AGE 2 | So | . THE HERALD, TERRACE, BC.) 0 SS, _. ° WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 19720. fl

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Last week the students of Clarence Michiel Elementary - Schoo! presented three showings of Gilbert. and Sullivan's -

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{Herald reporter Mark Hamilton took in the Wednesday ‘morning
3 _preformance and: here's what. he saw. oe

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From the final presentation way back to. the:
early rehersals, what Terrace residents saw at
the Clarence Micheil School last week was a
monumental school effort involving students,
teachers and in only a few cases, outside help.

First, credit should be given to those in charge
for even considering a Gilbert and Sullivan
musical production for an elementary school
presentation. And, secondly, they brought it off
in a delightful entertaining one hour show.

The play started with Frederick (played by
Rodney Adams), denouncing his trade as a
pirate. Soon to turn twenty-one, he was turning
his back and returning to the ‘lawful society’.

The pirates, under the lead of the Pirate King
(Warren LaPointe) scoff the idea, in song of
course, and walk off stage leaving Frederick

- alone with his toughts, As he thinks, the voices of
;, Birls comes to hing and he hides, sable

0 eT,

; On to the stage’ .hop::more than as dozen,

* delightful young Hifls‘on-4 joyful outing. Rodney ‘
reveals himself to them and then falls in love -
with Mable portrayed by Debbie Sturby. The two

- walk off together and the major general makes

_ his appearance (David Kenney). It seems that
all these girls are his daughters and the whole lot.

. of them, father included, are frightened by the

‘ pirates, ee CO

: The major-general (who hates violence) calls

: outthe royal constabulary only. at the urging of
Frederick and the fight is on. ;

: _ Allseems lost when the pirates have the police,

’ Frederick and the major general at their mercy

_ but the tables are suddenly turned: ©

* _. One of the soldiers turns. to.a higher authority |
that forces the pirates to surrender, The higher
authority? The school principal of course.

And presumably, everyone lives happily ever
after, . .

Looking at the play it seems ideal for younger _
audiences. It-has the right’ amount of action, of
song -and of laughs ‘to:be entertaining enough.
Personally.I found it delightful. me,

The costumes, all made by students in the
school (with a little help from parents), are
fantastic. All the policemen are dressed in’

- approximation of English bobbies, The girls are
all visions of finery, lace and beauty and Ihave |
never seen a more realistic looking bunch of.
pirates. a . ;

The props for the play teo were elaborate. A
back-drop of a cast line.with tall cliffs and blue
sky and sea, a pirate ship‘ waiting in the wings
with rope ladders leading up the masts and a
Jolly Roger flying, and a tavern‘on the other side ~.
of the stage. | re oe!

Much of the credit for bringing the whole thing ~*. :
off must go to Mrs, Cooper the:school librarian:
and the director of the show. She:.coached the’
players from the floor of the gym ‘during ‘the :
performance, drawing more and more of. their:
talent from thems 0,

And the actors ‘themselves, all students at'the
elementary school ‘and-all-having a.Jot ‘of fun ©

doing the production. It ‘showed .in -the. final:
product. It was light, it moved rapidly;“‘no-one
blew a line or a cue and although not techinically- ..

_ perfect it was a play I would enjoy seeing again

and again just.for the openess and spontaniety -*:
of its actors, the pleasing perfection of the props
and costumes and ine. entertainment

offered. by.-the:group

The entire, ‘Youthful cast of the producti