Figure 1.--The main figure, a young boy wearing a knight's armor, is entering in a kind of court, escorted by two guards.

A Canadian HBC reader has provided us information on what we believe to be a school drama production.

Recenly, I bought three very intriguying picture from Berlin. Here they are in what seems to me the right sequence.

Chronology

The seller pointed out that those photos were taken in 1950. Because chidren are in costumes, it is very hard to assess when the production ocuurred. But, the fact that most of the children are wearing low-cut shoes is a good indicator of the 1950s as the approximate date.

Characters

The main figure, a young boy wearing some knight armor, is entering in a kind of court, escorted by two guards. On the second image, what seems to be a king is admonishing or sentencing the knight. Is he changing the knight into a horse or a The third one is more dificult to understand. he same boy role paying the knight is now changed in what seems to be a horse or a donkey firmly tied to a ole. I suspect he will be carried by the people leaning him.

School Drama

From my point of view, a retired teacher, these photographs are extremely interesting. They show us how children engaged in theatrical experiments, in or outside the school. I see these photographs as a precious witness of children's life in the 1940s or the 50s. The naivity of the images make the photographs particularly appealing. I find they show a great deal of creativity in reneacting some past event.

Costuming

Of course, their costumes are not really in accordance with historical setting, but seem reasonable for the school level. The main figure is wearing an armor not some far from the historical perspective. But, the beret , short pants and long stockings are a good indicator of the kind of clothing worn by boys in 1950. Maybe, it could be realistic to believe that this drama took place in East-Germany where children were dressed like this boy. More often than in West-germany, at least. it is clear that on the third picture, it is the same boy who is acting horse play by his shirt, pants and stockings. Interesting also the fact that he is wearing round garters which were rather common. The guards are dressed like Swiss guards at the Vatican. This can lead to take into account that this play has something to do with a Catholic legend like it is with Saint Nicholas? Are those guards boys or girls is a difficult question ? But at that time, school theater didn't mix boys and girls, mainly in Catholic schools. . So, even if the smallest seems to be a girl, I guess they both are boys. They are wearing a turtleneck and bloomers. They also wears some silky stockings. At that time, nylons were used with children, but those on the picture cannot be tights which appeared ten years after. In the last photo, apart the boy with a very well-made mask, the boy at left gives a good idea of the kind of clothings worn by children at primary school. Wool sweater, short pants, knee-length socks and big shoes like we saw on Swiss children as shown on HBC. The other personnage is an older child disguised as a peasant with a pinch.

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Created: 3:15 AM 7/16/2010
Last updated: 3:15 AM 7/16/2010