Milton Academy - Yearbook (Milton, MA)

Page 72 text:

The Dramatics Society I-'irxt Rrmx' Woods, Witherby, Mack, Lewis, D., Smith, H., Whitehead, Schwarz, Rust. Serond Row: Kinnicutt, Gaenslen, Ames, C., Brown, L., Kemp, Butler, Mr. Torney, Walcott, Pierce, Lehman, Chace, M., Zobel, Henderson. Third Row: Mellon, Withington, Whelton, Channing, Flynn, Tu- dor, Cangiano, Greene, Smith, R., Freeman, C., Straus, Bolton, T., Jones. Fourth Row: Hitzig, W., Gannett. Zamecnik, Wadsworth, Sturges, Stone, Kennelly, Chesebrough, Weld, Bolton, C., Crocker, Ilolcombe. Ififtlz Razr: Bolton, K.. Cooper, Clark, A., Bryant, Burgin, Hull, Joplin, Sullivan, Dev- ins, Cunningham, D. Perhaps the most startling event of the dramatic season was the establishment of the rule that no- body participating actively in a varsity sport may take a major role in the play. How much this will affect the success of the production can never really be determined, but it's a good bet that it wouldnit have made much difference this year. The joint production of The Matchmaker, caused more or less problems this year than usual, depend- ing on the point of view. The acting took less subtlety than usual and the last week was much less hectic than it usually is. On the other hand, the action, particularly in the third act, was very fast and took split- second timing, painstakingly worked out. The brilliance of the scenery reflected a particularly long season for Mr. Torney and his men-about-the-house. The props', committee probably had the hardest time of all. Any and all work the actors do is more than amply returned by the kudos on and off stage. The scenery, the costumes, and even the make-up send quick glances to the program to see who's responsible. Alas, however, who notices the razor blade in the barber's hand or the silverware on the restaurant table? Un- touched by view, I'm afraid, are the poor people of the props, responsible for these. All of them, however, noticed and unnoticed, are responsible in part for any measure of success the production might have had. The Third Class succeeded mightily in its attempt to baffle the audience in A. A. Milne's thriller, The Red House Mystery. Every year, it seems, the last two lines are reserved for Mrs. Sedgwick and Mr. Torney, without whose efforts the plays could never have been successes. I suppose if we tried to outdo ourselves every time, the whole article would be praise and thanks and nothing about what for. The fact that even then we would not have sufficiently praised and thanked them for their efforts renders the attempt unsuccess- ful anyway, so once again we will just give them our deepest gratitude.

Page 71 text:

Th Yearbook Firtt Roux' Brown, Kinnicutt. Secmld Roux' Lehman, Henderson, Bradley Third Roux' Toop, jones, Swett, J.. Butler, Bancroft. Somewhat overshadowed by the extent of last year's format reform, the present board has en- deavoured not to improve, which might well have proved impossible, but rather-to continue the new pattern, or tradition, if a two-year-old revolution can be so considered: consequently, the abundance of full-page photographs, the consciously arresting layout of separate pictures, and the variety of the ostensibly candid first class poses. A page is approved. The present edition, nevertheless, has not ap- peared without certain minor revisions of its own. An early objective of the Board was to include a personal account of each club's activi- ties by its respective president, a process often exasperating, but, in general, satisfactory. A fea- ture of several past editions, the house write-ups, have provided, it is hoped, for a meaningful expression of the individuality of each. Like- wise, in the sports section, the team captains were given to feel that the wording of their article was as important as its content. The clubs, houses, and athletics, then, reflect ideally the personality of president, captain, and moni- tor alike. The Board learned most from its failure to meet sagaciously early deadlines. It was, in fact, indicative of a tendency of the class at large that nothing could be accomplished until panic conditions dictated full action. An even greater error was to restrict the number of members who could attempt to conceive the total book. A more widespread imagination in the final appearance of the book would have increased the significance of each member's contribution to the whole. As it was, effective cooperation was forthcoming only with the final enthusiasm of the Board.

Page 73 text:

U 77 The lVli1rchmaker hy Thornton Wilder if: fbi-if ,ul Cornelius, do something Knock it overl' Please hold still while I powder your wrinkles, john. Don't you boys forget that you've made us lose our reputations, and now the fashionable world's the only place we can eulf'