Selwyn House School - Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

Page 17 text:

FOR 'I'HI-l SCHOOL Yl-Q-XR 1931- Wil 'VHF CHl'R'l' SCI-Nl-' Ulbe fnilertbanlt of iirnttc For the first time in the history of the School an attempt was made to pres.-nt ll Shake spearian play, and we think that we may say, without any idle hoast, that the production of the Merchant , under the guidance of Klr. Harrv Donald, in the liildonan Hall ol. the Church of St. :Xndrew and St. Paul, on March the lSth, was an unqualified success. Although an alwhreviated version of the storv was presented, the ten scenes shewn amply covered the hare lwones of the main story. 'llo one memlver of the audience, f to quote the critique which appeared in the Montreal Gazette- it seemed that no apology was necessary for much ol' the matter omitted. Nearly all the important scenes were there and although the poetry of the Garden Scene hetween Lorenzo and jessica was missed, it was compensated in a measure luv the pantomimic rendering of ether portions ol. the play. The roles were all taken luv lmovs, a fact which, of course, so far as the feminine roles are cen- cerned, takes its precedent from the period of the playwright himself. The delivery of the dialogue featured a kind of linglish heard only too seldom in Montreal so far as amateur productions are concerned. It was singularly pure, and also singularly free from the super- Huous R . The stage presence ol' the liovs was also remarkalwlv free from stillness or other liirnis of fright. There were few who were not thoroughly acquainted with their lines, and the prompters' taskf lthat of lf, l.vman and H. .lacl-asonlf must have been an easy one. llll t.

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SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL INIAGAZINF Qlfxtratts from the ZIBiarp of a pair ut bboes Mrmda,v.' Have just been put in the shop window surrounded by lesser shoes, who make cheap and envious remarks to one another that are called wisecracks . How- ever, we maintain our dignity and disdain to answer their stupid and vulgar sallies at our expense. XYhile mentioning the word expense, l may say that we cost sixteen dollars, the most expensive shoes in the shop, During the day we noticed many jealous glances directed at us by our companions. TIlt'.f!fIl-1'.' We have been bought I f or, perhaps we should say, sold. A gentleman came in this morning, and, after much fuss and trying on, decided to take us. Going along the street we kept our bodies and heads very erect, and did not look at any other shoes, though we were perfectly conscious of the admiring but timid glances bestowed on us by the opposite sex. At the corner, while waiting for the car, a great brute of a lumber- jack boot with red laces lusually denoting low mentality in shoesl stepped on us, and snickered. We moved away, not wishing to create a low and unseemly brawl. ll'm'm'.fr1'11-i'.' Became acquainted with the other shoes and boots of our house. There are several ladies that we quite like, though they are below our social standing. XYe therefore :ict courteously and with dignity in their presence. We have nothing to say about the male shoes of our home, except that they are nondescript and rather vulgar. T11Il7'.fl2IlI'N'.' Ah! :Xt last we know of the gentler passions of nature. In other words, we are in love ! l.ast night we went with our master to an informal dance and waltzed several times with a quiet, renned pair of French slippers. So different from our common acquaintances of the shoe-store Y ' As we held her lightly but firmly in our supple arms, we could not help noticing that we were the object and admiration of all eyes. She, so graceful, we, so manly. VVe talked of music and operas and literature and art paintings. We found she had read all of Dickens, and greatly admired him, as did we. Several times we brought our master over to the refreshment table and gave l.ille Cthat was her namel some wine. ive Cannot here help remarking that our master was quite a dull man, as no less than twice in the evening he insisted on going into a corner with some men and discussing the stock-market , However, to cut a long story short, which is not generally our habit, at the end of the evening the little French Slippers had promised to be ours, and we arranged to meet soon. -h'lllIl7'lf1lVT.' ln the last two days our life has changed completely. Through a stupid and thoughtless error of our master we find ourselves in the most ridiculous plight. Last night he took us to another party. .-Xt about three o'clock in the morning he became what uncultured people call soused , or, to put it mildly, under the weather . Arrived outside our house he took us off, so as not to occasion any unnecessary noise which might possibly reach his wife's ears, However, for some reason or other, he did not seem quite firm on his legs, so much so, in fact, that he forgot to pick us up out of the gutter, where he happened to slip. So there we lay. ln the early morning a very low, dirty and disreputable form of life, called the tramp, tramped hy. As his gaze fell on us a nasty grin came over his face, and, hastily and guiltily looking round, he quickly stooped to us, and . .. Bah Y you can guess our future fate, and if you can't, well, we're not going to en- lighten you S. I.. Leacock. I 101

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Sl-IIAYYN HOUSE SCHOOL MAG.-kZ1Nl'l Another point upon which the preducer may be ccngratulated was his management of the grouping, especially in the Court scene. This is high praise, and although we think that the last scene, - the garden of Portia's house, - was perhaps the most beautiful one of the whole ten, we agree that the Court scene, by universal consent one of the greatest pieces of dramatic art in all literature, was excellently done. Larry Henderson's portrayal of Shylock's obstinate vindictiveness, and Jack Locke's presentation of Portia's eloquence, were most convincing. livery single boy, however, gave of his best. Blake Miller, as Antonio, Wallace Gowdey as Bassanio, were both excel lent, whilst F. Hingston as Gratiano distinguished himself by his clear enunciation and easy, natural manner. l A special word of praise must be reserved for Daniel Lincoln who took Nerissa's part at the last moment in the place of Malcolm Byers who had performed so creditably in re- hearsals, but who succumbed to Hu the evening before the production. Arthur Piers, Drummond Birks, F. McCourt, Hesketh de Grey, fthe latter made a most imposing Duke lj, all took their parts well, and Wilder Penfield worked very hard as Stage manager. VVith the exception of Larry Henderson and I.incoln, the complete caste was made up from the Fifth form, but thanks are due to the Sixth for their help as Scene shifters and electricians. Mr. Cecil VVest designed the scenery, felt wigs, and costumes, which were much admired. The contrast between Shylock's sombre fawn costume and the vivid scarlet, white, and black of the remainder of the caste was most striking. ' Invaluable aid was rendered in the making of the costumes by Miss Bruce, ofthe School, and Miss jean Gordon. Altogether a charming performance, much enjoyed by parents, boys, and Staff alike. We print a photograph of the Court scene, which of course omits the colouring, and incidentally Shylock's beard! In the actual play, however, the latter appeared as .Cenex f7'07I1i5Jll Lflfbll, l10rrw7.fi fapifl0,- in the modern style! C.R.j. Zllrapper Zlubn Home. It meant more than one ofa row of houses in a big smoking city, with cars, telephones, electric lights, crowds. Oh, much more than this did it mean to Trapper John. It meant the world, life, everything Y For here in the North, it was dull and lonely with only the stars, the trees and the wind to speak to. But the North had been kind to Trapper john. It had hidden him from a world that was thirstily asking for his blood. He had taken another's life, and the world wanted his. He always dreamed of someday going back Home . Then he would have all the money his furs brought him, another name, another life I He had but to watch and wait. lt was late March, and Trapper .lohn was returning on foot from a trading-post where he had bought his supplies, It was a long hard journey. but he could already discern his little log cabin in the distance. As he drew nearer, he noticed that the wooden bridge which crossed the narrow river running by his cabin, was no longer there. The swift current of the river had broken through the thawing ice and carried the bridge down, down, and over the falls at its end. At a certain point the ice blocks had -iammed, thus making a rude 'path' across the river, on which Trapper .lohn attempted to walk. It was his llll