Forster Secondary School - Spartalogue Yearbook (Windsor, Ontario Canada)

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‘‘THE SPARTALOGUE ' — 1 9 5 2 Page Twenty-Seven GIRLS’ CHOIR Back Sow: Ron Finn. Bob Wade. Ian Hamilton. John Lindsay. Mell Steinhart. Don Mac- Lennan. John Cleminson. Third Row: John Sparlinq. Marilyn Snyder. Joan Penhale. Eileen Kinq. Pat Rlqq. Phyllis Smith. Barbara Bennett. Jim Madqe, Bill Alexander. Second Row: Pat Shanqaneuk. Dianne Yates. Marqaret Carson. Myrna Wrlqht. Miss Weller. Dianne Stevens. Anne John¬ son. Gayle Welch. Front Row: Catherine Copeland. Dorothy Smith. Deanne Whiteside. Ruth Richards. Ella Eberwein. Pal Kay.

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“THE SPARTALOGUE 1952 Page Twenty-Six October 31, 1951 Dear Diary: It ' s been so long since 1 last wrote to you—last April 20 to be exact. I can ' t believe that a whole summer has gone by and that already the threat of an October report is hanging over my head! It was lots of fun watching children dressed in weird costumes going from door to door as they shouted Trick or Treat —Hallowe ' en, you know. Little mites were still trailing in and out our door when I left for the hard times party at S.C.I. What with the sing-song, games in the gym, swim¬ ming, and square dancing, there was enough to keep even the most energetic busy. Mary Jo Hopkins, Barbara Bennet, and Ruth Richards led the sing-song in which several groups of students took turns sing¬ ing. Donna Cunningham, Anne Haeberlin, Caro Armstrong, George Sutton and Ian Hamilton looked after the decorations and supervised the swimming. Mary Jo Hopkins and Jackie Welch were in charge of the gym. Mr. Peter Mitchell called the square dances. The evening was a definite success and just a sample of things to come. —Nancy. November 22, 1951 Dear Diary: I can ' t wait to tell you about our 16th annual Football Dance I went to last night. I was lucky enough to be invited and my formal was super. At noon there was a tea dance which everyone enjoyed. The setting for the dance was very colourful. Red and white streamers were draped from five points of a large silver star to the balcony, and from the middle of the star hung a brilliant crystal ball. The stage was set with a giant goal-post and tacked on this were tiny footballs naming each of our wonder¬ ful players. Three members of the staff lent their patronage —Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Whetstone, the latter smart in a gown of aqua sheer; Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Krol, Mrs. Krol lovely in black taffeta and gold satin, and Miss Helen Lovegrove, attractive in pink satin and net, escorted by Mr. Larry Wagner. The members of the committee were Jack Boyer, escorting Joan Hodges, who wore aqua taffeta and black net; Jim Grier with Eileen Higgins, petite in yellow taffeta and lace; Betty Bruce wearing blue taffeta and net, escorted by Jim Carr; Jo-Anne Sned¬ don, Gail Morris and Alex Harris. Other students seen dancing to Bill Richardson ' s orchestra were Jack Thompson and Eileen King, Don Smith and Joyce Rudling, George Sutton and Sally Bourdginon, Fred MacLennan and Mary Jo Hopkins, Bob Dagenais and Carolyn Minielly, Jim Oliver and Marilyn Hughes, Cyril Todd and Ethel Mercer, Art Renaud and Joan Masters. Ted Skoczen and Donna Cunningham, and Eddie Thompson and Shirley Borschuck. I hope I get a chance to go again next year as I had a wonderful time. —Nancy. January 25, 1952 Dear Diary: I ' m late in wishing you a happy New Year, but better late than never. The Christmas holidays were wonderful—two weeks without thought of homework! My world seemed like the rosiest thing in existence. But they say that into every life a little rain must fall, and it fell by the buckets for me when the teachers decided to play host to our parents on January 24. From the sudden change in my parents ' attitude toward me, 1 can just imagine what discus¬ sions went on about my marks, deportment, etc, etc.! Other faces also seemed glum at school this morn¬ ing, and homework, I know, will be surprisingly well done for at least a week now. —Nancy. February 23, 1952 Dear Diary: Hockey and basketball have been my chief in¬ terests the past couple of months. Our hockey team has become a real competitor in the league, and the basketball teams have shown great improve¬ ment. After-the-game dances added a lot of sparkle to three Friday nights as huge crowds gathered to trip (Continued on Page 41) 1 t « I

