Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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18 31 IV an .ir H A ,XXX ,Vw . .. ,ii 5 iff. . a s -'-2 -1---' e :Erwin ii i ian Y 5 TT'L1I!,fOYCil XQJLU' mn Jane Moody, Grade XI Eight girls from Grades Ten and Eleven went to the Shakespearean Festival in Stratford, Ontario, last August with Mrs.Byrne. The tour lasted five days. This gave us time to see all the plays, most of Stratford, and a little of Toronto. The days passed qui-ckly, but our pace was never fast enough to mar our pleasure. During the day, we usually wandered around the shops or went sight-seeing, while in the evening after eat- ing at one of the many charming restaurants in Stratford, we went to one of the Plays. JOAN SELLERS The Plays The production of 'AMacbeth was the subject of much controversy and abuse, largely because of the interpretation of the play by its director, Peter Coe. The -cos- tumes were primitive and completely lacked any colour or splendour, but this was an asset, adding a tragic atmosphere and help- ing to show the primitiveness of the eleventh century. Christopher Plummer as Macbeth was not striking at first, but I thought he improved as the plot thickened. I did not like Kate Reid as Lady Macbeth because I thought that she over-acted, and appeared almost hysterical throughout most of the play. The other actors, such as Bruno Ger- ussi as Macduff were excellent and created a wonderful over-all picture. I enjoyed Macbeth, but I can see why it -caused such controversy. JANE MOODY The treatment of The Tempest was realistic. The storm was represented by drums and artificial lightning, and the swaying movement of the actors made the ship appear to be actually moving. The costumes, designed by Desmond Heeley, were earthly rather than fairy-like. The out- standing actors were Iohn Colicos, portray- ing Caliban, and Bruno Gerussi as Ariel. To understand this play well, I think it would be necessary to see it several times. ELIZABETH CLOUGH On Wednesday we saw our only mati- nee, The Taming of the Shrew. With much delight we looked forward to seeing Kate Reid and Toby Robins play leading parts. As the play began to unfold, I rea- lized how much I was going to enjoy it. The acting and costumes were brilliant. This was the most amusing play we saw, and many times the audience was overcome with laughter. CHERYL 'WHEELER As well as the plays of Shakespeare, we saw Cyrano de Bergerac by Rostand. The production was colourful and lively, and the acting outstanding. Toby Robins achieved a great success as the beautiful Roxane, and Christopher P l u in m e r was given a standing ovation for his portrayal of Cyrano. This was the first play we saw, and set a high standard for the other pro- ductions to live up to. JUDITH QUINN

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The Junior Library The Iunior Library has been busier than ever this year. Every morning it has been open for borrowing or browsing, with the staff librarian on hand for guidance or help in using the reference sections. During the cold weather, when recreation had to be spent indoors, the Library was especially busy, some girls coming every other day to borrow books. As a result of the increased use of the Library, a new problem has arisen: that of not having enough books to keep Grades V and VI happy. Many of them have pro- gressed along the Stepping Stones course, and want to know where they go from there. A quick solution to the problem was found by bringing over books from the Senior Library. To keep supplying the ur- gent demand more than one hundred new books have been ordered for the Iunior Library, many of them biographies or his- torical fiction. Two projects begun last year have been completed: the subject file, which helps girls find the non-fiction books they wantg and the vertical picture file, which contains arti- cles, pamphlets and pictures on more than seventy different topics. Mothers have been a very usual sight in the Library on Tuesdays. Sitting at those rather small tables and chairs, they have been clipping, sorting, and filing material for the vertical file. Without their many hours of labour the job could not have been completed in a year. Many thanks to them all for the time and effort they have given us. The Kindergarten needed new books badly this year and there was a wonderful response to the letter sent out asking for donations. Thank you, mothers, girls, and friends who parted with once treasured books. We now have almost a complete collection of Dr. Seuss! The Library was a scene of many inter- esting displays. The music display coincided with the week the girls went to the Sym- phony concerts. Large pictures of instru- ments of the orchestra were hung on the walls, and during Library periods records such as Peter and the Wolf and Tubby the Tuba were played. Halloween centred around UNICEF, with a display of pictures of children going to school around the world. Miniature flags of all the United Nations were lent to us as well. During Young Canada's Book Week 17 there was a special competition in reading Stepping Stones' books, as well as a Library Quiz for Grades lll to VI. In Ianuary we had a French Week, during which Library periods were con- ducted in French, and French books were read by Grades V and VI. The French Consulate gave