Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

Page 26 text:

14 SAMARA of Margaret Hardy as the narrator which added so much to the understanding and enjoyment of the play. Attendants, suitors, soldiers, maids, executioner, jailer and priests were played by Betsy Allan, Diana Laird, Philippa Mclaren, Kay Ward, Lois Davidson, Ann Paterson, Suzanne Mess, Anna Cameron, Janet Edwards, Patsy Drake, Anne Chisholm, Isabel Earl, Paula Peters, Pauline Coulson, Ruth Osier and Elizabeth Paish. — M. ALL the time spent in the Art Room this year has been most enjoyable and pro- gressive, too. Four B has been working hard, fashioning puppets from papier-mache, to make a Chinese set. Four A has been trying her hand at finger-painting and has achieved some very weird and wonderful compositions. The Special Art Class is a very large and interested one this year. The first term was given up to drawing in charcoal the patient models who were saved from study periods by being asked to pose for us. This term we have done a great deal of free brush painting. In this, too, the models have helped us and we thank them very much for their time. Christmas cards were printed by the dozen in the Art Room from Lino-cuts and were sold at the bazaar in December. Only a few canvases have been completed in oil paints as yet, but we plan to make great strides in this field after Easter. We want to congratulate Elizabeth Gil- christ, the well-deserving winner of last year ' s art prize, and to wish her the very best of luck for her future in art. Miss May has done everything to make the History of Art and the Interior Decorating classes interesting and instructive. Every one of us wants to thank Miss May for her patience and excellent guidance. L G. YOUTH I stand at the edge of the world, My life before me lies. My heart is high with hopes, My spirit seeks the skies. My years are mine to mould For failure or success. My seeking eyes behold Horizons limitless. Mary Osier, Form VI, Upper. Fry. LUXURY I went to the window last night And looked at the street light. In England could you ? No! Your lights you must not show: At night you see a dark sight. For breakfast I had an orange, And butter I had a lot. In England could you ? No! Your rations, they would go. Your food you must waste not. Camilla Crump, Form IVb, Age 10.

Page 25 text:

SAMARA 13 demonstrations of the proficiency of the senior dramatic art class of the Rockcliffe school. The reason for this difficulty is not far to seek. Lady Precious stream is an old Chinese play done into English, as the pro- gramme said,by S. I. Hsiung, and since it was given in traditional style, there are no standards by which we can measure it. It was a distinct departure from plays of other years which, as we remember them, were all Occidental in atmosphere whether they were classical Greek, Shakespeare, or of the modern stage. Confession is good for the soul and we might as well say here and now that the traditions of the East and in par- ticular of Chinese poetry and drama are something of which we have a great deal to learn. Delightful Offering However, it does not need that knowledge to say that the play was most delightfully done and that the very high standard which the senior dramatic class attained in the past was thoroughly maintained. The large au- dience thought so too and found the Oriental traditions of stage presentation decidedly novel and refreshing. For one thing, there was no scenery as the West understands it. Much is left to the imagination although each scene is carefully explained by a narrator and the actors taking the audience into their confidence. The appearance all through the play of the pro- perty men placing chairs for the actors and performing many other duties not seen in our productions, once the curtain is up, was the cause of amusement at first but so unobtrusive and efficient were their mo- vements that one soon got used to this essen- tial difference, so much did they help the action of the play. Productions in other years had larger casts, thus permitting more than one girl to be seen as the same character. This year it was different, the same players being seen throughout. While this did not give so many the opportunity to show what they had learned of dramatic art from their extrmely able and clever directress and mistress. Miss Miriam Graham, it made for a better under- standing of the play by the audience. Excellent Diction Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the presentation by the cast as a whole was the excellent diction of practically every one of its members. Well modulated voices and splendid clarity of speech were the rule. Absence of scenery called for much pantomime (amusing at times) by the players. Pantomime is the most difficult phase of the dramatic art and too much credit cannot be given for the ease and naturalness with which it was done. Costumes were gorgeous and lighting good. With the property men ever ready to step in at the proper moment with a chair, or other property, the players never had to worry as to what their proper position on the stage was; consequently there is little to criticize on that score. Expressive Hands Individually, the honors went to Jacqueline Workman as Lady Precious Stream, third and favorite daughter of His Excellency Wang Yun, prime minister of China, who gave up luxury and ease to wed the man of her choice, Asieh Ping-Kuei, the gardener, who in this fairy tale of Old China, became a king. Miss Workman ' s performance was one of appealing charm. It was full of delicate feeling and showed complete grasp of the role. Her use of her hands, which were the most expressive we have seen in a schoolgirl player, was remarkable. Anne Powell, as His Excellency the Prime Minister, gave an authoritative performance fully compatible with the dignity of high position in the East. Anne MacKinnon, as the conceited and traitorous Tiger General Wei, injected a touch of comedy without overdoing it at all and Kathleen McGreer, as his wife. Silver Stream, was also out- standing. Lette McGreer, who had the role of Asieh Ping-Kuei, Precious Stream ' s gardener, sol- dier and royal husband, was also excellent, bringing out each necessary characteristic with assurance. She had to be subservient, arrogant and romantic and did each well. Mary Osier was Madame Wang and she, too, filled her part to perfection. Other roles were Su, the Dragon General, played by Betty Caldwell; Golden Stream, by Margaret Ann McKee; the Princess of the Western Regions, by Elizabeth Gilchrist, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, by Janet Edwards. Noreen Haney and Joan Pater son were the indispensable ' property men. A special word must be said for the work

Page 27 text:

WIN IKK BV hLlZABLIH 1-