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

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ax rcimauc tu So ■ ' J The two main performances staged by this Society during the past year show not only that the interest for this type of activity has increased considerably but also that the standard of production has improved favourably. The first performance, which took place on the Old Boys ' week-end in November, was an effort to replace the short skits that made up the Rag Concert of previous years with a pioduction of a more ambitious nature. It was felt that such a show would be more interesting for Old Boys and parents, and would be more worthwhile for the boys as participants. Before intermission the Society produced two plays. The first was the farce Ici on pari Francais. In this play what the cast lacked in polish and smoothness they more than made up for with enthusiasm and vitality. Moreover, success was ensured by the fact that there were no lags or uncertaintv; indeed, situation developed upon situation until the explosive climax, involving the irate British major, the effervescent Frenchman, and the simple bewildered Mr. Spriggins, solved a ridiculous predicament. The Major was played by Derek Brooks: Victor Dubois by John Madden, and Mr. Spriggins by Mr. Larsen. The haughty Mrs. Spriggins, who because of her Fitz-Pentonville ancestry, was so humiliated by her new situation, was played by Peter Hebb. Christopher Malkin was Angelina their daughter; Stephen Knight — looking like a light heavy-weight boxing champion — was Julia, the pretty wife of Major Regulus Rattan; and Anthony Vincent played the maid, Anna Maria. The other play was a comedy called The King ' s Gesture. This proved to be a creditable performance of a difficult play. In particular, Joe Stewart as the King ' s Jester and Colin Ky ' es as the Royal Valet, portrayed their parts ably. Tucker Battle was the King with Brian Jones as his secretary. The foreigners were Donald Mowat as the Inderabian; Kendal Windeyer as the Englishman, and Tony Pellett as the American. Tony Read played the Herald, and the Royal Guards were John Mercer and Rodney Pelling. After the intermession an operetta, The Saucy Hollandaise, was produced. This was definitely the highlight of the evening. It would have been easy for critics to have found mistakes in this. Some of the choruses lacked a good quality of tone; the dances were not performed by drilled and perfected dance teams; and movement about the stage seemed to be more vague wandering than planned manoeuvering. However, the audience soon realized that, in order to accommodate 40 performers on the small school stage, the vague wandering was indeed the planned performance. Moreover, when the spectators saw how wholeheartedly enthusiasm had been substituted for polish in the singing and dancing, they too were carried away and seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. Nobody wanted to criticize. If any should be noted amongst an able cast, one might mention Mrs. Larson as the Princess and Mr. Hyde-Lay as the Prince. The pleasing voice of the former and the clownish antics of the latter contributed much to the success of the performance. Page Fifteen

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fhe thorough training which they were getting not only added to the sum of the knowledge they possessed, but gave them confidence in their own ability to carry out whatever tasks may be allotted them or to meet emergency with coolness and efficiency. The final event of the year was the performance of the Sunset Ceremony at the Parliament Buildings, Victoria. A picked Honour Guard of some thirty armed Cadets with the band trained during their spare time for about a month before the event. The actual ceremony Avas carried out before a large group of impartial spectators who received the efforts of the detachment with decidedly favourable comments. Following the ceremony, the Guard marched to the Odeon Theatre, where they watched the evening performance as guests of the manager. Of graduating Cadets: — Brooks ' application for H.M.C.S. Venture was accepted, and he is reported to be pounding the parade-deck there in fine fettle. Simson ' s application for College Militaire was rejected on medical grounds. The eye condition which caused the rejection has been corrected, and it is understood that Simson will be applying to enter Royal Roads. P.O. ' s Crisp and McKechnie attended training courses at H.M.C.S. Cornwallis during the summer months, and McKechnie came out at the head of his class in Communications. Sc coats The Troop strength was 21 during the year. Three Second Class Badges were awarded and P.L. ' s A. Moss and B. Mitchell won their First Class Badges, thus qualifying to attend the 8th World Jamboree at Niagara-on-the-Lake in August. During the year several week-end camps and hikes were held, including a combined camp with Scouts from Shawnigan Village and Victoria. Several week-end journeys of ten miles and more were held in preparation for the First Class Badge. Three P.L. ' s attend a P.L. ' s week-end conference at Duncan, which proved very helpful. L UOi The Wolf Pack had only eight members during 1954-55 because of the higher age of the junior scholars. As a result a number of activities, such as the picnics, were combined with Copeman ' s House outings. The standard of Star work was maintained. A new enterprise was the start of a large wood and bark wigwam, which it is hoped to complete this year. Jne World Aamooree By Adam Moss We had an extremely exciting and interesting time at the Jamboree during August. It was held at Niagara-on-the-Lake and Scouts from most countries attended. Some of the displays presented by different contingents were very good. The entrances to the sub-camps had been decorated by those to whom that section had been assigned. In some cases the entrances were decorated in mural form to depict the history of the country whose representatives were staying in that section. Probably the attraction that fascinated us most was the flag tower which the Italians erected. It was approximately sixty feet high and was bound together with quarter-inch rope. Another highlight amongst the displays was the floral Boy Scout emblem at the entrance to the arena. Our trip to Niagara Falls was full of interest since we saw many historic sites. We stopped off to see Brock ' s Monument and the Hydro-Electrics floral clock. At the Falls the boys went into the tunnel, boarded the Maid of the Mist, and crossed to the American side. A few days later we went by train to Toronto, where we attended the Canadian National Exhibition. Many of us from British Columbia found it much larger than the P.N.E. As all good things must come to an end, the Jamboree had eventually to come to a close and we left for home after a most enjoyable and happy experience of good scouting at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Page Fourteen

