London South Collegiate Institute - Oracle Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

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From the viewpoint of a spectator, the operetta, Hulda of Holland, produced by South students last year, was one of the most successful and outstanding per- formances ever given in our auditorium. The operetta itself could not have been chosen more appropriately, and both the cast and the orchestra filled their parts with unusual excellence. The story was a delightful musical comedy in three acts with its setting laid in the picturesque land of Holland. A handsome American youth, visiting in that country, fell deeply in love with a beautiful Dutch girl, Hulda. She was pre- viously engaged to another, eccentric American, a friend of her father's. The handsome American impersonated Hulda's fiance and all seemed to be running smoothly when the latter's parents ar- rived and everything was disclosed. It was discovered, however, that Hulda's true lover was the son of her father's greatest friend and there was a happy ending. The forsaken fiance found consolation in one of the many beautiful Dutch girls. The operetta was made doubly interest- ing by the playing of our own school orchestra. It must have meant many months of diligent practice to prepare for this and the orchestra performed excellently. The picturesque land of Holland made SOUTH C. I. a lovely background for the play, and the atmosphere of the country was made very realistic by the costumes created by South students. A local newspaper said of the operetta: Whimsical and lovely as the carefree Dutch land in which it is set, Hulda of Holland, musical production of the students of London South Collegiate, was presented to a capacity audience at the school auditorium last night. A musical comedy it is billed, but the name is not fair to it. Musical romance would be better, for while it is bright and merry and full of quirks, its romantic atmosphere is carefully created and sustained by a cast of competent players. The main characters were: Peter Cats -Orion Orchard, Jacob Hoogenbeets- Donald Baldwing Hulda-Beth Reed, Kat- rina-Anne Gordon, Jerry Heyden- Harold Carling: Vrow Cats-Edith Samp- son: Jan Steen-Chester Hancock: Jimmy Stone-Norman Farrow, Dirck-Harold White: Adrian Steen-John Kidd, and Cornelius Heyden-John Gordon. The girls of the chorus were: Jean Axford, Dorothy Carpenter, Monica Clarke, Dora Dicks, Ivy Dunkley, Eulene Jenkins, Mary Kennedy, Rosemary Mallinson, Nora Mc- Ewing, Betty Mclsaac, Shirley Robinson, Laura Screaton, Eunice Spettigue, Eve- lina Thompson, Jean Watt, Marjorie page fifty-one

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Tlie Urlcli estra lpiriniilc A little after school was over, one June 1st, 1933, the thirty-odd members of the orchestra were in transit, with Well-filled lunch baskets, to that shady picnic spot on the stream near Kilworth Qwhich everyone has heard ofl. We Were pleased to have as our guests Mrs. Carr-Harris, Mrs. Byles and Jackie. On arriving at Kilworth even Mr. Cal- vert could not resist the temptation of rolling up his pants-legs, removing his shoes and socks, and wading around in the cool, refreshing stream, after his hard day's work. Most of othe other boys and girls were not long in following. Poor little Bobby Morgan, in crossing the stream on stones, unfortunately stepped on one unable to bear his enormous weight and as a result had to go around in wet socks all evening. Meanwhile the majority of the boys had journeyed down to the ole swimmin' hole and were refreshing themselves and working up an appetite for the supper, served in regular camp style by our English chefs, Mr. Byles and Jack Crone. After stuffing ourselves to the bursting point with hot dogs, bacon, rolls. bread and butter, cake, lemonade, olives and last, but not least. ice cream. and after a hearty game of ball, the picnic was adjourned, when we returned to the city, tired and happy. I am sure everyone present Will join with me in saying that the picnic was an immense success. CClap! Clap! Claplj -R. CALVERT, III D. Dramawtirs Under the capable management of Mrs. Carr-Harris, a short play was put on dur- ing the programme of the 1933 At Home. The old-fashioned costumes and white Wigs lent a touch of unusual charm and quaintness to the play, The Favours of My Lady Leone. The players consisted of Libby Pegg as Lady Lean, Ernie Grove as handsome Ferrars, the Prince, Freddie Haysom as Dubois, the elder friend of the Prince, John Gordon as the fussy fat man, Ross Miller, the Kirgg and Barry Hunt, a courtier. If the play could be deemed a success, it was only through the untiring efforts of Mrs. Carr-Harris and the effect pro- duced by her upon each player. -LIBBY PEGG, IV A. -,,, 7-. ORCHESTRA, 1933 Back Row-B. Gidley. J. McNeil, M. Anderson, W. Hartry, D. WhIte, Mr. S. R. Byles lLea1:lerl, Mr. G. Brown, J. Kaufman, H. Mcflillivray, J. Meaden, Mr. J. F. Calvert. Third Row-J. Stoner, D. Townsend. R. Anderson, S. Calvert, E. Harley, B. Morgan. G. Kidd, G. Campbell, L. Wray. Second Row-L. Campbell. F. Stuart, E. Cartier, E. MacKay, L. Cotterill. J. Gustin, D. Wilson, B. Ferris, N. Mclienwn, C. Aitken, B. Dulmage. First Row-J. Doyle, B. Marsh, W. Steeper, T. Bending, R. Calvert, W. Dicks, J. Mair. Page fifly THE ORACLE

