Godspell Wows the Crowds

This past weekend, Pres students sat in the Valenzuela theater waiting for their teachers to do something they normally wouldn’t do in a classroom—dance, sing, and act.

And did they. Performing Godspell—which was originally produced in 1970 by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak—meant that our already-busy Pres teachers had to commit to weeks of rehearsals to learn songs, choreography and lots of lines. For some teachers, who had never appeared on stage before, simply learning the basics of how to enter and exit the stage were a challenge in themselves.

Mrs. Perryman, for example, “tried very hard not to fall.” But, she said, even if she were to fall and her costume malfunction, she knew that it wouldn’t trouble her. “I was doing this for the right reasons,” she said. “To raise funds for TADA and celebrate the Gospel—there would be no way to fail.”

The production, which ran for two weekends, served as a fundraiser for TADA, the booster group for Presentation’s theater program. According to Jim Houle, performing arts director, the performances raised approximately $15,100.

The musical is structured as a series of parables from the Bible, primarily the Books of Matthew and Luke. Mr. Cozort, who played Jesus Christ, said the challenge for him was how to symbolically portray Jesus since, “I’m not in a robe. I don’t have a beard.”

But he must have done his job well because people have been singing his praises ever since the show closed. “Mr. Cozort has jumped to the top of my ‘Most-amazing-people-I-know list,’” said Mr. Houle. “Of course, his talent was evident to all who witnessed his live performance, but the countless hours of work he did in preparation for the show went unnoticed by the audience, who only saw his confident, relaxed, seemingly effortless portrayal of Jesus.”

Ms. Hetherington, who was in the cast thought Mr. Cozort did a breathtaking performance as Jesus. “Every time we practiced it, I was touched anew—often to the point of tears. Mr. Cozort, I think, did an amazing job of conveying Jesus’ pain and anguish.”

Mr. Buell played John the Baptist and Judas. As Judas, Mr. Buell crucified Jesus, a scene that he called his favorite. He appeared onstage with a red bandana as if he were a motorcyclist. With a bag across his shoulders and an evil smirk across his face, he captured Mr. Cozort from behind. The boxes that were used as a stairway to the cross where Mr. Cozort was crucified symbolized Mt. Calvary and the Stations of the Cross in the Bible.

Dancing and singing with her colorful costume from the 1970s , Mrs. Perryman described her experience as “Amazing. It was exactly like the play. In Tower of Babel, we were all promoting our own idea of how the world should be, but then Jesus came and we all realized that if we didn’t work together, we couldn’t build anything worth having.”

Along with Mr. Buell from the religion department, Ms. Hetherington played a follower of Jesus in Godspell. “This was my first theater experience and it was absolutely marvelous.” Not only did Ms. Hetherington have a spectacular experience, but it helped her understand the Gospel as well. She said, “To listen to and act out this message night after night led me to a much deeper appreciation of what Christianity is all about.”

This play also marked the first time on stage for science teacher Mrs. Rahmig. “I don’t break out in song and dance during biology class very often!” she said. “I struggled to learn all of the dance moves in the songs, but by the time I finally got them down, I was having a great time performing them.” It did, indeed look like the cast was having a splendid time dancing and singing together.

The musical was embedded with inside Pres jokes, current day references and full-hearted acting by the actors and actresses. In one scene, Mr. Cozort and Mr. Buell voice the characters of Star Wars. In an interview after the play, Mr. Cozort admitted with a big smile on his face, that he thought Mr. Houle purposely put in that scene for him.

The choreography of this musical is both comical, yet genius. Of course it took practice to perfect. According to Mr. Buell, “We videotaped Sara [Freitas] doing the choreography and put it on YouTube. And at night, when everyone had left, I’d put it on my projector, move some desks out of the way and memorize the choreography.”

Right after the Star Wars scene, the theater turned into a disco. With an actual disco ball flashing, and teachers dancing, the “Light of the World” dance scene gave light to Jesus as the Savior. According to techie Jocelyn San Luis, junior, “You can’t help but dance to it!”

The teachers’ acting and chemistry onstage definitely had the Presentation-we’re-a-family aura. Ms. Hetherington said, “We came to the play as strangers—most of us—and left as members of a wonderful community.” Mr. Buell and Mr. Cozort brought their friendship backstage, too. San Luis noted their harmony as one of the most memorable moments she had backstage on the set of Godspell. She said, “Mr. Buell and Mr. Cozort’s beautiful offstage and onstage bromance….beautiful.”

