14
Decembg*
"Dancing at Lughnasa" challenges actors, connects audience
A shley W elp
Staff Reporter
"Dancing at Lughnasa"
which opened Dec. 5 and
runs through this weekend,
is the story of five unmarried
sisters living in a small village
in Ireland in 1936. The family
dynamics are very realistic
according to Annie Kaiser,
Director, in that they're
sometimes at odds with each
other and other times so close.
The play, performed Dec.
5, 6,10,11,12 and 13 in the
Black Box Theater begins at 7
p.m. The smaller venue, which
holds only 120 people is meant
to give the audience a feeling
Michael Johnson, sophomore, narrates while Alyssa Aramaki, senior,
Avery Breyne-Cartwright, junior, and Anna Stapleton, sophomore, work on
household chores behind him. The play, which received excellent reviews
on opening night, runs for two more performances tonight and tomorrow
night at 7 p.m.
Photo by Catherine d’Autremont
of intimacy with the story and
characters.
"The play moves you.
Throughout the course of
the entire show you connect
deeply to the characters, and
you experience what happens
to them. You feel what they
feel. You feel that what they
are expressing is what you are
wanting to express," Michael
Johnson, sophomore, said.
The cast which includes
Andra Sturtevant as Kate,
Caitlyn Olson as Maggie,
Avery Breyne-Cartwright
as Rose, Anna Stapleton as
Agnes, Alyssa Aramaki as
Chris, Johnson as Michael,
Corbin Wescott as Gerry
and AJ Benya as Father Jack
has been challenged to learn
accurate Irish accents and Irish
dancing for the play. Many
hours have also been spent on
constructing a realistic set.
"We're putting a lot of
energy into making everything
very authentic. It's supposed
to have the feeling if a quaint
little cottage. In Lughnasa, it's
not as though the audience is a
part of the play but rather they
are there, in the scene. They
will really enjoy that it is so
close," Kaiser said.
"Mrnurn m lagunas»“______ m
continued on page 15
Dear Ani and Maggie offer excellent advice, solutions
Dear Ani and Maggie,
I'm a good kid. I get good
grades, I don't do drugs or
drink, and I participate in
extracurricular activities.
Lately, I've noticed my parents
going through
my
text messages.
While I don't
have anything
in my texts
to be ashamed
of, I feel as
though they're
disregarding all
the good things
that I do. This is a
complete invasion
of my privacy! I
don't think they
can snoop into every area
of my life just because they're
my parents. What do you
think I should do?
Timid Texter
Dear Texter,
We agree that it is
inappropriate for your parents
to read your texts, but there's
surely a reason why they feel
the need to do it. Try sitting
down with your parents and
having a discussion with them
about why you think their
behavior is unacceptable,
but be willing to make some
compromises. Tell them you
don't think they need to read
your messages to check up
on your behavior. Perhaps
you could offer to give them
more updates on who you're
hanging out with and what
you're doing. Maybe in this
way you can gain their trust
without feeling like your
privacy is being invaded.
Good luck!
Ani and Maggie
Dear Ani and Maggie,
Lately, I've been spending
a lot of time with my new
boyfriend. I try to balance
my time between him and
the friends I had before we
got together, but it can be
difficult to do. Because I've
been hanging out with my
boyfriend more than my
friends, they've stopped
inviting me to hang
out with them.
really
& upset because I
love hanging out with
them. How can I fix things
and find a way to balance my
time?
Frazzled Friend
Dear Frazzled,
First of all, apologize to
your old friends. Explain to
them how much you like
hanging out with them and
that you want to make an
effort to do so. Initiating this
will probably be the hardest
part, but it seems like a
necessity. After the apology
has been made, try to set up
a schedule for yourself. It
doesn't have to be set it stone,
but get yourself organized
so you can spend time with
both your friends and your
boyfriend. If you think you'll
have to cancel plans on either
your boyfriend or friends,
give them some advance
notice. Also, don't cancel set
plans with your friends to
hang out with your boyfriend.
If you show them you're
making an effort, they’ll
probably appreciate it and
start inviting you to do things
again.
Ani and Maggie
Dear Ani and Maggie,
I've been sick recently, but
unable to take a day off. I
need to get some rest in order
to heal, but just a couple days
off would be impossible due
to the workload in my classes.
Some teachers allow you
only the number of days
you missed to make up the
work, but that isn't really
enough because you have
to do the work you missed
as well as new work in a
short time period. How
can I make sure I get
things done but still
be able to take time
off? It's not fair that
students have to come
to school when they're really
sick in order to keep up.
Sickly Student
Dear Sickly,
This is something many
of us struggle with. One
way to make things easier is
to ask for your assignments
in advance if you know
you're getting sick so you
can accomplish some things
while you're gone. If you're
not feeling well enough to
do work, try emailing your
teacher while you're gone (or
have your parents do it if you
really need to stay in bed)
and ask them to allow you a
little extra time based on the
amount of work you have.
Some teachers will be flexible,
some won't. Complete the
work for the your more
demanding teachers first, then
do the work for the teachers
that give you more time. If
you ask for help when you
need it and do things in
order of when they need to
be done, you'll probably be
able to manage a break for
yourself. Maybe if your more
rigid teachers see you're really
trying, they'll give you a bit
more time.
Ani and Maggie
,
If you need help with a
problem and would like to
receive help, please write
a letter and place it in the
"Advice Box" located in the
library. All letters received
will remain anonymous.
Vaughn, Witherspoon team in holiday comedy
C arly H alverson
Staff Reporter
Over 500 people lined
up two hours before the
anticipated premiere of the
film "Four Christmases"
on Nov. 19. The show
was played in the IMAX
theatre where the screen
was impeccable and
there were enough seats
available for the hundreds
of people. This is the first
film in which comedian
Vince Vaughn and southern
beauty Reese Witherspoon
have played side-by-side.
Reese plays the role
of Kate, Brad's (Vaughn)
girlfriend of four
years. They are a very
independent, happy couple
who have avoided their
families over the past
five years, especially at
Christmas. When winter
comes, Brad and Kate
plan a trip to Fiji. Like
their past Christmas trips,
they were depending on a
lovely vacation in the sun
away from their families
on Christmas. However,
because of weather
conditions,
all flights
Vince
are canceled
Vaughn
and the "too
cool for
everyone"
couple
prepares for
an accident
waiting to
happen...
four
Christmases
with her
mom's
family, and
her dad's
family, his
mom's family, and his dad's
family, all in the same day.
What the couple didn't
know, was how this new
obstacle is going to set
them up for new decisions,
opportunities and lessons to
learn.
I thought the movie
was going to be a typical
love story, but it turned
out being that, and more
than anything, hilarious!
The movie struck humor
from the very first scene.
It is good for all ages, and
everybody
can take
W itherspoon
a leSSOn
from the
real themes
about
families,
conquering
fears and
His
her nxsfcer.
relationships.
his mother
and her iaöier
The acting
annone da*
was very
four
C hristmases
impressive
as Vaughn
and
Witherspoon
stay in and
stay true to
their roles throughout the
movie. All four families
seemed characterized,
making their antics
enjoyable to watch. There
may have been a constant
state of humor, however,
the serious messages shined
through.
The nearest places to go
see this romantic comedy
are Bridgeport, Wilsonville,
Tigard, Sherwood and
Oregon City theatres.
Tickets range from $ 8 - 1 0 .^
U it t f .