The School Play

To turn to sport, we would congratulate the Rise on beating us in the final of the Rugger. In the School teams we have been well represented. R. C. Lynch, J. T. Brockbank, K. C. Brown, E. N. Dickinson, J. G. Holt and R. M. Chappell have all played for the 1st XV, the first three being regular members until half-term. Unfortunately, in the House match, Brockbank and Brown sustained injuries which prevented their playing Rugger again this term. We congratulate R. C. Lynch on being awarded his Rugget cap, and E. N. Dickinson on his House and 2nd XV colours. Regular members of the 2nd XV included E. N. Dickinson, P. A. Andrew and J. G. Holt, while R. M. Chappell, R. W. Wright, E. P. Bulmer and F. J. Hornby also played on occasions.

This term an innovation in the House has been a billiard table (famous for its remarkable cushions), and judging by the longer hours spent by boys at School, it has met with approval.

THE SCHOOL PLAY.

" JOURNEY'S END by R. C. SHERRIFF.

This year the St. Peter's Players gave three performances instead of the customary two, on Friday, Saturday and Monday, the 16th, 17th and 19th of December. The play, too, differed from those produced in recent years. " Journey's End," by R. C. Sherriff, is a more serious play, which depends for its effectiveness entirely on atmosphere and on character acting rather than on incident. Its tragic tensity is skilfully relieved by the characters of Trotter and Mason, but, throughout, the atmosphere of tension must be present, and it is no small achievement on the part of boys who did not have even second-hand experience of the War to have caught and to have kept that atmosphere. That they succeeded in doing so was perhaps mainly due to the fact that each one of the actors seemed to get right inside his part, and so was able to act completely naturally. The acting throughout was good, and improved considerably as each performance succeeded the other; above all, everyone managed to make himself heard.

The entire play takes place in a dug-out in the British trenches at St. Quentin on the eve of the big German attack in March, 1918. It is comparatively devoid of incident except for the raid scene and the final attack, and centres round the character of Captain Stanhope, a fine company commander, whose nerves are almost at breaking point from the intolerable strain, and who has been driven to whiskey as the only possible relief.

As Stanhope, P. B. Cockburn brilliantly fulfilled a very difficult part, which required a repeated change of temper. He brought to it sincerity, understanding and restraint; he moved well, an important accomplishment on a small stage, and sufficiently brought out the contrast between the harsher and softer sides of his character. His performance was a fine bit of acting.

In the character of Osborne, T. F. Cameron acted as an admirable foil to Stanhope, bringing obvious sincerity and assurance to the part. He fully displayed the level headedness and kindliness which earns for him the nickname of " Uncle " and wins for him the sympathy of the audience. To his sympathetic understanding of the part he added a clear and pleasing speaking voice.

P. R. G. Graham brought to the part of Raleigh a complete naturalness as the young officer just out from school, showing just the right enthusiasm and bewilderment and bringing out excellently the pathos in his quarrel with Stanhope and in the final scene.

C. M. Robson, as Trotter, the ranker officer, brought the light relief to the play, and did it well. He acted the part with relish, but refrained from making the easy mistake of overacting it, and fully emphasised the essential genuineness of Trotter.

As Hibbert, the shirker, J. M. Rucklidge had a very hard part to play, and he played it very well indeed, especially in the difficult scene with Stanhope.

I. D. C. Morison, as Captain Hardy, was completely at ease as a typical British officer, assuming a convincing air of nonchalance.

The character of Mason, the Cockney cook, was excellently played by H. A. Milburn, who produced his innumerable meals and cups of tea and coffee with commendable regularity and cheerfulness.

M. S. Douglas was a firm, yet not unsympathetic Colonel, just sufficiently stupid and anxious to please the Brigadier. J. H. Butler, as the C.S.M., proved to be an efficient soldier who knew that orders were orders—and that whiskey was whiskey. In the part of the German prisoner, Vero gave a convincing display of fear combined with dignity. E. Hodgson and J. Couldwell, as the two orderlies, were smart and efficient, and provided an excellent contrast.

A play such as " Journey's End " depends a great deal not only on the actors and on what happens on the stage, but also on the setting and on the off-stage effects, and a 15