St Johns Ravenscourt School - Eagle Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 82 text:

SHMHM r MERLIN SIR LOT OF ORKNEY MARGAWSE, his wife PAGE SIR URIENS MORGAN LE FAY, his wife, sister to Margawse SIR LEODOGRANCE THE EARL OF BAGDEMAGUS PAGE THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY KING UTHER PENDRAGON SIR LUCAN KNiGmwjj ) m PRIESTS LADY IN WAITING KAY children of Sir ARTHUR Hector and Lady MARION Lenore SIR HECTOR LADY LENORE MESSENGER MORDRED Patrick Truelove John Sprague Peter Haworth David Ramsay Alan Bennett - Gary Jacob - James Hutchison - Jimmy Hjartarson - Brian Ramsay - Richard Carter - Iain Cruickshank - Michael Purdy - Geoffrey Ross - Eric Nuttall - Robert Kiddell - Randy Anderson - Cam Harvey - Mark Bredin - Jeffrey Ferguson - Paul d’Agincourt - Ashok Khosla - Jay Alvi PROMPTER.Nancy Barrett COSTUMES.Judy Stewart Mrs. Jackson LIGHTING, SOUND EFFECTS.Bernie Beare Malcolm Cowie SET DESIGNED AND PAINTED BY.Desmond Bevis STAGE CONSTRUCTION.Larry Feschuk STAGE MANAGER.Desmond Bevis Stage Assistants - Chip McGill - Richard Kernahan - Richard Bond - Graeme Barrit PRODUCER.HARRY SHEPHERD The play produced by special arrangement with the Children’s Theatre Press of Anchorage Kentucky. SECRETARY.Ramona Brown 010 a MtiMiMUCat

Page 81 text:

Kui j fidm mi tk %KjU Swod After last year’s masterful performance of Tom Sawyer” the Lower School set about producing a play of even greater challenge. It was well worth the effort. Written by Keith M. Engar, King Arthur and the Ma¬ gic Sword” has proved to be more than successful. The play is one of supernatural, wonder and mystery which was sixth century England; however, behind this romantic atmosphere lies a definite theme: the victory of justice over the forces of evil. Having chosen the play in September, casting took place the first week of school. Parts were assigned and rehearsing began after four as well as at lunch. By the time the Christmas Holidays came around all was fairly well set: the performance was to be early in the next term. Meanwhile, directing was not the only aspect of the production which was underway. Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Jackson were busy with fittings for costumes. Lighting and sound effects were arranged by Mr. Beare and Mr. Cowie. Mr. Bevis had designed and was in the process of painting the sets. With the return of school in January, rehearsals be¬ came frantic in an effort to make the production by the eighteenth and the nineteenth of the month. Finally the night came. As the curtain opened before the dazzling of Merlin’s magic, all was ready. The play followed through without a flaw leaving a great impression on all who saw it. Many congratulations must be given to Mr. Shepherd. It was through his long and tedious hours that the play was such a success. Recognition must also be extended to Mrs. Barrett, the prompter, Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Jackson with costumes, Mr. Beare and Mr. Cowie with lighting and sound effects, Mr. Bevis with sets and all who co-operated and assisted. 78

Page 83 text:

yU ' Zuj $mf) This job’s jinxed”, I said as I walked over to the truck with my friend, Bob Davis. Nothing but trouble has come to us since we first stepped foot on this crazy island. It’s lucky that we haven’t been killed.” Yes, I know what you mean”, Bob said, while he was sorting out the diving gear which was in the back of our pick-up truck. Here, you carry the acqua-lungs and I’ll get the rest of the gear.” As we lugged the gear down to the rickety iron plat¬ form, which was situated under the pier, I remembered the shock of cold water in my ripped diving dress, and then fighting the heavy water which was flooding my suit as I surfaced up the iron ladder. I thought things would get better as Bob took off my tattered diving dress which was quite awkward on land. While this was happening I remembered watching an aircraftcarrier launching her planes. She was going over thirty knots as she steamed past us about a mile off shore. Hey Bob!” I said anxiously pointing out the carrier, Look at the waves she’s making!” He laid my heavy breast-plate down and looked out at the carrier. Those waves are several feet high”, he said, and they’re heading this way.” Well, get me out of this!” I yelled. Quickly he pulled off the pants and, as soon as I got up, we both ran up the ladder just as the wave hit the platform. The wave washed everything over the platform and into the water. After the seas had calmed down the only thing left was my diving suit which was sprawled around the ladder. The rest of the day was spent search¬ ing for all the items which were hidden beneath the sur¬ face of the water. But this was all in the past and I had a lot bigger jog to do. During the next several weeks Bob and I positioned heavy steel beams across the pilings, welding them together. We didn’t have any more trouble and we expected to be on our way home by the end of the week. I was ready to call for the welder when my air hissed to a stop. Hey Dick!” I yelled. There was no reply. I yelled again. The under water telephones were dead. I was in serious trouble. Without air, the diver has only eight minutes before he blacks out. I turned to check my air hose. It wasn’t caught on anything. The air com¬ pressor must have stopped. Somehow I must get Bob’s attention. I grabbed my air hose and started pulling on it, hoping he might see me uncoiling the hose from the platform. My air hose now felt like a string of spaghetti. Time was running out and my air was getting thin. My face plate was fogging up as thick as the steam on a shower door. Desperately I started for the ladder knowing I’d never make it. I stumbled against a piling. The top of my head felt as if a thousand sledge hammers were hammering it. At this moment I would have done any¬ thing for a breath of fresh air. I quickly pulled my knife from its holder and started cutting through my weight belt. The sharp knife cut swiftly through the soft leather which held the weights and they dropped to the ocean floor. Then I came to the ladder and started climbing it. I reached the silvery surface just as my lungs burst. My helmet was several inches above the water for I was hanging one leg and an arm over a metal beam which lay across the water. I unscrewed my face plate and gasped as I breathed in the fresh air. I was weak and dizzy. When my head cleared Bob was standing beside me on a metal beam. He took off my helmet so that I could get more air and tied a rope around me. Listen now!” I said, I’m going to slide along this beam to the closest part of the ladder. You can help me by keeping my balance with the rope.” Cautiously I slid to the ladder. I knew that if I slipped I would drown, for my suit would fill with water immediately and would pull me down. Finally I reached the end of the beam. The ladder was just four feet away from me. Okay Bob! When I count to three I’m going to jump for the ladder. You pull the rope when I say three.” Jump with all your might! You’ll make it”,he said. You only get one chance.” I stood up carefully and balanced myself on the beam. I glanced down at the water just below my feet. Then I aimed myself at the ladder. One, Two, Three!” I yelled, and with all my might I leapt at the ladder. Bob heaved the rope at the same time. I swung into the ladder like a giant pendulum. I grasped the ladder and quickly climbed up to the solid grating of the div¬ ing platform. I staggered across the grating and flopped down on the dressing stool. My face was as white as a ghost and my hands were trembling. I looked up with a forced smile. Never felt so good in my life”, I said in a shaky voice. I made the big jump which saved my life.” Gary Jacob, Grade 6. 80