Ashbury College - Ashburian Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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THE ASHBURIAN 5 The Society takes this opportunity of thanking all those who helped to make its first effort so successful. In addition to those named above, the members are : — Mr. W. H. Brodie, D. Mathias, C. Eliot, S. Macdonnell, B. Ritchie, R. Coristine, H. Fensom, M. Grant, A. MacCarthy, M. Menzies, D. Monk, G. Perodeau, P. Smellie, R. Wodehouse, J. Magor, W. Robertson, R. Stanfield, G. Wodehouse, G. WhitcBer, G. Abel, and J. Calder. The first Annual Dinner of the Society was held at the Chateau Laurier on May 7th. JULIUS CAESAR The Literary and Dramatic Society presented Shakespeare ' s ' Julius Caesar at the Little Theatre, Ottawa, on Saturday, March 15th, in the presence of Their Excellencies the Governor General and Lady Willingdon and of a large and distinguished audience. Dramatis Personae Julius Caesar J. Rowley Octavius Caesar— F. Macorquodale -Marcus Antonius Triumvirs after the death of Julius Caesar— ' K. Wodehouse Cicero ) P. Smellie Publius J Senators G. Whitcher Mr. W. H. Brodie R. Leathern M. Grant C. Eliot Conspirators against Julius Caesar D. Gillies J. F. Magor G. Perodeau M. Menzies : B. Ritchie MaruUus f Tribunes F. Macorquodale Artemidorus a Sophist of Cnidos S. Macdonnell A Soothsayer S. Macdonnell Messala friend to Brutus and Cassius D. Gillies Varro 1 . W. Robertson Clitus G. Perodeau Claudius [ G. Wodehouse Strato f servants to Brutus G. Wodehouse Dardanius | G. Whitcher Lucius J J. Calder Pindarus wife to Julius Caesar D. Mathias Calpurnia servant to Cassius M. Menzies Portia Wife to Brutus H. Hammond First Citizen a carpenter A. MacCarthy Second Citizen a cobbler H. Fensom Third Citizen P. Smellie Fourth Citizen S. Macdonnell Fifth Citizen : .. G. Abel Servant — . F. Sherwood Servant R. Stanfield D. Monk and R. Coristine replaced C. Eliot and R. Stanfield in the Montreal production. Marcus Brutus Cassius Casca Cinna Trebonius Ligarius Decius Brutus. Metellus Cimber Flavius

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4 THE ASHBURIAN mers doing field work in Geology including one summer with Mr. Odell of Mt. Everest fame. Besides obtaining high scholastic honours, Wilson played a prominent part in the social and athletic activities at Trinity College. He has been successively Treasurer, Secretary, and President, of the Literary Society, of the Geological Society, and of the Harriers, and was a member of the Students ' Administrative Council. He also debated for his College, his Univer- sity, and for Hart House, and has taken part in amateur dramatics. We wish him success and the best of luck at St. John ' s College, Cambridge, where he takes up his studies this Fall. THE ASHBURY COLLEGE LITERARY AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY On the proposal of Mr. C. W. Thompson, a society, to be called The Ashbury College Literary and Dramatic Society, was formed on March 8th, 1930, at a meeting of the cast of Juliiis Caesar. At that meeting and at one held on April 7th, the following officers were elected : Honorary President — The Rev. Dr. G. P. Woollcombe. President — Mr. C. W. Thompson. Secretary — R. M. Leathem. Treasurer — Mr. B. K. T. Howis. Committee — D. F. Macorquodale, H. C. Hammond, J. W. H. Rowley. The Society consists of those in the school who were directly connected with the production of Julius Caesar, and it may add to its membership from the Upper School as it sees fit, and elect Honorary and Associate Members. The object of the Society is to promote the interests of the school in drama and in literary knowledge and to provide entertainments. It is hoped that the Society will be able to produce one or two short plays for the school as well as a bigger production. The proceeds from Julius Caesar amounted to $250.19. Part of this has been devoted to buying new chairs for the Senior Library, a framed copy of the programme, and a picture of the cast. The first Honorary Member is Mr. Leslie Chance, who was in charge of the final rehearsals of the play, and there are thirty Foundation Members who will remain permanent members after they leave school.

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6 THE ASHBURIAN A special prologue, written by Mr. Thompson was spoken by M. Grant. The first verses were : — Gentles, welcome all ! And first to you, my Lord, That comes to represent our noble King, Respectful salutations from our school. To you, first Lady of the State, we now Present our welcome too. May this our land be ever fortunate Thus to be linked with those we love the best By ties so noble, and so richly blest. This night upon the stage we shall enact A tragedy of Rome. O hearken well : For on this very day, (the Ides of March) Great Caesar fell. Again he bleeds in sport; and you shall hear The Bard of Avon tell the tragic tale; How Cassius taught the noble Brutus then To stab his friend! And Antony did stir the people up To mad revenge. The account of the performance given by the ' ' Ottazva Citizen ' contained the following appreciation of the acting : — It is no small task for boys to play Shakespeare, and too much praise cannot be bestowed on those of Ashbury College for their remarkable per- formance. To commit the lines to memory is a feat alone, and the rehearsals are of necessity long and tedius, yet these young gentlemen accomplished both in the time outside of school hours, and without their preparations of daily lessons suffering. They indeed are to be sincerely commended. Brutus was the only character played by one of mature years, the part being taken by Mr. W. H. Brodie, one of the masters of the school. Mr. Brodie gave a thoughtful and dignified portrayal of the noblest Roman of them all, which was altogether in keeping with the finest traditions of the role. Among the boys the chief honors go to Ronald Leathem as the lean and hungry Cassius, and with the exception of a little trouble with his hands, he gave a very fine reading of the part of that arch conspirator. John Rowley, in the title role made an imperious and commanding figure, and gave a true interpretation of Shakespeare ' s conception of Rome ' s immortal hero. The blunt Casca was well played by Malcolm Grant, who also recited the admirable prologue. The quick spirit which is Antony was portrayed by Robert Wodehouse, who, though a little hurried in speech gave a sympathetic and moving study of the friend of Caesar. His playing of the historic scene in the forum after the murder of the conquerer, and his rendering of the well-known speech being noteworthy. The playing of female characters by boys in keeping with Elizabethan custom and Herbert Hammond and David Mathias as Portia and Calpurnia. respectively, did well in their roles. Several of the boys doubled in parts, but Scarth Macdonell had three to play, his Artemidorus being especially good. By a singular and apt coincidence, Saturday was the ides of March, the anniversary of the action of the play. — K. McN.