Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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SAMARA 15 DRAM AT I C5 CURTAIN going up! There stood the ark and there stood Mr. Noah. Before the senior girls ' presentation, under the direction of JuHa Murphy had been under way more than a few minutes, the audience was trans- ported into the world that was before the Great Flood. The play, written by Andre Obey and translated from the French, deals with the trials and tribulations of old Noah, his trouble with his neighbours, difficulties met and overcome on the ark with his restless children and the animals and of his final aban- donment on Ararat. There, bereft of home, friends and children with only his wife, for company,— his wife who is dazed and wander- ing in mind from the strain of forty days and nights shut up in the ark,— we witness Noah ' s ultimate victory over discouragement and his satisfaction in the promise of the rainbow. We are indebted to the Ottawa Citizen for the following account of the play: School plays are— alas— so often a boring, incompetent affair, and this not so much on account of amateurish acting and directing but thanks to the choice of cheap, easy , hum- drum plays. A surprising exception was last night ' s pro- duction of the Senior Dramatic Art Class of Elmwood School. The young girls presented Andre Obey ' s excellent play Noah (in the skilful English version by Arthur Wilmott). The plot is a delightful modern variation of the Biblical theme. Mr. and Mrs. Noah (called Mama in the program) and their boys and girls speak the fresh, breezy, everyday langu- age of a modern family. One should think the terrible flood takes place somewhere around Billings Bridge or Rockcliffe (to come closer to the school ' s dis- trict) and not in the vicinity of Biblical Mount Ararat. But in spite, or perhaps because of the present-day conversational style of the Noahs, the poetic charm and solemn atmos- phere of the Biblical story is maintained throughout the play. True Artistic Value The Elmwood drama group, it is stressed, chose this play of true artistic value to develop the imagination and creative ideas in the minds of its young players. Besides, the part of Noah was played by two actresses in the various acts to give more girls a part large enough to show the progress made in voice and expres- sion during the year. The production was— in spite of technical limitations— one of the most delightful dra- matic experiments seen in Ottawa during the last years. Its success is, of course, due in part

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CANDID SHOTS

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16 SAMARA to the imaginative gift of the producer, Julia Murphy, who, well-known for her versatile talent, also designed the settings and costumes, and directed the dances. When the curtain rose, applause greeted the picturesque stage setting: Noah ' s solid, wooden ark, the colorful landscape curtains and the good light effects. There was in spite of stylized simplification somehow the picture- book charm of an old Breughel (or shall we say, a delicate, modern David Milne) about the scene. . . . And what of the acting? Emphasis was put on teamwork and ensemble spirit in the first place. The pace and movement was— except for a few nervous moments— dramatically ef- fective, and the grouping often of particular beauty. Mama (Halcyon Barcant) was remarkable for her womanly appearance, soft gestures and clear enunciation. Ann Edwards was a very lively, boy-like Shem; Audrey AicDonald characterized the obstinate wicked Ham realis- tically, and Dorothy Gates was a typically young Japhet. The most difficult role was naturally Noah ' s, acted by Martha Bate and Deirdre Collens. But also the rest of the cast, not to forget the good animals with more or less frightful masks, contributed to the success of this de- lightful experiment. The music composed by Louis Horst was played by Frances Richardson, ATCM. Auxi- liary sound effects were provided by Myron McTavish, Mus.B. C.W. The intermediate girls ' play, The Affected Young Ladies , by Moliere, and scenes from Shakespeare ' s Taming of the Shrew , also under the capable direction of Julia A4urphy, were privately presented for Mrs. Buck on April 20th. Once again, Mr Belcher of Ashbury College directed the Ashbury-Elmwood play. This year the joint presentation is G. B. Shaw ' s light comedy, You Never Can Tell . A young dentist makes the acquaintance of a charming but eccentric and fatherless family, who invite him for lunch. Somehow his iras- cible old landlord is included in the invitation and the surprise ending is Shaw at his witty and amusing best. The boys and girls worked hard and well and the play was equal to the usual Ashbury-Elmwood standards, a credit to both schools, and well deserving of praise. At the Christmas bazaar, a capacity audi- ence was delighted by the antics of Mrs, Tay- lor ' s imps and golliwogs. They performed charmingly to music, composed by the talented young Ottawa pianist, Peter Smith, now studying in New York. An originally presented version of the Christmas story served to delight the audience further and to enhance the Christmas spirit so prevalent at all Elmwood bazaars. Bouquets to Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Taylor, who deserve our thanks for their untiring and inspiring efforts, and our congratulations for the splendid results they have achieved. ★ ★ ★ Happiness When head of house does see our shoes, She says iMiss Blank, those shoes are whose? iMiss Blank says, Oxfords I did lose . This, head of house does not amuse. Restored Go change your shoes to Blank I said; So Blank retreats with steps like lead. Now lift your feet, hold high your head, Please lift your feet , again is said. Miss Blank returns with happy mind. For oxfords she did finally find. The head of house, her eyes just shined, Of shoes you ' ve found another kind! Wendy Quain, V C Kellei-