Shawnigan Lake School - Yearbook (Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia Canada)

Page 29 text:

SHAWNIGAN LAKE SCHOOL MAGAZINE Mr Brandon-Thomas Concert N February 16, 1928, Mr. Brandon-Thomas and some of the members and friends of The Charley ' s Aunt Com- pany, gave us a splendid concert. In a most amusing introductory speech, Mr. Brandon- Thomas mentioned that he and another Old Westminster had asked the Head to grant a Play. The Head had agreed, on condition that the School found out what a Play meant. That the school was fully aware, was shown by the immedi- ate applause which followed. Mr. Hewetson, who has a very well-trained tenor voice, gave us some delightful songs. His enunciation and restrained rendering were a joy to hear. A very clever sketch followed, in which Mr. Shepley- Smith, as a master, and Mr. Brandon-Thomas as a schoolboy, brought down the house. The latter ' s use of the word Shawn- igan as a verb in connection with our sheep, will long be re- membered. Mr. Brandon-Thomas then gave us some excruciatingly funny and brilliantly clever impersonations. His wordless picture of a political meeting in the East End of London was a gem ; while the Musketry Instructor giving a lecture on the short and long rifles, was so true to life that certain mem- bers of the audience, who had seen the real thing in the army, nearly had hysterics. Mr. Shepley-Smith, in a most life-like impersonation of an earnest young curate, then introduced Miss Deirdre Doyle, and Mr. Brandon-Thomas, who convulsed the house in a very clever skit on The Keys of Heaven, and a perfectly priceless rendering of The Charge of the Light Brigade. Mr. Shepley-Smith told some amusing stories, and the programme ended with Widdecombe Fair, and a commun- ity singing effort at John Brown ' s Bo dy, which nearly suc- ceeded in its object of lifting the roof. 27

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SHAW NIG AN LAKE SCHOOL MAGAZINE Inter-house relay, senior.... Ripley ' s Best i. Malkin i. Douglas i. Rochfort i. Inter-house relay, junior.... Groves ' Barclay ii. Douty Redden Whittall Old Boys ' race Ferguson Groves ' Bazett Larsen Sherlock Johnston Lake ' s Fox ii. Graham Piddington ii Hunter Officer a n ' In common life we esteem but meanly and contemptibly a fellow who anoints his hair, and palpably smells of that anointing. (Moby Dick, Chap. XXV., Herman Melville). Here, surely, cultured wisdom speaks. Attention, now, ye shaveling sheiks ; No longer venture to demean Yourselves, with scented vaseline. Oh, better far a crop of hair That stands straight up into the air, Than a sleek head, caked smooth and hard With oleaginous pomard. Henceforth be virile, and abhor The sickly-pungent pompadour. Eschew the subtle druggist ' s flora, Nor touch effeminate Eudora. Your daily habits thus appointing, You will not smell of vile anointing; Nor will you merit, though unkempt, The other fellow ' s mean contempt. — Oleander. 21;

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SHAW NIC AN LAKE SCHOOL MAGAZINE The concert was further helped by the playing and ac- companying of Mr. Eustace Keys, the C. P. R. Director of Music, who most kindly volunteered to come up and play. If it is not presuming too much on the kindness of a busy man, we hope to see him up here again in the near future. Mr. Keys gave us a most charming arrangement of London- derry Air, whilst his accompanying of the songs and sketches was delightful. When one thinks of the busy life of a touring company, with the numerous calls on the time of its members, we feel more than grateful to Mr. Brandon-Thomas and his friends for their kindness in coming up to give us this concert. The chairs on the dais of the Big School are a constant reminder of our public schools in England, and we like to think of Mr. Brandon-Thomas ' concert in the same light. Should he or any of his company visit Canada again, we hope they will give us an opportunity of renewing this friendship.