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Whitton and Netta Morrison, while the boys were Kirk Bell. Charlie Cowan, Tom Faust, Bob Ford. Charlie Forrest, Gordon Franks, Ernie Grove. Fred Haysom, Row- land Hill, Tom Huyton, Allan Johnston, Paul Kemp, Neil Love. Art McKenzie, and Jack White. Mr. Allin, producer of the operetta, Mr. Byles, leader of the orchestra, the entire cast and members of the orchesra deserve our whole-heared congratulations for this splendid production. The whole school, I know, will look forward eagerly to an- other operetta should Mr. Allin produce one this Year. To those connected in any wav with the producing of Hulda of Holland may I again say: Congratulations I -JOAN BREAKSPEAR, IV C. IMPRESSIONS OF HHULDA OF HOLLAND AS RECALLED BY A MEMBER OF THE CAST To give an account of the work in the production of the operetta, Hulda of Hol- land, one must tell how it all started. One January morning in the audi- torium Mr. A'lin made an appeal to the members of the student body who were interested in the production of an operetta and asked them to meet in the auditorium after school. The meeting at 4 o'clock showed an enthusiastic response. To produce the operetta meant approxi- mately two and a half months of con- tinuous and sincere Work by both direc- tors and members of the cast. Voices had to be tested, lines had to be learned, cos- tumes had to be made. and scenery had to be constructed, yet no one was daunted by the thought of any of these difficult tasks. Many members of the cast had never appeared on a stage before. All the more credit should be given to them for going into the operetta with this handicap. But they received a wonderful training for the future dramatic work into which they might wish to enter. While the cast was completing its Work, Mr. Byles and the orchestra were prac- ticing the music for the operetta. After the principals had been picked, lines and songs had been learned, and the orchestral music had been practiced to perfection. there was a practice for the page fifty-two cast and the orchestra in which songs and dances were tried out, thus starting the moulding together of the operetta. The week before the performance Mr. Allin succeeded in obtaining Mr. Walter Dixon of the Little Studio to come and balance the settings and put the finish- ing touches to the production. The rehearsal was a little bit discourag- ing but, nevertheless, hope that things would go better on the final night was felt throughout, and Chester Hancock, the comedian in the operetta, acted the clown behind stage and kept our spirits up. On the night of the production every member of the cast was present about an hour before the curtain rose to have the make-up put on. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman and Miss McFarlane were responsible for this task and to those who saw the operetta I feel sure that they will agree with me that the make-up was exception- ally good. Behind the scenes were many workers who, through their whole-hearted co- operation, helped to make the operetta a success. To Mr. Freeman, stage director and properties manager, and his helpers, Bill Rivers, Jim McHale and CHE Ready, we are indebted for that wonderful piece of Dutch scenery which was complete in every detail,- the white-Washed walls of the house which are characteristic of Holland, combined with windmills, tulips and the picket fence. Miss McRoberts and her assistants, Barbara Knowles and Hazel Phillips, formed the costume committee. Miss Mac- Farlane and Miss Hilliard directed the dances Which, I might say, was trying for them when they tried to make our stub- born feet go to the rhythm of the music. Mr. Wonnacott was responsible for the dialogue. Among others to help in the production were Mr. Urlin, Haswell Dodds and George Ross, who were responsible for the advertising and tickets, While Mrs. Carr-Harris was the general convener. The operetta proved such a success and such a pleasure to those who took part that we, who still remain at South, will be on hand to help produce another operetta this year and hope thatlmany others will also take an interest in it. -Dom Dicks, IV C. THE ORACLE