Isaac Newton High School - Newtonian Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 62 text:

60 Isaac Newton High School M U SIC THE GONDOLIERS ACT I or THE KING OF BARATARIA —by Gilbert and Sullivan The maidens of Venice await the arrival of Marco and Giuseppe Palmieri, the two most popular gondoliers of the city. They refuse to accept the attentions of any others, until these two have chosen their wives. The gentlemen decide to leave the choice to fate, and blind-folded, they catch Tessa and Gianetta. Meanwhile, the Duke of Plaza-Toro, with the Duchess, their charming daughter, Casilda, and attendant Luiz, arrive from Spain, to find the son of the King of Barataria, to whom Casilda was mar¬ ried as an infant. The news of this marriage has been kept secret from Casilda until now; she is shocked, especially as she and Luiz are very deeply in love. The Grand Inquisitor of Spain, Don Alham¬ bra Bolero, explains that the prince was entrusted to the care of a gondolier who died and left the child to the mother of Luiz for whom they have already sent. The wedding of Marco and Tessa, Giuseppe and Gianetta is being celebrated by the gondoliers and their ladies, when Don Alhambra enters and informs them that either Marco or Giuseppe is the son of the King of Barataria. He was married when a child and must now go to a far off isle to rule. Not knowing which is the actual king, Don Alhambra arranges to send both gondoliers, but refuses to let their wives go with them. The act closes with the de¬ parture of all the gondoliers, leaving behind a broken-hearted group of maidens. ACT II In Barataria, the monarchy has been reorganized on Republican principles. The courtiers enjoy all the leisure, while the kings do all the work. The only thing lacking for perfect happiness, is the pleasure of female society. That is provided, with the unexpected arrival of the ladies, who were tired waiting alone. To celebrate their coming, Marco and Guisepoe give a banquet and dance, at which the Cachucha is enjoyed to the full. It is interrupted by Don Alhambra, who is horrified at the form of government. He brings the Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro, with Casilda, and arranges for her to meet the two Gondoliers, to one of whom she is married. She tells them of her love for Luiz, and Marco and Guiseppe make her very happy by telling of their marriage. Finally the old nurse arrives at the palace. The story she tells reveals the startling news that the rightful king is Luiz, whom she had substituted with her own son, many years before. The gondo¬ liers are happy to return to their wives and Venice. Luiz and Casilda become King and Queen of Barataria.

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62 Isaac Newton High School THANK YOU This year the halls of Newton rang with music. Stirring marches, poignant love songs, gracious gavottes, soaring soprano arias, rollicking choral numbers, all were heard continuously from the beginning of September until the end of Feb¬ ruary; for February 27, 28, and March 1, Isaac Newton High School presented Gilbert and Sullivan’s opera, “The Gondoliers” to capacity audiences at the Play¬ house. Colourful peasant costumes, stately court attire and vivid stage-settings pro¬ vided such a background for the sparkling light opera that the entire audience was transported to Venice, the home of “The Gondoliers.” Miss R. E. McCrum, con¬ ducting the opera, achieved delightful singing from the entire cast, and great praise should be given to Miss C. M. Griffiths, whose directing of movements and dancing was a highlight of the performance. Dramatics and diction were under the direction of Mr. J. Katz and Miss F. Macintyre. Special commendation should be given to Miss H. Gregory, who, as pianist, worked so faithfully and wholeheartedly to make our opera a success, and to the orchestra, which, under the direction of Mr. F. Hubble, provided a beautiful accom¬ paniment to the singing. To all the backstage workers, (the unsung heroes), to every teacher who con¬ tributed time and patience, to every student who sold a ticket, we extend our thanks. Through all their combined efforts, our opera was an outstanding success. Let us hope that there will be many more of these operatic productions in the years to come, as they are a desirable and beneficial form of education. CAST PRINCIPALS OF THE OPERA WERE 1HE DUKE OF PLAZA TORA Nick Station, Sam Bebchuk LUIZ . Bill Andrusiak DON ALHAMBRA DEL BOLERO Cecil Semchyshyn MARCO PALMIERI Basil Furgala GUISEPPE PALMIERI Leo Nyznyk ANTONIO Leonard Ewanchuk I ' RANGISGO Ronald Kletke GIORGIO Frank Bomhersback ANNIBALE Gordon Buckley } Jenny Soltylo S- Dorothy Ruppel J Nina Biniowosky CASILDA Betty Steertz, Elizabeth Younko GIANETTA Evelyn Kuchta, June Frain TESSA Violet Smith, Corinne Langston VICTORIA Elsie Rejkotuicz, Irene Sly in FIAMETTA Alice Shakeshaft, Dorothy Pawlik GUILIA Joan Zuk, Marie Polanski INEZ . Olga Sotvson MEN-AT-ARMS Sydney Green, Ernie Tesluk HERALDS Bob Mutton, Dick Schouten PAGES Dorothy Blanchard, Ina Andruskow DRUMMER BOY Russel Lacomy DUCHESS OF PLAZA TORA