University of Western Ontario - Occidentalia Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

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WESTERN U GAZETTE 21 Western University Winter Sports Club The Western University Sports Club, organized in January, 1920, has just com- pleted the second year of its sueeessfiil history. The club is fundamentally for both arts and medicine, the student execu- tive of nine members consisting of four Arts students and four from Medicine, the president, a woman Arts student. The executive for the 1920-21 season was Hon. Pres. Dr. F. R. Miller, Meds. ; Mr. Arthur Woods, Arts. ; President, Miss Margaret Thomson, Arts. ' 21 ; vice-president, Mr. V. Traynor, Meds. ' 24 ; secretary-treasur- ers, Mr. J. D. MacWilliam, Arts. ' 23 ; Mr. Fred Thomson, Meds. ' 24 ; year represent- atives. Miss Aileen Boomer, Arts. ' 22 ; Miss Mary Granger, Arts. ' 22 ; Mr. Harold Dal- gleish. Arts 22 ; Mrs. W. A. Martin, Meds ' 24; Mr. A. A. James, Meds. ' 23. Mr. N. C. Hart, president of the Athletic Associa- tion, Mrs. Albright and Miss Marjorie Ross, have also been present at the various club parties and have helped to make them a .success. The Winter Sports Club is non-consti- tutional, being conducted according to the caprices of the executive, and of the wea- ther, the latter being the deciding factor as to the date and frequency of parties. The executive places complete power in the hands of the president in order that she might speedily arrange a party when the weather seemed most favorable — it never was entirely so. Few members real- ize the enormous amount of responsibility that has fallen upon her and we wish to take this oi)i)ortunity of thanking her. Before the organization of the club for the past season, the Athletic Association gave a very delightful impetus in that direction when it arranged and financed a hike to the Winter Farm on the Med- way. The success of this was repeated in two hikes given by the Sports Club. A skating party was next attempted but the weather was as usual disagreeable The lunch, however, had been prepared, so a social evening was held in the Artr. building. During the games and the brief l)eriod of dancing, everyone found an o])portunity of becoming better acquaint- ed. This is one of the primary objects of the club. It is ])ractically the only organization in the university, which includes with its original purpose, that of sports, anything of a social nature. It is in this club that students of various years and faculties can really become acquaint- ed and have a jolly time together. The club only succeeded in holding one skating ])arty, and even then the ice was rather weak in spots, so that various mem- bers, whose identity is a deej) mystery, broke through and were in danger of catching their death of dampness. Perhaps the gayest and merriest party of all was that held on Saturday, April 22nd, the final one of the year. It Avas in- tended to make it a hike and hayrack party to St. Johns, but the weather man as usual was most unkind and it was im- l)ossible to carry out the original plans. A hard times party was therefore held in the gym. Everyone came in the worst costumes they could find. Prizes were offered for the best (?) dressed couple, and the executive had the hardest time of all in awarding them. All manner of games were played reminiscent of younger days. After lunch dancing was the popu- lar pastime. All things come to an end, and it A ' as with much regret that the Sports Club held this final party. In spite of the laclc of suitable weather, the success of the club is unquestionable as its popularity testi- fies. It is only to be hoped that in future years there will be some real winter weather. For the success of the year the thanks of the members is due to tlie presi- dent and her executive and also to the members of the faculty and of tlie Ath- letic Association who have given so much valuable assistance.

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CO D u H o fiu CO 2

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22 WESTERN U GAZETTE OUR UNIVERSITY PLAY .Oiico again the time approaches when anyone who has any comiection with Western University will have an o])]K)r- tunity of seeing the best dramatic talent of the University in tlieir annual theatrical ])rocluction. The university play has won such a hig ' h and well-deserved rejiutation among the theatre-going jjublic of London that it is eagerly looked forward to among the dramatic events of the year. Western may well be x roud of the interest that it arouses. Amateur productions are always an object of great interest and curiosity to the friends and relatives of the perform- ers, but the achievements of the talented students of Western in the past years have far surpassed the stage wdiere they are simply objects of interest and curios- ity to admiring friends. In the performance o Green Stock- ings at the Patricia Theatre in 1919, with a few exceptions, the imi)ortant parts were played by first year students. The talent shown was a revelation to everyone, and even exceeded expectations the following year in the production of An Ideal Husband. It is small won- der, therefore, that the performance this year should arouse more than the usual amount of interest. The play is to be pre- sented, both a matinee and evening per- formance, on May 26 at the Grand Oprea House. The author is the well-known playwright, Clyde Fitch, and the title is Her Own Way. The fact that it was performed at the Lyric Theatre and later vVt the Savoy, London, England, by such a noted actress as Maxine Elliot is an added recommendation. The main characters are being played by tlie following : Miss Margaret Gemmell, Miss Blanch Taneock, Miss Mary Granger, Miss Helen Berdan, Mr. Waring, Mr. Winston Harrison and Mr. Beverley Baker. Miss Gemmell, who is taking the lead- ing part, is one of the most experienced and successful amateur actresses who has ever carried a lead in a Western produc- tion. Her first appearance as the sus- ceptible and sympathetic Aunt Ida in Green Stockings attracted a great deal of attention, and anyone who had the pleasure of witnessing her intensely dra- matic performance of Mrs. Cheveley in An Ideal Husband last year will not soon be able to forget the impression it ])roduced. We understand that this year Miss Gemmell is undertaking an entirely different role, and we wish her as great a success as she had last year. In our private opinion that ' s the best wish w e can give anyone. It is much to be re- gretted that this is the last time we will have the opportunity of seeing Miss Gem- mell in an undergraduate production. The w ord undergraduate suggests an idea. We wonder if the graduates of Western could ever find the time among their many activities to produce a play in order to show the ])resent students the high dramatic talent of previous years. Once again the cast includes a badly treated wife — we can ' t get away from them — this year portrayed, and accord- ing to whispered rumors, most ably por- trayed by Miss Blanch Taneock. The majority of us remember Miss Taneock as the attractive young person w ho became very much engaged in the last act of An Ideal Husband, but unknown to many Miss Taneock was also a power behind the scenes in Green Stockings. Miss Gran- ger also had a part in the latter play, but our more recent remembrance of her ability as an actress was in the II. K. Players performance of The MoUuse. Miss Berdan, another rumor whispers, is carrying most of the comedy this year. We saw Miss Berdan as Gertrude the Governess and w e have confidence in her ability to supply amusement. It naturally follows that if there is a badly treated wdfe there must be a hus- band somewhere. Mr. Harrison, a new- comer on the list of Western players, is portraying this role, and in connection with this we have heard still another rumor, but we are not going to give away any more secrets. Suffice it to say that it is not by deliberate intention that he makes his w ife unhai)py. Mr. Waring and Mr. Baker are also both making their first appearance in a University play this year, but they have M