Trinity College School - Record Yearbook (Port Hope, Ontario Canada)

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“Where Are You Going Hollis Jay?” Several weeks ago, “Where are you going, Hollis Jay?’’, a play, was performed in the T.C.S. gym. This play caused me to wonder where the thin line between humour and indecency lies. The play was about an eighteen year old boy falling in love for the first time, with a girl his own age. The play was unique in that along with the verbal dia- logue the actors also would turn to the audience (aside) and say what they were thinking. The first act, “He”, allowed the boy to use this device, and the second act, “She”, allowed the girl the same opportunity The technique was used quite well and produced many belly-laughs. In parts it was like “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” in that there was the contrast be- tween what the actor wanted to say and what their nervousness (or modesty) forced them to say. An example of this was a scene where the boy (Hollis) was waiting for the girl and thinking, “I’ll tell her off when she gets here, for keep- ing me waiting. The girl (Elbe) arrives and he says, “It’s all right, I just got here myself.” The touchy subject matter arises when they have been talking to each other for a little while. The play, trying to be real to life, and leaving no stone unturned, eventually got to several situations where the actors think about the physical aspects of their budding relationship. At first, it was truly funny, with a couple of well-spaced one-liners. The play then went into a scene where the whole sub- ject matter was along this line. Although the audience laughed I sensed a lot of tension. It was like a ten year old boy watching a love movie and wanting to hide his head, but being unable to laugh. It was this part where the question of indecency arises. A direct parallel to this situation was the play “Two by Two”, which had parts along the same line. The “bad” parts in “Two by Two” were taken out, but in all honesty, if they had been left in it would have produced a guaranteed laugh. Why then, did Mr. Gordon cut the parts? I think the reason he did so was that those parts weren’t really humourous. Humour has to be more than just some- thing that makes you laugh. Perhaps the other ingredient is that, along with making you laugh, it must truly appeal to your senses. Nothing can be humour- ous if it scares, insults, or embarrasses you into laughing. It is my opinion, and the opinion of others, that subject matter of the type I have discussed is insulting. It is insulting in a subtle way. It insults the mind in that it forces the people in the audience to accept as humour something that is comparable to locker room talk Most of us would like to think that we are on an intellectual plane which demands more of entertainment then base jokes. To conclude, for me, and others, the difference between a humourous joke and a “crude” joke is that true humour appeals to the senses while crude (or forced) jokes corner you into a position where although you laugh, you really want to stand up and leave. George Southey 4

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It is with great sadness that we record the death of Mrs. C.J. Tottenham on January 27th, 1975. Her cheerful presence will be greatly missed. 3

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So Much for Creativity Over the last mid-term break I visited the Royal Ontario Museum, in order to see the Chinese Exhibition. After queueing up for nearly two hours, I made it inside, and before me was the most beautiful artwork I had ever seen. The Flying Horse, The Jade Suit, The Dancing Actor: these exhibits and a host of others held me fascinated. I marvelled at the ability of an ancient culture to pro- duce such wondrous works of art. While thinking along these lines I realized my own creative futility. This essay concerns my lack of creative ability and my ef- forts to discipline myself to some creative plane. In grade nine I took art with Mr. Blackwood. It took me the whole year to create ONE “masterpiece”! It was the Union Jack with a glass of champagne in the mid- dle. This was my way of expressing that I thought the Commonwealth of nations was decadent! So much for subtle implications! Since that fateful day I have not dabbled in many of the fine arts! In grade ten I tried to do a little photography. I tried to “capture a mood” as so many photographic seminars preached. I just couldn’t develop any semblance of art. In this same year I also took up debating and found that my emotions could sway no person. I didn’t give up after this; I just stopped trying. Since then I have attempted nothing creative. I have done some reading since then and leading psychologists state that by re- citing a certain mantra or chant you can stimulate alpha waves within the brain which are supposed to be indicative of a person’s creativity. With this thought in mind I took up yoga in the hope that my alpha waves would perk up. To tell the truth, I think they’re on strike! A few weeks ago I sat down with the intention of writing some half-decent poetry. I got the page in front of me and my mind went blank. Some people say that creativity is a matter of mental discipline. I thought that my mind would be in fine disciplinary shape after I wrote the Cambridge entrance exam, but still no results! I wonder why it is that I cannot create something original and pleasing to the senses. I want to make something from my hands. A lump of clay which in most people’s hands is potential art in mine is a lump of clay! You have often heard the pen is mightier than the sword. My pen is only useful as a successful blot maker. I suppose I shall have to realize I am no creative genius. I do not have the artistic flare. I rest easy in one fact. I can appreciate the arts. I love to go to theatre and hear the opera. I think watching someone work at a potter’s wheel is like watching a baby develop in God’s hands. Out of a lump of clay the potter produces art! I mar- vel when I see ballet because I realize how hard it would be for me to do those things. I revel at coordination — it seems to be a God-given gift. I will never create “objets d art” as I saw at the Chinese exhibition but I thank God I had the chance to see them and feel the creativity that lies behind them. Tim Brown 5