Lunch again, a plentiful feast of a potluck. And for one last time I was able to cut my way through the line on account of the theatrical production that was to be performed later in the evening. We did a complete run through of the play and thankfully I had 95% of my lines down cold. It was great fun being able to a part of this great production.
After play practice was choir practice, thereafter was the Recital and Choir Performance. I however was in no mood, mind nor state to attend this performances though by all accounts the were quite delightful and well executed. I caught some much needed sleep and then returned to the Great Hall to prepare for the play. The picture from the previous night were laid out on tables in the hall and thus began the tradition of having everyone signing each others pictures and leaving notes and memories form the past 4 epic days.
 |
| Rector in the Play |
This particular piece of theater was penned by Alyssa and Ashley C, and Annabel C (The first two are sisters, all three are classmates). It is entitled "A Shadowing" and tells the story of a village in which the church has recently been burned to the ground. All of the key figures and inhabitants of the village are meant to represent certain characters and authors within/of the Great Books. I had the high honor to portray "Mr. Wizard" who was really the Rector of the parish church in disguise. He was the catalyst in the search for the arsonist "Flesyth Wonk". The Rector though is based of Blaise Pascal, French Mathematician and Philosopher. The play was great fun and performed well, without any major calamity (that is, as far as I know). The three authors then took questions from the crowd.
 |
| Top of Lid |
When all was said and done, the moment we had all been anticipating. Our graduation. Mr H read then a blessing from the book of Proverbs and then prayed for us. As is ETS tradition we were bestowed with a token of our achievement, a round box. Carved in the lid is a geometric pattern of particular beauty. On the inside of the lid 4 words are engraved: "Love, Mercy, Truth, Justice". Love and Justice are on opposite sides as are Love and Truth, which is a reflection of the nature of the 2 pairs. Within the box itself is a half moon shaped extra storage area with two compartments. The bottom of the box is engraved with "GBT V 2012". In the middle is a small brass plaque bearing the ETS logo. Comic relief was provided when at a loss of words and struck with emotion Mr. H said simply: "Its tradition to give the graduating V-ers a box. So.... here's a box, we've never quite figured out what you should or could do with it, but here it is" Mr H then congratulated each one of us down the line, and gave us each a box. Just when he thought the emotional part was done, we bade Mr H. wait as we had some gifts for him. Mr C (Ashley and Alyssa's father) had a big brass circle made. I also was of a geometric figure spotted by both Mr H. and Mr. C in Italy two years ago. On the lines of the figure are engraved our favorite quotes from each year of GBT I through V. Christina L. had also organized a book in which all of us V-ers who wanted to could write a letter or make a collage of our GBT experience to give to Mr. H. Mr. H was awestruck, at a loss for words and teary eyed. With this we ended the evening and the Fling with a final bout of song including the Marines hymn, the National Anthem, and Mozart's "Dies Irae" (a personal favorite). We then milled about, said our good-byes and went on our separate ways.
 |
| Lid and inside of Box |
 |
| Me and Mr H |
No comments:
Post a Comment