SGHS 1956 gave fine performance of "As you like it"

Southland Girls High School  pulled a performance 'out of their hat' in 1956 when they performed the Shakespeare play "As You Like It".  Maybe it was a performance of a life time for their retiring principal, Mrs M.W. May, who said it was an inspiration as Shakespeare is particularly hard to perform.  She credited the producer, Miss Marie Millar, and said it was a very hard to train someone to perform for over 2 hours without giving one prompt, which is what she did.  

Of all Shakespeare plays "As You Like It' is probably the happiest one which is about a lion that has escaped from a circus.  The play was set in Warwickshire, which was Shakespeare favourite place.
Backdrops that were painted by the Art Department, of the 'Forest of Arden' were hung as curtains to ensure that scenes could be quickly changed between the garden, the Palace and orchard.
Judith McKenzie as Arden started strongly and gave a great speech in a deep gravely voice, There was a fine self respect in her bearing.  As the physical Orlando battling with wrestlers and lionesses or as the lovesick Orlando everyone in the audience understood the character she was illustrating.
As Rosalind, Robin Elder, made an excellent contribution to the light mood of the play.
Celia, that was played by Gabrielle Deimel, babbled brightly in all situations and in the love scenes between Orlando and Rosalind, she played gooseberry with conviction.
Rosemary Robins was convincing as 'Touchstone' and she looked very comfortable on the stage she pushed all the right buttons and exposed the follies which appeared in the idyllic Arden atmosphere.  Her voice and physical presence was strong and was thoroughly engrossed in her character.
With a clear voice and natural empathy Viviene Dunn represented Oliver with an aristocratic bearing.  The audience understood his redemption.
Jeannie McIlwrick played host to the sylvan wanderers with both charm and poise as the disposed  Duke. As the disposed Duke, Janet Readman invested the character with a certain air of mystery.
To the part of Jacques, Linda McDougall, bought the right measure of melancholy.  She delivered the well known speech "All The Worlds a Stage...." was given naturally with confidence.
Other parts were played by:
Barbara McMillan (Adam), Virginia Butchers (Charles), Margaret Young (Le Beau), Lorna Moffat (a noble), Beth Whyte (Amiens), Alison Giller (a noble), Alton Tomlin (page). Janice Locke (corin), Judith Rout (Silvius), Sally Olsen (Phebe), Barbara McRae (Audrey), Maureen Berragan (Martext), Ngaire Usher (William), Elizabeth Brown (Hymen), Beverley Allott,
(Jaques de Boys).
The singing in which Beth Whyte took the leading part, was spine tingling stuff.  An orchestra led by Mr and Mrs M.W. Millar (violins) and Miss Joan Osborne, (piano), played music written especially for the play by Mr Victor Jones.