1 E. Knight, 148 2 M. King, 138 3

'TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME. To-day will be another very full ■lay, and both halls will ho in use. The feature of the afternoon in the Theatre will be the sacred solo. Any vecalls in that item will be taken tonight. To-night the programme at the Theatre begins, at 7.15 o clock with the instrumental trio. There will be dancing recalls this evening, while Miss Waugh, the judge, ~- wiU assist with an item. There will be also a good musical programme.

Intending patrons are advised to book their’ seats for the demonstration concert commencing to-morrow night at 7.30 o’clock.