Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

Page 31 text:

dramatic club HRoI'oH THIS COVRSIC of the past twenty years the llraniatie Soeiety ot' Pickering College has enjoyeil a suc-eess equallecl, perhaps, hy only the Theatre Guild' For twenty-three years they have playetl to t'ull houses, reeeiveil favourable notices and have matle a hig eontriluition to the clraniatie art ot' North York. Although they dimln't have a trial run in Boston or Philznlelphia, the Soeiety opened anrl liveml up to all expeetations, the night ot' lbeeeinher flril, 1949. In the past this enterprising group has given us plays hy Noel t'owai-il, Journey's I+l1nl , an tl'Neill Trilogy, some H. B. Shaw, Uutwartl Bouiul , The Inspeetor lleneraln, Brother Urelii1l , The lloilern Blat-lietli , The Modern Julius t'aesar anil other well known works. t'harley's Aunt always a sueeess, and now enjoying a Broailway revival with Ray Holger, seeinetl zi good Choir-e for this season. This reviewer touncl it ai privilege to wateh this Vollege group have sueh fun with this olelest ot' ehestnuts . ST.xNI1INu: Hf1rIv'f'II. 131111112 liflril. VlllIt'l'llS.WIl1. .lllll'X'. Phippen. .'llrlu'.w11. l,ou'r1f, Sl-T.'kTlCllI Jlrs. -Im'A'.wn1. Nfeplieiisfni, Golrls-fir'I.'. There is nothing suhtle ahout t'harley's Aunt .X young t'ollege stuilent. to help his trieinls, iinpersonates an elilerly woinan lroni lflraxil :intl leafls the autlienee through a niaze ot' slzipstiek seenes until finally the real vvonian appears, solves the eoniplieateil plot antl everyone lives happily ever after, liespite the numerous opportunities lim' our hero to spenil the evening inugging with the ziiitlieiiee, lflil. Stephenson playetl the role eleverly zunl inoll'ensively. lle rarely took liherties with the text anfl gave this lovv eonieily a high touvh. Htl. is a most skilful perforiner anil is now l'irinly planteil in the long row of Pieker- I'!l'f'IlH -.sei en

Page 30 text:

The Polikon Club display was, of c-ourse, identical to that which it has always had since it originated, because of glorious tradition. In the craft shop the latest products of our artistic ability were exhibit.ed. In the English room the Photography Society demonstrated the principles of their art.. A new issue of the Quaker Cracker was released for the event. In the grade IX and X rooms, notebooks and ink drawings illustrating mythology were displayed. Chaos prevailed everywhere, and in the laboratory in particular, where an array of apparatus popped, buzzed and flashed. Long John invented a device which tested your blowing power. It not -only tested that, but propelled water into the various people's faces. The parents milled about gazing for some evidence of the products of their offspring. As it was a community project, with everyone sharing in the work, few parents were disappointed. After the buffet luncheon, they assembled in the auditorium for the Dram- atic Club's presentation of Charley's Aunt. christmas banquet I Hr: FINAL mv of the first term had begun. Most of the faces carried a sad expression for at nine o'clock a bell told -of the commencement of the final examination. The greater percentage of the students spent the majority of the next two and a half hours in deep concentration. Lunch was advanced to I2 o'clock and most of the afternoon was spent packing, although the Senior Basketball and Hockey Teams had practices. Dinner, the climax of the hurly-burly day, was at six o'clock. Most everyone who had something to do with the daily life of Pickering as- sembled in the dining-room, which was decorated by the Prep to suit the occasion. Pete t'olgrove did a great job at the piano, playing his own versions of the various Yuletide songs while the whole school sang. Between songs, tomato juice, turkey, vegetables, plum pudding and fruit. were devoured, and washed down with coffee. At last, Santa and his helper the looked more like a grave-digger than Santas helperl, arrived with their numerous gifts directly from their home. Santa seemed to know just what everybody wanted, and wasted little time in distributing them to the deserving kiddies. He even brought three shovels. Everyone was worried about Santas health. They thought that he might lose too much weight before very long, a11d to have Santa in bed at this time of the year would be disastrous. The banquet was closed as usual with the singing of Auld liang Syne and then the Pickering yell. Twcmy-.six

Page 32 text:

ing greats along with Hugh Buchanan, Rog. Strouse, Alan MacNeill, Charles Beer fthe flrstl and others. Doug. Mawson was a tremendous asset to the producti-on. His acting was good but his real value lay in the spirit that he obviously gave the show- Doug. worked extremely hard to give the show pace and worked equally as hard to set up the humorous situations for Stephenson to knock down. Both boys played well together and the show owed much to Dongs work. Phippen was Mawson 's friend and handled his role well. Ames and Gold- stick made lovely ladies, Lowry and Bunce were distinguished gentlemen and Vaucrosson was a loyal and efficient servant. Moire Jackson had the distincti-on of being the only real woman to play a feminine role. She performed in her usual competent, forceful and pleasant fashion. The College is fortunate to have Mrs. Jackson as a member of the com- munity. p The sets were good and the direction, although absent at times, was, otherwise, careful and effective. The production was fun, and good box office. This reviewer would like to see, however, the College group attempt a more dif- ficult vehicle next year. dances HE DEARTH or FEMIXINE '1'ENnr3RNi:ss was partially alleviated by the various dances. Early in November, two bus loads of Pickering boys went to the Ontario Ladies' College for a very successful blind date. At times, it was doubtful whether we were following the music, but many good acquaintances were made. These acquaintances were renewed when a return engagement was staged at Pickering in the spring. The formal dance at Pickering College this year was enjoyed by all. We had a good orchestra and the auditorium was simply but tastefully decorated. Doug. Mawson, the master of ceremonies, opened the dance and announced that sometime during the evening Miss Pickering would be eh-osen. No one was astounded when it was learned that the title had been won by Miss Ruth Palmer, a Newmarket girl, escorted by Ed. Stephenson. Following the corona- tion, tasty refreshments were served in the dining-room and after the inter- mission, the couples returned to the assembly hall to dance until the last note of Van de NValker music faded. Credit must go to those who made the dance possible. These include Jim Lee, Chuck BLt8Hl1Sll, and Phil Holt. who comprised the dance committee, Sven Thomsen, VVally Meikle and the grade XII business students on the decorating committee. The Football Dance was not quite as successful as the Formal. Despite financial difficulties, however, the many couples had an entertaining evening. It Twcnly-eight