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Page Twenty-Eight 1952 “THE SPARTALOGUE — The Mikado Cast The Mikado of Japan Nanki-Poo (his son disguised as a wandering minstrel) Ko-Ko (Lord High Executioner) Pooh-Bah (Lord High Everything Else) Pish-Tush (A noble lord) Yum-Yum 1 Pith-Sing l wards of Ko-Ko Peep-Bo ) Katisha (an elderly lady in love with Nanki-Poo) Chorus of School girls. Nobles. Guards, and Coolies Bruce McLagan John Blinston Ron Finn William Kerr Donald Alexander Annelle Chappus Shirley Johnson Pat Teahan Charlotte Watkins The mythical town of Titipu came to Sandwich Collegiate on March 12. 13, and 14 with the lively singing and acting of the Sandwich Collegiate Operatic Society. Under the able direction of Miss Scanlon, the favourite Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, the Mikado ' ' , delighted full audiences with its gay nonsense. Setting the pace for the whole operetta, the gentle¬ men of Japan in their brilliant kimonos introduced themselves with enthusiastic song in the opening scene. They were in perfect harmony with the back¬ ground of a Japanese palace courtyard, and Mount Fuijeyama in the distance. The story of the operetta revolves about Ko-Ko. the Lord High Executioner who is about to marry his ward, Yum-Yum; but a wandering minstrel, Nanki- Poo declares his love for Yum-Yum. If he cannot have her, he will kill himself. Suddenly, a command comes from the Mikado. There must be an execution, or Ko-Ko will lose his position, and the city will be reduced to the rank of a village. Ko-Ko turns to Nanki-Poo. Nanki-Poo agrees to marry Yum-Yum and be beheaded in a month. Unexpectedly, the Mikado comes to Titipu, where as yet no execution has taken place. To satisfy the Mikado. Kc-Ko makes out an affidavit saying that he has beheaded Nanki- Poo. But his triumph is short-lived. He has sup¬ posedly killed the heir to the throne of Japan. To save himself from execution, Ko-Ko marries the elder¬ ly, ferocious Katisha. When Nanki-Poo returns to his father, all is straightened out and the story comes to its usual happy ending. Ron Finn as Ko-Ko made the series of Gilbert and Sullivan intrigues entirely plausible as he deftly avoided execution, but not Katisha. His rendition of the popular Tit-Willow” number clearly showed his singing and acting ability. The pompous, greedy Pooh-Bah was outstandingly characterized by Bill Kerr who, with sneers and haughty remarks, con¬ descended to be insulted by various bribes, all to the great amusement of the audience. As Katisha, Char¬ lotte Watkins was properly mean and blood-thirsty. Her solo Alone and Yet Alive won encores every night of the performance. Annelle Chappus and Jack Blinston capably played the parts of the lovers, Yum- Yum and Nanki-Poo. Anneile ' s rendition of her main solo The Moon and I clearly presented the beauty and artistry of her singing; her acting was outstanding throughout. Jack Blinston is also to be commended on his fine performance. As the most humane Mikado. Bruce McLagan changed from benign humour to ferocity as he learned of his sen ' s execution. His retinue consisted of John Sparling, Peter Mahler, and Stewart Boyd. In their artless Japanese way , the three little maids from school, Annelle, Shirley Johnson, and Pat Teahan quickly won the heart of the audience with their merry songs and dances. Donald Alex¬ ander revealed a fine voice in his characterization of a noble lord Pish-Tush. Without the tuneful and brilliant background pro¬ vided by the girls ' and boys ' choruses, the operetta could not have been complete. As the curtain rose, the boys ' chorus reflected the light-hearted setting of the operetta with their rendition of We Are the Gentlemen of Japan ; later, they sang Behold the Lord High Executioner , as they introduced the inimitable Ko-Ko. Singing the colourful Comes a Train of Little Ladies , the girls ' chorus, depicting shy, young Jap¬ anese maidens, escorted Yum-Yum and her two sis¬ ters. Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo. They presented an effective beginning for Act II as they prepared Yum- Yum for her wedding to the accompaniment of Braid the Raven Hair . (Continued on Page 41) Drama At commencement we saw the first of three plays offered this year by Miss Weller ' s group. The Com¬ mencement endeavour, a one-act play called A Ghost of a Show , showed a group of students re¬ hearsing Shakespeare ' s Romeo and Juilet . The play was very well-received by the Commencement audience. Melvin Steinhart was student director. Near the end of the first term, the student body laughed through an original play called Bottled Beauty . In this case, the student director was Barbara Bennett. At Christmas, Grade XIIB presented their version of A Christmas Carol by Dickens. Ron Finn played Scrooge and Bob played Bob Cratchit. We con¬ gratulate X11B on giving a fine performance. Jim Madge managed the curtain, sound effects and lights for A Ghost of a Show and A Christmas Carol .