us a dozen gay posters to put up on the walls, as well as many pam- phlets and brochures. Astronomy, mythology, birds, and Cana- dian History were other topics of display. Each grade has also had a chance to display its art work for a week at a time. With at least seventy books in circula- tion each week, there has been a great deal of work to do in returning books to the shelves, repairing torn covers, and keeping the room tidy. For all these tasks we must thank Evadne Ward and her committee. Without their day to clay help the Library could not have gone on functioningg the Librarian would have disappeared forever behind a mountain of books on her desk. Thank you one and all. R. WALTERS Autumn Plants When lack Frost first glides by In his snowy, icy sled, Each flower and tree alike Curtseys, and bows its tousl'd head For its lord, lack Frost. Cold winter is on its way! The trees, for their flow'r friends, weep Large, leafy tears. Each flow'r will Curl up for a winter's sleep ln a soft, snow bed. PAMELA WILLIAMS-Grade VII NAD G'?oyma!A1n Ca ffs. 0 Madeleine Murray, XI

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19 The Town Of Stratford Stratford is a small English-looking town situated on the Avon River. Our first visit in the town was to the lovely Shakespearean Gardens. Divided into sections by small stone walls and pebbled pathways, the colourful garden was very attractive. After seeing the special exhibits and the film on the origin of the Theatre, we went to see the theatre itself. It is a circular building of dark brown wood, shaped like a tent. The surrounding grassy slopes and rockery near the entrance make the theatre most pictur- esque. One day we set out with picnic lunches to find a comfortable place by the river. Having found our spot, we settled down quite happily until a pompous swan decided to join us. After a few futile attempts to make friends with him, we finally chased him back to the river and went for a ride down the river in paddle boats or canoes. We enjoyed ourselves very much in this small town, and found it interesting, busy, and very pretty. DOROTHEA DEMPSTER Toronto Tour We arrived in Toronto on Thursday morning, and after settling ourselves at the Windsor Arms Hotel we took a short walk to see the University. ln the afternoon we rode on the subway and went to the Cana- dian National Exhibition. As it was very hot, we spent most of our time in the build- ings where it was cooler. After a smorgas' bord supper at the Exhibition grounds, we saw the famous Grandstand Show. On Fri- day we Went shopping,.and after an early supper, took taxis to the airport, talking all the way of the many new experiences we had had in those five days. LINDA LEACH The Stratford Evening On September 29th, a Shakespearean display in the Library made an appropriate background for an evening of Stratford re- miniscences. Each of the girls who had been to Stratford spoke on some aspect of the tour: her impression of one of the plays, the unique stage, the history of the Festival, or the town of Stratford. Mrs. Chown des- cribed the Shakespearean Seminar she had attended, and Mrs. Morgan showed a family film on the town of Stratford. Miss Oswald spoke of the Festival in its childhood when the plays were given in the tent. The pro- gramme was aptly concluded by the play- ing of an excerpt from the Merchant of Venice spoken by one of the greatest of Shakespearean actors, Sir lohn Gielgud. MARGED THOMAS Speaking of Art On Thursday, February 12th, grades seven, eight and nine heard a lecture by Dr. Lederman on the understanding of painting. She demonstrated by means of pieces of coloured paper, how the surrounding colours of an oil painting affect the picture itself. For example, when some red paper was held next to the painting, the students dis- covered that they were able to see many different colours of red that were hidden in the picture. Using a landscape of hot springs in Iceland as an illustration, Dr. Lederman explained that many artists drew figures in their paintings in order to accentuate the size of another object in the picture. After showing an impressionistic painting of a cathedral, Dr. Lederman said that an artist often left out many details hoping that each viewer would put in the details according to his own imagination. In the course of this interesting lecture, Dr. Lederman showed other famous oil paintings as a portrait of a child by Renoir, a landscape by Cezanne. and several works of Van Gogh. MARY BRUCE-Grade IX Fashion Show On Friday, December 7th, in a room in the Hudson's Bay Company, a tiny figure clad in n i g h t g o w n and cap announced. 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house . . Several other very young models in nightgowns then crept on to the stage, their eyes searching shyly for proud parents. After this introduction, a group of Iuniors in stylish skating and ski outfits whisked across the platform on to- boggans, and Seniors showed an interesting assortment of clothes for casual and after- noon wear. Finally, all the models together displayed an array of party dresses, filling the room with colour and-a festive New Year spirit. Accompanied on the piano by Ingrid Hundevad and Evadne Ward, two choirs on either side of the platform, supplied soft Christmas carols to add to the mood of the Fashion Show. SUSAN RILEY