if* 2006
13
V
Entertain Yourself
"Reckless" cast displays diverse talent
_ C hristopher E rbin _________
Staff Reporter
After following in the
shadow of "Crazy For You"
for nearly two months, the
cast of "Reckless" finally got
its chance to demonstrate the
performers' natural ability
to create tension, drama
and laughter all in one
impressive show.
Although the cast
was not as experienced
as those selected for the
fall's first production, the
cast demonstrated that
lack of experience is not a
measurement of success.
The play was the first to
be performed in the new
Black Box Theatre, a room of
black painted walls with one
step in the front to denote
the presence of the stage. For
this production however,
the audience was the cast's .
stage.
Under the guidance of
Annie Kaiser, director, the
actors brought the story to
life, as they maneuvered
in between rows of seats
to involve the audience.
The dark and soothing
setting, accompanied with
the pajama costumes worn
by cast members, created
a warm and comfortable
atmosphere.
By far, the highlight of
the performance was the
versatile acting abilities
displayed by the relatively
novice cast. Madelynn
Marcotte, senior, starred as
a deaf cripple and teamed
up with the pair of Dylan
Stark, junior, as a man who
has a contract taken out
on his wife's life, who is
played by Andra Sturtevant,
sophomore. The overall cast
exhibited strength for dark
comedy.
It was exceptionally
pleasing to see high school
students play characters so
different from their own
personalities. Sambaraan
Chatterjee, senior, played
a depressed drunk on the
verge of committing suicide.
Caitlyn Olson, sophomore,
also plays a character much
different from herself. In
"Reckless" one of Olson's
characters is a sex-obsessed
psychiatrist who tries to
diagnose Rachel's denial that
her husband tried to kill her.
"I could not be more
thrilled with my cast,"
Kaiser said. "Every show
was packed and I could tell
that the audience was left
wanting to see more when
the show ended. All in all, I
can see with confidence that
it (Reckless) was a success."
"Science of Sleep"
balances energy, comedy
HiLLI ClAVARELLO
Lead actors Sambaraan Chatterjee, senior, and Andra Sturtevant,
sophomore, rehearse their lines in preparation for the debut of
"Reckless" which was held on Nov. 30. The play was thé first to be
performed in the school's new Black Box Theatre.
Photo by Cole Fiala
Staff Reporter
If you are tired of movies
filled with immature humor
or special effects that control
the script, then you should
definitely consider "The
Science of Sleep" to clear
your mind.
Michel Gondry, French
director of movies like
"Eternal Sunshine of the
MPAA assigns inconsistent ratings to movies
jjPjUh is 1 liig e ssiflr________ a
continued from page 3
When the film was
submitted to the MPAA the
first time it was issued an
R rating for its nudity. The
film's director then cut half a
second out of the nude scene
and the film was issued a PG-
13 when resubmitted.
The interesting thing about
the MPAA is that the movie
industry existed for almost 50
years without it, the MPAA
was not established until
1966. According to MPAA's
website "there was a huge
national outcry for some kind
of regulation of film content."
It was at this time that a man
named Jack Valenti proposed
an idea for a film ratings
board; this idea then became
the MPAA.
With the organization
established, they then created
four ratings a film could
receive; G, PG, R and X.
These ratings were in effect
until 1984 when parents
groups complained that the
PG-rated "Indiana Jones and
the Temple of Doom" was too
intense for young children
though the content was not
bad enough to get an R. Out
of this controversy the PG-13
rating was born.
Later the MPAA changed
"Reckless" cast members
accomplished just what they
wanted: to make a name
for the actors who weren't
immediately selected for the
school's first musical.
"One person can't make
a good play, it was the
effectiveness of all our
different talents that made
this show so special,"
Sturtevant said ." Basically
it's been a simply amazing
experience. The whole
process, from the first
read-through to the actual
performances... It's been a
truly amazing thing to be
part of."
the X rating to NC-17
because people began to
consider the X rating to mean
pornography. The irony
of this is now the NC-17
rating is widely considered
to be pornography and the
majority of theater owners
refuse to screen these films.
