ALEXANDER WATSON

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 941, 7 April 1930, Page 15

ALEXANDER WATSON

CONCERT CHAMBER TOMORROW That master of elocutionary art, Mr. Alexander Watson, will commence a 1 season of recitals of the works of poets, dramatists, novelists, and humorists, under the direction of E. J. Gravestock, Ltd., at the Town Hall concert chamber, tomorrow evening. In the span of 20 or more years of world touring, Mr. Watson has made for himself a unique place in dramatic and elocutionary art, and his name is now almost a household word —indeed, he has become a British institution. The fact that one man can hold the attention and rapt interest of a large audience for more than two hours, with excerpts from various writers, is surely a great testimony to the resources of his art. Mr. Watson is a company in himself. His characterisations are vivid, and his dignified, graceful, untheatrical style is surprisingly adaptable to the portrayal of all sorts of human types. Not the least factor contributing to his success as an unacting and uncostumed raconteur is his mastery of dialect. The unaffected culture of his diction is an essential part of his art, but above that there is in his interpretations emotional power, fervour. earnestness, and dramatic force which could not but cast a spell over his audience. -^ lr - Watson’s repertoire is a w'ide one, and he has not ceased to add to it. five beautiful women have been selected to play opposite Charles t Buddy > Rogers in “Safety in 2s umbers,” his next talkie. They are Geneva Mitchell, Kathryn Crawford. Carole Lombard Josephine Dunn and Virginia Bruce. The girls portray chorus girl friends of Rogers.