Friday 27 January 2012

The Greeks Go To Pieces At Loughton School

Watched Loughton School's year 5 play tonight with Ray, entitled "The Greeks Go To Pieces". It evolved around ancient Greek history in a light-hearted manner, with many a catchy tune sung with verve and enthusiasm by the Chorus. Standing on a table against the wall, behind the audience a male teacher and his female teacher helper held aloft, every so often, for the performing caste to see, a placard bearing the injunction 'LOUDER' or 'SMILE', and perhaps other useful suggestions, to which the singer's on stage duly responded.

The leading role was taken by a girl, probably ten or eleven years of age, with a calm proficiency astonishing in one of such tender years. The tunes were catchy, obviously carried a message furthering the plot, underlining elements of importance in the unraveling plot concerning perpetual hostility between Spartans and Athenians, fueling an animosity arising from a supposed cause so far back in the history of both sides that nobody actually knew what they were fighting about.

The message, cynical and profound, entertainingly conveyed, will stand these little class fivers in good stead during years to come. Who knows, the lighting ghost of one, or more than one, of these songs many sound in the ears of one of these little actors, in years to come, who by then is in a position to respond to some international crisis in a manner preventing the passing of a controversial bill in parliament, stimulating second thoughts concerning critical issues between nations and peoples, averting a Third World War.

Such is the power of words set to music! It reaches into the corners and crevices of the mind and emotions beyond the reach of simple oratory. Hence the response of patriots to a national anthem, confirming commitment to their country's cause; or the forces of an army awaiting the signal to launch an attack, stiffening the sinews, summoning up the blood; or an elderly rugby supporter standing to the massed voices of his countryman at the outset of a Test match in Cardiff, causing the tears to stream from his closed eyes as he sings.

Hence the war songs of nations all over the world expressing a grievance, stating a truth, declaring commitment of perceived truth held with determination most desperate 0 'Ours vir jou, Suid Afrika', the most emotional finale to an anthem in my youthful experience, could have fired me to a dedication terminally desperate were it not concerning a country not my own.

So too, the lifting melodies of tonight's performance may plant some certain chords of resonance that, in association with simple truths concerning basic values of human nature might respond to stimuli of association in circumstances of the future that might chart new courses in the progress of mankind.

Meanwhile, judging from the expression on their little faces, most of the singers simply enjoyed delivering the songs. Perhaps among the audience, others like me, hardened to the ways of the world, distrustful of spontaneous emotion, might nevertheless determine to investigate more closely, or for the first time, the thoughts behind the actions of those old Greeks.

In whatever manner we responded, it was an evening enjoyable and well-spent.

National Anthems of the World
Greek National Anthem (in Greek) (Greek Edition)

by Guest Blogger

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