Moderate attendance

On Monday evening last there was
only a moderate attendance at the
Albany Town Hall to hear the famous
Max Montesole and Elsie Mackay.
Mr. Montesole is a powerful charac-
ter actor and his vivid portrayals of
the various scenes are the work of a
finished artist.
The recital opened with two num-
bers by David Lyle, tenor, who was
enthusiastically received for his ren-
dering of "Homing" (-) and
"Sally Horner" (Traditional).
Mr. Montesole then offered his
adaptation of Oscar Wilde's "The Bal-
lad of Reading Gaol," and in drama-
tic manner described the feeings of a
fellow prisoner for a man condemned
to be hanged for the murder of the
woman he loved. A piece of very
powerful acting, this number received
enthusiastic plaudits.
Miss Josephine Kemp was well re-
ceived for the rendering of (a) "Se
quedillas op. 232, No. 5" (I. Albeniz)
and (b) "En Bateau (In a boat) op.
30 No. 1" (Camille Zechwer). .
As Lady Macbeth in Shakespear's
"Macbeth" (Act 5, Scene I., the sleep
walking scene) Miss Elsie Mackay
gave a convincing portrayal of the
woman who had done King Duncan to
death.
The immortal characters of Charles
Dickens were brought to light when in
Mr. Montesole's characterisation of
¡the hypocritical Uriah Heep from
David Copperfield.
David Lyle then pleased his audi-
ence with three songs, "A Spirit
Flower" (Campbell Tipton), "I Hear
You Calling Me" (Charles Marshall),
and "Londonderry Air" (arr. by Nor-
man Weir).
Miss Kemp's next offerings were
(a) "Cascades" and "Jazz Goblins"
(both by Baie da Costa), both of
which were very heartily received.
A playlet entitled "Domestic In-
terior 1935," showed the versatility of
both Mr. Montesole and Miss Mackay,
it being a light commentary' on the
times (written by Max Montesole) in
which the husband arriving home bite
from golf on his wife's birthday, has
to explain his way out of several j
awkward situations. The moral "that
each must give and take a little" ÔÏ
the tale, is depicted at the Conclusion,
in which the couple emerge on better
terms.
After interval Max Montesole and
Elsie Mackay were again seen toge-
ther as Othello and Desdemona, in i
Shakespeare's "Othello" (Act 5, Scene
2-the death scene of Desdemona), a
particularly dramatic part pf $U6 well
known play. ' l"
Daviq Lyle chose (a) "Annie
Laurie" (Lady John Scott) and (b)
"Mary" (T. Richardson), for his final
appearance.
Two pianoforte solos (a) "Andante
Finale de Lucia de Lammermoor"
(left hand only) (M. Leschetzky), and
(b) "Une Tabatière a Musique, op. 32"
(Anatole Liadow) were offered by
Miss Josephine Kemp and received en-
thusiastic applause for her fine ren-
derings.
Miss Mackay then recited two typi-
cal Australian poems (a) "My Coun-
try" (Dorotheo Mackellor) and (b)
"Coolgardie is Calling You" (E. G.
"Dryblower" Murphy).
Mr. Montesole -chose another Dip
kens' character foe hts ¿nat item in
the part pf Fagin the Jew in Oliver
Twist." The scene depicted was that
where the cunning Jew, who is in
prison to be hanged, starts to rave
and in so doing goes over a part of
the trial scene, seeing in his imagina
I tion tiie judge who ' condemned iiiin.
The closing scene is here" he'falls to'
the floor in a fit of frenzy as the pri-
son bell rings when the warders come
to take him to his end.

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