One might ask, if all the
MPAA is doing is protecting
children, then what's the
problem with it? My problem
isn't with the goals of the
MPAA but rather the actions
they take to reach this goal.
The ratings board of the
MPAA is one of the most
mysterious organizations in
the world. I like to picture
them as a bunch of hooded
goblins who sit around
a giant table and decide
what's best for the children
of America. According to the
MPAA they are a group of
concerned parents. But who
are these ambiguous and
unseen film raters? No one
knows, the MPAA refuses
to release their identities
for fear that they might be
manipulated into giving
certain films certain ratings
(someone has a pretty high
opinion of themselves).
Another thing that bothers
me about the MPAA is the
ages that accompany certain
ratings. Why is a 17-year-old
considered more mature than
a 16-year-old by the MPAA?
I have no idea. If the MPAA
is all about helping parents
decide what films to take
their children to, then why
do they have age restrictive
ratings?
Is the MPAA necessary?
That is the ultimate question.
What would happen without
them? They weren't around
before 1966 and last time I
checked the film industry
was fine. Does putting a letter
or a number on a film really
protect children? Or does it
just make them find new and
more creative ways to see
these "inappropriate" films?
The MPAA either needs to
change their ratings or get
out of town.
Male pageant raises money for charity
it,
.............
The charities included
Make a Wish, Dornbecher,
LiveStrong, Kirk Spencer
Foundation, Marine Corps
Law Enforcement Foundation,
American Cancer Society, Ju-
venile Diabetes Research, Red
Cross and the Boys and Girls
Aids Society.
The categories in the com-
petition were formal wear,
swimwear, talent and inter-
view. HerweUy won followed
runner
up, Lewis. Lewis made the
audience cry out in laughter
during the swimwear competi-
tion when he walked out with
his phone number written on
his back,
The talent show included a
tribute to Vanilla Ice and Tena-
dous D. Merlin made a Subway
sandwich in 23.5 seconds and
then gave it to the judges for
his talent.
I. ..
m m
mstsSm
During the ten minute in-
the chance to donate money
to charity and those points
factored in to decide the win
ner. A raffle sale for themed
baskets, like an Oregon Duck
gift basket or Hometown
Sports basket, was also held
to raise funds.
by current students, faculty
members, past students and
community members.
mmmmm WÊ&am
Spotless Mind" and music
videos for the likes of
musicians Beck and Daft
Punk, takes us into a world
of imagination with his
newest movie, "The Science
of Sleep." Starring Gael
Garcia Bernal ("Y Tu Mama
Tambien," "The Motorcycle
Diaries"), as the shy artist
Stephane Mirroux whose
dreams invade life, Gondry's
film blurs the line between
fantasy and reality.
Set in a Paris and in
the mind of the eccentric
Stephane himself, its depth
is balanced by its energy and
comedy. Stephane moves
back to Paris from Mexico,
after his father dies, to stay
with his distant mother
who has gotten him a dull
job setting type for Parisian
calendars. Although his job
is mundane, Stephane's life
Is transformed by a beautiful
neighbor, Stephanie, and he
escapes pain by retreating to
his dream world.
Gondry, staying true to
form, balances animation
and live action to create a
wondrous atmosphere. With
animation, he creates a world
for Stephane to dream, and
for imagination to live. With
live action he acknowledges
the reality of life, with the
exception of mundanity.
Gondry incorporates his
token awesome soundtrack
with spoken narrative,
orchestration and rock & roll
(including a cover of Lou
Reed's "If You Rescue Me").
Though characterized as
a foreign film, it's spoken
mostly in English but has
both French and Spanish
speckled throughout.
It is a true testament to
imagination, and definitely
a movie to pick for your fall
"to watch" list.
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