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

Page 31 text:

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 .

Page 33 text:

Page Thirty 1952 ••THE SPARTALOGUE” — DANCE COMMITTEES Back Row: Tom Klein. Don Smith. Cliff Molyneaux. Jim Grier. Front Row: Betty Bruce. Jo-Anne Sneddon. Morris. Barba rev Bennett. Mary Makar. Gail Jane Inset: Caro Armstrong. INTER-SCHOOL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Seated: Elsie Newman. Miss Graham. Shirley Beere. Standing: Donna Maier. Lois McCloskey. Dolores Doyle. The Christian Fellowship group at Sandwich is one of several hundred similar groups which meet in high schools across Canada and in other countries of the world. The purpose of the Fellowship is two-fold— to help strengthen Christian students, and to present the challenge of a vital Christian fai th to others in the school. Bible study and prayer form the basis of the programme along with the occasional speaker, film, and week-end conference. I I PUBLIC SPEAKINC From Row Stuart Klein. Doug Paton. Richard Randall. Second Row: Nancy Her. Marilyn Snyder. Diane Yates. Anne Johnston. Phyllis Smith. Back Row: Walter Parashak. John Lindsay. Miss Harris. Miss Graham, Mrs. Haeberlin. George Mahler. Ross Archibald.