The Performance

The Hiye Maru took ten days to cross the Pacific ocean from Yokohama to Vancouver.   There were about twelve English speaking children traveling first class.  We met in the morning in a special room set aside for our age group, and an English speaking supervisor was assigned to us.  She was young and enthusiastic, and we were soon planning a show.  

But what to perform?  While suffering from some childhood ailment I had written a play to pass the time.  It was called "The Night of the Ball"  and was very lame indeed.  My father had had it printed out for his budding playwright and I submitted it for approval.  It was accepted!  I took the lead part of course.  Then there was a piano performance by one of us, and a skit.   I forget what else. After a couple of days we performed for a live audience.  We invited our parents and a few interested passengers.  Since there were no other diversions in that time of war, the turnout was bigger than expected.  We were urged to do a second performance.

The Captain, a kind Japanese man, who loved children of any description, decide to let us perform this time in the First Class lounge.  Her rigged two Japanese flags for our curtains.  He even went to the menu printing department and had programs printed with our names on it!   "The Night of the Ball" was printed, "by Valerie Wilde herself".  I thought that was stupid and redundant.  Why not just Valerie Wilde? But it was a theatrical tradition I had no inkling of.

In those day there were three classes, each one descending lower in the hull of the ship.  You could walk down the stairs,  but you weren't supposed to mix with the other classes.  However, on every landing there was a box into which you could put money for some charity.  

We decided to charge admission for our grand performance, with all the proceeds going to this charity.  The lovely Valerie in a long ball gown and her charming partner went to the ball, and everyone else did their star turn and it was over.  It was a huge success and the charity boxes were stuffed with donations.   

Thus we passed the time, happily oblivious to the gathering storm.