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Murray McAlpine, as Hano the Tinker, and John Armstrong, as Doctor Quick, combined sound dramatic and musical talents to produce convincing interpretations. The Queen, too, was admirably played by Miss Davies, who showed distinct acting ability. Many boys made up the choruses of sailors and ladies, and all of them took part with the gusto and enthusiasm necessary to have made it an enjoyable show. In March the Society put on two plays in conjunction with a play by the staff. The first play was an old fashioned melodrama called He done her wrong. This play was most amusing and quite well done; however, it would have met with more success if fewer people had tried to speak with high pitched voices. It certainly made the per- formance all the more ridiculous to have so many of the largest boys in the school cast as ladies; however, this aim was probably overdone. In any case it was appreciated warmly by an audience made up of the school because all the participants were known so well. The lusty, whole-hearted Brian McGavin played Hyacinth Haven the pretty, young heroine. The fierce and rangy Sam Perry played Mrs. Octavia Moneycracker, the cold and snobbish society matron. Her daughter Alvina was portrayed by Colin Kyles, and Donald Mowat played Ninette Darwood. The unprincipled scoundrel, Fleetwood Dashaway — a man indeed well-schooled in the ways of villainy — was played by John Madden. Last, but by no means least, Joe Stewart was Fitzjohn Oliphant, the strong and manly hero. The second play which was done by the Society in March was a comedy called Courage, Mr. Greene. In this play the male sections of the audience were given ideas as to how to become masters in their own homes. The performance was good and it was chosen to represent the school in the Cowichan Drama Festival which was to take place in May. In that Festival, at which twenty plays competed over a period of five days, Courage, Mr. Greene, was chosen as one of the best three for the encore performance. In addition, Christopher Malkin was awarded a prize as the best actor in the Festival. Percy Greene was played by John Armstrong, with Christopher Malkin as his ambitious wife. Robert Ramsay, Greenes employer, was portrayed by Jack Slick and Anthony Vincent played Smith, the gentleman burglar. Minnie the maid was done by Shane Ryland. The final play, which was done by the staff, can only be called an Absurdity in One Act. However, it was also called The Crimson Cocoanut. Mr. Galliford played Jack Pincher, a detective; Mr. Larsen, Robert, a waiter; Mr. Wilde, Mr. Jabstick; Mrs. Curtis, Nancy Jabstick his daughter; Mr. Hyde-Lay, Nitro Gliserinski, an anarchist; and Miss Davies, Madame Gliserinski. It was ably directed by Rev. Maunsell. ft ft On Shrove Tuesday, February 22nd, the Annual Pancake Greaze was held in the gymnasium, the setting for this traditional event. The twenty-one contestants, two from each of the forms except Forms II and III which entered three combatants, lined up with the smallest in the centre. As soon as the Headmaster had blown the whistle Tom threw the pancake, which landed a little to Page Sixteen