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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1937. Volume 8. Number 8.

Extravaganza 1937

Extravaganza 1937

Splendid Acting and Sound Production.

This year's revue was notable for the evenly balanced nature of the production throughout. The standard of acting all round was high. The actors were so perfect that we have heard certain carping critics say that what they liked about 'Varsity shows in the past were the impromptu lines. In particular we would like to mention first of all, those people who had "walk on" bits, the ballets and the crowd scenes of all kinds, whom we cannot mention personally. They were excellent in all three shows.

"The Book of Bob"

"The Book of Bob" we felt from the start, had a story to Rive us, and we were not disappointed. This was more nearly extravangaza, as we have known it in the past, than the rest of the performance. Mr. Aimers acted well and sang with pleasing voice. His declamatory speeches, in contrast to the introductory stuff, were excellent. We liked Mr. Scotney, and we liked .Mr. Scotney's toes on the box. This actor continunes to surprise us in extravs. with the variety of his performances.

The various speakers in the banquet scene were all nicely incoherent. The Dungarees ballet was excellent. We would like to suggest that the owner of the "Time Marches On" voice go along to the "Majestic" sometime.

When we say this show dragged slightly we are not blaming the producer or the actors, but the authors. No show which runs to about half an hour can stand seven or eight full curtains. We realise Hob had many changes, but it was the job of the authors to see that these could be arranged without the two or three minutes of blank curtain to look at each time.

"Daze Bay Nights."

"Daze Bay Nights" was notable for giving us the best laugh of the evening. Basil de Bullswool's ballet was the finest men's ballet yet put across in an extrav. It was even funnier than the "Gravey League Ballet" of "Dry Rot" in 1932.

Bill Austin's reserved acting was another feature of this sketch. His intonations reminded us of Ronald Coleman, but Clarque did not remind us of Gable, nor Gretta Garbo of Joan Crawford—if they were meant to. The dialogue did not run smoothly enough for us to find out. The whole "Idyll" was like a picture which has been badly censored and made us feel we were cheated out of some of it. This may have been deliberately done on the part of the author to throw into relief the excellent songs and ballets. Anyway we liked this show.

"The Plutocrats."

The "Plutocrats" was chiefly notable for its excellent costuming, and because it must have established an all-time record for the number of songs used in one revue.

Mr. Meek is to be congratulated for some appropriate conjuring tricks and the best imitation of W. J. Mount joy Jnr. we have yet heard. Mr. Henderson was always clear and distinct, but Mr. Simpson deserves most credit for his consistent clowning through the whole show. He and Mr. Christensen were on stage most of the time, and had some very dull patches to gloss over. In this they both worked hard and deserve our praise. The other "stooges," in contrast to the public figures they represented, were kept remarkably quiet. Miss Shorthall's little bit was one of the highlights of the evening.

Miss Cora Duncan deserves special mention for the ballet work and Mrs. Zenocrate Mount joy for the costume designing. These were the feature of the show and in these respects, and in the general production, this was of as high a standard as any revue yet.

The "Plutocrats" did not come anywhere near the best of "P.J." or of Redmond Phillips of the past few years, chiefly because it was cluttered up with songs and ballets. The basic idea was good, and had the show been run through with a time limit of three-quarters of an hour it would have been excellent. We seem to have progressed from the old Gilbert and Sullivan type of extrav. to something more modern. Our dancing and setting is in line with the best "talkie musicals" so let us take a tip from these shows and put a few original "swing" songs across with simple words easy for an audience to pick up. Some of the lyrics of this show are worth reading, but the length of the words prevented them from being understood while they were sung.

Next year we hope to see more extravaganza, more fooling, and less pointless singing and dancing, but above all, we hope the show will maintain the high standard of acting of 1937's revue.

Undergads' Supper.

This year's Undergraduate's Supper was held in the gymnasium on Thursday, 29th April. Over three hundred were present, a substantial increase over last year. The show went over well, the supper was good, the speeches were good though some were a little long. Everyone expended a general extrav. flavour—apt quotations delighted the assembled multitude. When Prof. Miles arose to speak he was greeted:

"All hail O — how great they sense

How exquisite is they corpulence."

The Professorial Board was present in large quantities, apologies for absence being received from Professors Boyd Wilson and Adamson and Dr. Keys.

Dick Wild as chairman, after a lowing sufficient time for the elimination of the edibles, arose and set the ball going by toasting the King.

Roy Jack gave us the health of the Prof. Board or at least someone told us that was what he was doing, though it sounded more like an attack. The commissionaire was referred to as a "trite monstrosity" and the wish expressed that he should be removed.

Prof. Miles, chairman of the Prof, Board in reply took up a very fair attitude and justified the actions of the Prof. Board. He reviewed college activities and commented especially on the outstanding success of the extravaganza. Prof. Miles was particularly impressed with the ballets and "Smad" was disappointed when he singled out the Rushin ballet for special comment.

A speech was read from Mr. Sellers against the graduates. Miss Stock replied for them.

