Ely High School 1905-1972
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
| ANTONIO | The Merchant of Venice | Jacqueline Bidwell |
| SOLANIO SALERIO LORENZO GRATIANO |
friends of Bassanio and Antonio |
Janice Coville Patricia Hickman Jane Buck Joan Brown |
| BASSANIO | Antonio's friend | Christine Day |
| PORTIA | A rich heiress | Sylvia Coleman |
| NERISSA | Her maid | Vivienne Danvers |
| SHYLOCK | A Jewish moneylender | Susan Cumner-Price |
| LAUNCELOT GOBBO | his servant | Hazel Beckett |
| OLD GOBBO | Launcelot's father | Rosemary Ward |
| JESSICA | Shylock's daughter | Christine Wood |
| ATTENDANTS TO MOROCCO | Mary Law Christine Carter |
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| THE PRINCE OF MOROCCO THE PRINCE OF ARRAGON |
suitors to Portia | Marilyn McKinlay Pauline Morris |
| BALTHAZAR | servant to Portia | Elizabeth Elwood |
| THE DUKE OF VENICE | Pauline Morris | |
| MAGNIFICOES | Bonita Ransome, Valerie Harding,
Sylvia Braybrooke, Margaret Peacock, Brigid Riley and Rosemary Crowe |
|
| COURT OFFICERS | Rosemary Savidge Hilary Cutchey |
|
| STEPHANO | Servant to Portia | Mary Darby |
| SINGER | Phillippa Rayner | |
| MUSICIANS | Carolyn Brunt, Helen Lee, Susan Dewey | |
| TRUMPETER | Michael Yeomans |
PRODUCTION under the direction of Miss Convine, with the assistance of Miss Bunn
SET designed by Miss Reynolds, painted by Miss Bridge and members of Form VI
SONGS set to music by Miss Dewar
PROMPTER Joan Aves
STAGE MANAGERS Members of Form VI supervised by Miss Reynolds
LIGHTING Rosamund Yeomans
WARDROBE Miss Reynolds, assisted by Kay Bedford
PROGRAMMES Form Lower IV3
COSTUMES (other than those made by the School) L&H Nathan of London, and on loan from Soham Grammar School.The production gratefully acknowledges the kind assistance of Soham Grammar School, and thanks each one of the many people who have helped stage the play.
THE ACTION OF THE PLAY takes place between Venice, and Portia's home in Belmont.
Coffee will be served during the Second Interval
 Jackie Bidwell - Christine Day |
 Susan Cumner-Price - Jackie Bidwell |
 Rosemary Ward - Hazel Beckett via Vivian Hawes (Convine) |
 Sylvia Coleman - Susan Cumner-Price via Vivian Hawes (Convine) |
VC1: Christine Wood - Jane Buck - Vivienne Danvers - Joan
Brown - Sylvia Coleman - Christine Day - Jackie Bidwell - 8 -
9
via Vivian Hawes (Convine)
VC6: Sylvia Coleman - Vivienne Danvers - Christine Day - 4 -
5 - Marilyn McKinlay - 7
via Vivian Hawes (Convine)
VC14: Christine Day - Sylvia Coleman - Vivienne Danvers -
Joan Brown
via Vivian Hawes (Convine)
Susan Cumner-Price - 2 - Jane Buck - 4 - Christine Day -
Jackie Bidwell
The Ensemble
back, row 4: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 (fore) - 6 - 7 - 8 -
9
row 3: (right): Hazel Beckett - Michael Yeomans - 3 (rear) -
4 - 5
row 3: (left): 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 (fore) - 5 - 6 (fore)
row 2: Vivienne Danvers - Joan Brown - Jane Buck - Christine
Wood
front, row 1: Christine Day - Sylvia Coleman - Susan
Cumner-Price - Jackie Bidwell
from the May 1964 Ely High School Magazine
The Merchant of Venice - 1963 production
With the departure of our talented producer Miss Brook many believed Ely High School's successful run of plays was at an end. However, Mrs. Hawes soon began work on "The Merchant of Venice".
At first much trepidation was felt over the casting of Shylock, but when Susan Cumner-Price was finally chosen for the part, she exceeded all hopes with her sympathetic portrayal of the miserly Jew. Portia, played by Sylvia Coleman with wit and vivacity, tempered by her charm, provided a perfect foil for Shylock. These two main characters were supported by a well chosen cast. A polished performance was given by Jacqueline Bidwell, as Antonio, in a costume reminiscent of Gielgud's "Hamlet". "Bassanio was played with sensitivity by Christine Day" (producer's comment).
Romance and comedy were combined in the characters of Gratiano (Joan Brown) and Nerissa (Vivienne Danvers) whilst Jane Buck as Lorenzo and Christine Wood as Jessica gave the play some of its more tender moments.
Hazel Beckett, with a floppy hat and numerous facial expressions, gave an amusing portrayal of Lancelot Gobbo, and Old Gobbo, played by Rosemary Ward, was a convincing old man. Pauline Morris as the Duke and Arragon managed her dual role well, and gave a dignified performance in both parts. Other members of the cast who gave competent performances were Marilyn McKinlay as Morocco, Janice Covill as Solanio, Patricia Hickman as Salario, and the Magnificoes.
Music within the play was composed and arranged by Miss Dewar. She is to be especially congratulated on the haunting melody, "Tell me where is fancy bred?" which added much to the enjoyment of the final casket scene. We should also like to thank the recorder players, and Michael Yeomans who provided us with a magnificent trumpet fanfare.
Miss Reynolds' set design for the play was much admired. The painting of this was supervised by Miss Bridge, who was helped by Joan Aves and the VI Form. Miss Reynolds supervised the costumes for the cast, aided by Kay Bedford, and many thanks must go to Soham Grammar School for the kind loan of many costumes.
Last but by no means least - our producer, Mrs. Hawes, is to be congratulated on a notable first production. Her task was not easy, but she presented one of our most successful plays. Miss Bunn also gave valuable help. The well-filled hall and enthusiastic applause which greeted "The Merchant of Venice" bore adequate testimony to Mrs. Hawes' achievement, and we look forward to future productions.
CHRISTINE DAY, U.VI.