Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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SAMARA 31 E can report very favourable progress in this subject during the past year, under the inspiring and stimulating teaching of Miss Tipple. The production of Gilbert and Sullivan ' s Mikado (which took place last year after Samara had gone to press, and was therefore not recorded) was an outstanding success from every point of view. We should like to congratulate Miss Tipple, and all concerned, on the excellent results of their hard work. At Closing, the gold medal presented by Mr. Puddicombe was awarded to Anne Coghlin as the best interpretative player in the school; the silver medal for improvement was won by Harriett Mathias; this year Miriam Cruikshank and Alix Chamberlain are the competitors. The Music Recital by Junior and Intermediate pupils of Miss Tipple will take place on May 22nd, in conjunction with the Lower School display of Euchorics and Mime. On March 7th, the boy-choristers from the London Choirs School, who have been touring the Dominion, paid a visit to Elmwood, and gave us a most delightful hour of unaccompanied singing. Their purity of tone and the harmonious blending of their voices in the part-songs was a joy to hear. We were again invited to join in the performance of Stainer ' s Crucifixion by the Ashbury choir. The out-of-town boarders were unable to do so, as the extra days added to the Easter holidays intervened; but K. Dunning, some of the staff and a number of day-girls took part instead, and the full rendering was heard at Ashbury on Palm Sunday. We appreciate the kindness of Mr. Wright in giving us the opportunity to take part in this beautiful oratorio. A number of recitals by famous artists have been given in Ottawa during the winter months, and we have been particularly fortunate in having been able to attend so many. Among these were recitals by Fritz Kreisler, the violinist, Joseph Lhevinne,

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30 SAMARA The young lady playing the role in Act 2 was perhaps the nearest to the conception of the character one would get from reading the play. The role of Hastings was played by Mary Baker and Peggy Waldie, who both brought out the gallant and courtly qualities of the character. Ethel Southam and Dawn Ekers gave remarkable performances of the bluff and hearty Hardcastle, and both are to be highly commended for the vigorous and natural playing of a difficult masculine role. The doting and excitable Mrs. Hardcastle was played by Janet Hutchison, Betty Hooper and Miriam Cruikshank, and, while making no comparisons, for each did excellently, a special word of appreciation must be given to the latter. The loutish Tony Lumpkin was very well played by Esme Thompson and Sheila Skelton, the latter being a little the more natural. The Miss Nevilles of Barbara Alan Brown and Katherine Dunning were sympathetically played, and Helen Collins, as Sir Charles Marlow, and Mary Malloch, as the innkeeper, did well in male roles. Eleanor Leggett played Diggory; Elizabeth Alguire a maid; Hope Wattsford was Roger and Elaine Ellsworth and Alison Cochrane, servants. The latter deserves particular notice for her gift for facial expression, and while the part was very small, she made it stand out. — M. SUMMER Summer at last The glad days are here The cold days of winter Have passed, let us cheer. Swimming and tennis The great summer sports. Lounging on hammocks And walking in shorts. Elizabeth Hanson, Vb

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32 S A M A R A pianist, Giannini and Mario Chamlee, singers, and Frank Harrison, organist. Another musical treat was the performance given by the English singers, who presented a fascinating programme of folk- songs and madrigals. At intervals during the winter also we have attended the concerts of the Ottawa Little Symphony Orchestra, which were most enjoyable. ' Altogether we have 1 had many opportunities this year of widening and deepening our appreciation of good music. AWAKENING A ll day the fiery sun beat down Upon the suffering land, The thirsty trees were limp and dry — No breeze their branches fanned. Bird and flower, beast and man Were all in this sorry plight For not a drop of rain had come:- For many a day and night. The sultry air did fairly burn For want of a heavy fall. But heaven turned a heedless ear To earth ' s beseeching call. Then all at 4 nce the sun was dimmed By a dark and welcome hand — Sharp winds blew from the darkening East And roused the helpless land. Soon the brilliant sky was filled with clouds, And distant rumblings heard — And hope became restored once more In man and beast and bvrdi ' Mid lightning ' s dart an .thunder ' s crash Came torrents of fragrant rain And soon the thankful earth was clad In her leaf-green gown again! B. Kennedy, V W