Middle School Players Produce "Mutiny On The Bounty"

Middle School Stars
Front: R. Howe, D. Lindy, R. Hastings, D. Solis;
back: H. Jones, J. Affel, C. Kyle, J. Mills.
© 1966 The Campus Lantern, Chestnut Hill Academy.

A training ground for future CHA Players...

On Friday night, April 29, the Middle School presented the first evening of entertainment in their history. For the past several weeks, much of their time had been spent on it, and they proudly presented the result of this work in the chapel.

As a starter, the Middle School Chorus presented a program of music from Germany, France, England, Italy and the U.S. Included in the repertoire was a dirge of death and a lively "salute" to the queen by noted English composers.

The chorus also sang a difficult song in French, "L'Herrison," by Poulenc, and a Latin chant entitled "Stabat Mater," by Pergolesi. Accompanying the voices on the last two was a professional string quartet, who also performed Bach's "Double Harpsichord Concert," as a climax to the program. The quartet also accompanied 3 members of the chorus, David Reath, Paul Kurtz, and Beau Whitney, in their trio of a German Lied.

John McIlvain

Following the chorus' performance was a brief intermission during which refreshments were served and the audience had a chance to stretch. When they returned, the chapel had been transformed into an English sailing vessel of the eighteenth century for the II-D [Form II, Dowbenko homeroom] Players' portrayal of "A Chronological Condensation of Christian's Crimes or Mutiny on the Bounty."

The entire production was handled by the students themselves. They wrote, directed, and of course, acted, with the help of faculty advisor John McIlvain. The major roles were as follows: Captain Bligh - Jan Mills; Fletcher Christian - Clayton Kyle; Young Peter Haywood - David Lindy; Old Peter Haywood - Rip Hastings; John Fryer - John Affel; Bacchus - Horace Jones; Ellison - Ricky Howe; Churchill - David Solis; Mills - Andy Ross; Stewart - Bill Mittnacht; Judge - Mark Newberger.

The production people were: Production Coordinator - Andy Simon; Writing Coordinators - Andrew Ross and Bill Mittnacht; Speech - Tom Moessner; Staging - Bill Pepper; Sound - Ira Goldman; Lighting - Tim Saltonstall and Carty Sheppard; Sets - Bob Eisenstaedt; Costumes - Henry McAdoo.

The play was the third Middle School drama this year, following a Dickens portrayal by I-M [Form I, Miller homeroom] and a trial by II-M [Form II, McGlinn homeroom]. This night, however, was the clincher for the best Middle School performance.