Pat Macaskill in proposing the Executive, tortured us with some terrible spurs then outraged our moral sense by comparing the Executive with a feminine foundation garment, a garment which restrains any movement out of line and yet does not interfere with freedom of movement.

Dick Wild replying, attributed the success of "Cappicade" to cleanness, though he couldn't understand how it came to be clean. Dick suggested that all grads. should make a farewell donation to the building fund of at least £10.

Jack Aimers put across some earnest Building Fund propaganda. It was the duty of the grads. to keep it before the public. The object, Mr. Aimers said, was to raise a building costing £40,000 which would last as long as the university. The funds at present stood at £1600, and it was hoped to raise this amount to £1900 by the end of the year. The big campaign would be opened next session. £20.000 would be required, the road would he a hard one.

Dick Simpson arose, proposing toast of the ladies, bubbling over with surprising revelations about the thoughts of a young man in bed. "Smad" closed down at once.

Items were given by Messrs. Simpson and Chriatenson and Messrs. Robertson and Sandford.

Proceedings were terminated with a sing song and dance.

Little Known Heroes of Capping Week.

For the first time on record, the whole 5000 Cappicades have been sold. This is due no doubt to the high standard of the publication, but also to the very enthusiastic efforts of the younger members of the College. First and foremost, Geff Wallis—what a man. For a whole week parading up and down town, discoursing with wild gesticulation on the superabundant merits of the Capping Book. And every night of the extrav, acting as Lord Cappicade.

Also the many super salesmen and saleswomen and those who took a turn at the Cappicade Shop.

On Friday, 23rd, a contingent from Weir House, set forth on their traditional ceremony of selling cappicades in the taverns of the city. On the way they picked up H. Innis Dowrick under whose spiritual guidance they fared well. The technique was to perform a haka in each hotel to subdue those who were not already under the influence. Easy work after that. A lot were disposed of in this way.

P.O. Square Efforts

Capping week started well with the speeches in Post Office Square. The selected orators in thir costumes mounted the lorry at the Cappicade Shop. Imagine their surprise when they found a vast multitude awaiting them in Post Office Square.

And then the fun started and wasn't it fast and furious. The demagogues harangued the gaping populace and held them enthralled with their flow of rhetoric and wit. Interjections were hurled from right and left. Hecklers were summarily dealt with. The prize episode was when Bob Edgley ejected an undesirable from the lorry after a considerable struggle.

"Another Varsity student sent down" was Malc Mason's appropriate comment.

As the main object of the show was to publicize extrav. the speakers by devious methods proved conclusively that this years extrav. was to be the best on record.

The public liked it.

The speakers were:

Malc Mason as (a) Mrs. Steer; (b) General Franco; Bob Edgley as Stanley Baldwin; Tom McGlynn as Chairman of the Non-Intervention Committee; Keating as Leon Trotsky.

Capping Ball.

You remember what Prof. Miles said at Undergrads, Supper. The Capping Ceremony is the climax of Capping Celebrations. In a way he was right. There is the gay surge of activities starting weeks back with extrav. rehearsals and gradually increasing in intensity to a final crescendo. Now, I doubt very much whether the Capping Ceremony could be described as the apex of a week of celebration. Of course the graduates must be honoured officially—they certainly deserve it after their years of incessant toil—but the mere fact of having one name read out and receiving a bit of parchment is not sufficient recompense for the gallons of midnight oil. That is why there is a Capping Ball and that is why "Smad" ran the comptrollers to earth in their lair at Weir House.

On "Smad's" entering the door Arthur Harpur protested against "Smad's" misprinting his name in the last issue. "They called me T. A. Turner" he kept on harping, till he was told by his colleague Bob Crawford that he was an exceedingly "pur" harper.

"Get this straight," they said.

"The Ball is the social event of the year; all the best people will be there—eh what? The Terpsichorean tripping after the Capping Ceremony—at 9.30 p.m. to be exact at St. Francis Hall. "Say, this is sure a swell show. Hotcha music from a real live orchestra, that would snap rhythm into the frostbitten toes of a Polar explorer.

"A gay swirl of humanity enjoying themselves—and then some!"

"Remember this show is run by the Stud Assn., and is not in any way under the supervision of the Prof. Board, who on this occasion are our guests. A commissionaire will be present, but mark you, he is our commissionaire, paid by us to open doors and things like that." "There is a different arrangement with regard to supper this year There will be three sittings. Supper tickets have not been issued to graduates as many will be unable to arrive for the first sitting. However they will be given first preference when they do arrive."

"No. There is no truth in the rumour that we are providing free transport for those who want to decorate the tombstones with relics of departed spirits. Anyway, we hope the residents of Hill Street won't be as shocked as was a certain "Disgusted" resident of Kelburn last week. Student pranks! Bless their little hearts! We had thought of providing pea shooters and rompers for the naughty little boys. Oh, by the way. Pass-out tickets will be issued as usual. "Capping Ball is undoubtedly the central dance of the year, and everybody should grab the opportunity of participating in 'Varsity life while they can, and incidentally honour the graduates by making the dance go with a swing.