May I add a personal word of warm thanks to Mr. Ellery and our admirable Chapel Monitor, Steven Foster, and those other staff and boys who helped to share an extra burden in the first half of Term owing to my unavoidable absence? And thank Mrs. Le Tocq for arranging for people to see to the Chapel Flowers? Our thanks are also due to Mr. W. B. Cook, Head Master of Durham School and Canon David Galliford, who very kindly came to preach to us. N.H.K-W.
DRAMA THE CRUCIBLE
—
by Arthur Miller
The play was given on November 19th, 20th and 21st at Queen Anne Grammar School, with a mixed cast of Queen Anne girls and St. Peter's boys. The play and the cast were well chosen and the production had great vitality. Those falsely accused of witchcraft were passionate in their innocence and trust in God; equally convincing was the commitment to Satan of Abigail (Deborah Hawley) and her cover: the hysteria she generated and projected during the trial scene was a tour de force. As Tituba, Julia Wise, with rolling eye and darkened visage, was sly and dangerous. Stephen Parker as John Proctor avoided the trap of portraying injured innocence, and showed us a vacillating man who became strong. Robert Carson as Giles Corey gave a sensitive portrayal of an obstinate old man with a kindly humour and spirit of steel. The most difficult parts were those of the two clergymen, for both were faced with a dilemma of conscience. Both characters developed well from an uncertain start, and Timothy Young as the Revd. Hale became mighty in righteousness. As Mary Warren, Janet Keighley convinced us of the power of fear over conscience, while Elizabeth Walker as Elizabeth Proctor was moving as a faded rose blooming again under martyrdom. Anthony Lawrence as Danforth, ranting and self-opinionated, certainly lived the part. All the cast, every one, lived their parts all the time they were on stage, with expression and gesture, even when apart from the main action. The Head Master of St. Peter's, and many others, have praised this as among the best school productions they have seen. Clearly the players, the producer and all concerned gave of their very best. What an achievement! J.P.R. 9
