Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

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the glee club 1-ir: Lxw is 'mia TRUE EMBODIMENT of everything that's excellent sings the roly-poly Chancellor in Iolanthe. This reviewer found the Pick- ering College production of Iolfmthe to be the true embodiment of every- thing that's excellent in Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera. There was, as there always is, a superb blend of music, action and nonsense. The chorus was sprightly and well trained. These workers are integral parts of the whole joyous ritual. All have mastered the traditional busi- ness as it lite for them admitted no other. From John Luck condescend- ing- strut in the opening' Peer chorus to Burt. Kellock's angry St1'61Jl1OI1'S a member ot Parliament a perfection of team work and spirit was achieved. Let me stay Strephoif' In the magic of all the innocent merriment the audience reveled in the delectable performances of the leadsl'. Moire Jackson interpretation of the Faery Queen was rich and warm. Betty Beer gave beauty to a difficult role. Alice Rourke and llenny Burton were most agreeable lovers and the two Peers, Maguire and Fraser were properly haughty. Bill At.kin's Private Willis was a delight. But the amazing work was done by actor-director H. H. K. Rourke. The incredible dexterity of his caperings, the proficiency ot' his patter songs and his own high spirits make it impossible to believe that Iolrmflzc was to be his last show. Surely there will be one more farewell performance! Fred llagen, in charge of the stage, did it once again! Taking' the criminally small space known as a stage Mr. Hagen was able to create the Tzverzly-eiglal

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The Devils D'isc'iplc the backdrop in the final sceneg the manner smacked of lJufy's, and the neat and colourful expanse of a New England village square was skilfully suggest- ed. Sensitive and impelling direction was evident throughout. The collabora- tion of Messrs. Meikle and Charles Beer was most successful: the small stage never seemed cluttered, grouping- was coherent and balanced, and movement was meaningful. Voice control, to achieve variety and elarity, is the most difficult technical problem an amateur actor has to face, and the skill of the directors in this area was most apparent. Vnder-playing was partly their answer, and a fine sincerity and naturalness were achieved, with lapses into inaudibility or monotony kept to an unusually low minimum. The variety of interest displayed by the Dramatic Club over the past three years is worth noting. XVe have seen farce in Charley's Aunt g an original adaptation in The Ox-bow Incidentug and this latest return to the master-drama. A rich and ambitious tradition was enhanced by The Devil's Disciple . Tufenty-seven

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wide outdoors with exciting depth. Fred's contributions to Pickering pro- ductions continue to be immeasureable. The final touch of perfection was the audience. Young and old played their parts well. Many lips were busy forming the words the singers must sing. VVere any of the principals to forget their lines, they would be prompt- ed not by one man but by an outraged chorus. But this typical G83 audience knew they would have a good time, and proceeded to have it, scene by scene, song by song, dance by dance. Pleasure, sheer pleasure, was the evenings gift ..... a gift which the Pickering College Glee Club will offer again next year. MY DOG -Duncan Byrd Of every pet I have ever had, Be it frog, snake or white rat, You can bet I won't forget Lad, In front of the fire on his mat. His cute little body was covered with black, And he had four paws of snow-white, I'd give a fortune to have him back, To walk with me on this dark night. O O my flrst sprang -Gvsrxvo T.xvERo M. His IS THE FIRST SPRING that I am seeing in my life, because in my country there is never spring nor autumn. I find the spring as something new and beautiful as a child who is born and begins to grow with a hope for life. The spring brings to me the present of beauty with its different colours of flowers as tulips, roses, pansies, carnations and other kinds of flowers. From the trees push out the leaves, the grass grows again and each one of these plants impregnate the surrounding air with its own perfume. This landscape is completed with the presence of the animals who play with happiness and sing hymns to the spring. Twenty-nine