A Collection of Thoughts from Black and White

By Tanya Padgaonkar, Special Sections Editor

A Perspective from a Chaperone…

Hey everyone, Mr. Mumper here. I’ve dreaded it for all of October, and now it’s finally here. Black and White. Someone please rescue me? Actually, no, it’s alright. I can do this, with this handy-dandy checklist in hand. Okay, so…

Flashlight: check.

Detention slips: check.

Protective gear…? Er, check?

I think…I think I’m ready.

But the moment I walk into the Hollywood themed gym, I know I’m in for a long night filled with sweaty teenagers, but (hopefully?) maybe a little bit of fun for myself too. I’d have to say though, the coolest thing I’ve seen all night was the crowd of boys and girls jerking and break dancing to the song “You’re a Jerk.”

Well, I guess people seem to be having fun. Standing atop a large ladder with a flashlight isn’t exactly my ideal Saturday night… I wish there was some Hawaiian music on. But at least the kids seem to like the DJ since they are singing along with almost every song. I’m not sure why the majority of the people seem to be in the middle of the gym though, since the foyer has spiffy looking card tables and there are refreshments outside. CI and NAHS really managed to incorporate the Hollywood theme into everything, from the decorations to the movie of old Hollywood films in the background, they thought of everything.

But apart from that, the whole experience is making me a little bit sad. I’m not in high school anymore! I can’t dance or even go to these things without a legitimate alibi. You know, I’m actually pretty impressed with all of these girls though. I’m supposed to be checking for drugs, alcohol, etc. and I haven’t found anything! Hey, these are actually some pretty good quotes. I’ll have to be sure to keep these and other positive Pres-related thoughts in mind in case one of those yearbook or newspaper students comes to interview me. Mr. Case warned me about them before I left. Now, where’s that checklist of mine?

By Angelia Tran, Business Manager

A Perspective from a Pres girl’s date…

Name:  Jonathon Stutchman

High school:  Saratoga High School

Grade: 12

Mission: Black and White Charity Ball at Presentation High School

Thoughts: Presentation is a typical private school, small, only females, and not too exciting.  The dance will be kind of boring, not many people will be dancing, and there will be chaperones patrolling. But I told Ivy Nguyen I would go since she’s a senior and it’ll be her last Black and White.

October 24^th 2009: It begins…

Preparation: 30 minutes to get ready and dressed. I must remember to wear something that matches lots of things to be safe since Ivy isn’t sure which dress to wear.

Mission begins: We are meeting at one of Ivy’s friend’s house for pictures and such. Perhaps I will meet other dates. I have a feeling I’ll be with them for the rest of the night. Then time for dinner! Ivy says we’re splitting the bill at Pasta Pamadora.

7:45 PM: Dinner is done and now at Presentation. The beginning of this dance is awkward since no one is dancing. This is typical of dances though, so, hopefully, things will improve. For now there are other things to do, like take professional pictures and play blackjack. How nice.

9 PM: For the most part, the music is pretty good.  The DJ isn’t too amazing, but I’ve been to dances with much worse. Actually, this dance isn’t too bad and not too different from the ones I have gone to before.  The only difference is, typically at schools like mine, there aren’t so many cops…and the chaperones usually aren’t so strict about the dancing.

11 PM: Time to leave. Wow, they really want us off campus fast. That’s different.

Notes: I didn’t think that the gym would be so big, and didn’t know that the school was really nice looking.  Also there was a lot more sports awards in the gym than I thought would be at a private girls school.  I really like the people though; they weren’t at all how I pictured.  They seem a lot more real and fun than previously thought.  Also there were more of them than I had thought.

A Perspective from a Police Officer…

Matt Christian and his brother are police officers, but their high school alma mater is Mitty. Still they came to Presentation, teenage stereotypes put aside, to chaperone the Black and White Charity Ball, the first for Matt who has only chaperoned other Presentation events such as the Mother-Daughter Breakfast. Unlike his experiences at Mitty, Matt found the Bellarmine boys to more well-behaved than he had thought and the Pres girls pretty decent. He was even further impressed with the charity aspect of Black and White as the proceeds of the night are given to Sacred Heart. Also, there were no incidents as he checked the parking lots and the rest of the campus for any criminal activity, critical or minor, to keep those on campus that night safe. The only safety breach came when some local neighborhoods kids hiding out at St. Chris managed to soak some students with water balloons as they were leaving the dance. While he and the other officers had rushed over, there was no one there. So, sadly, while the night had gone well otherwise, there was a casualty that night – a girl’s chic dress.

“Glee” Takes the World By Storm

     During a time when every show on TV seems to focus on drugs, drama, and angst, it’s nice to have a TV show there that makes fun of it all. With the everyday stresses of homework, meetings, and tests, sometimes it’s more than just simply “nice” to get away from everything and take a break—it’s necessary. Thankfully for many students’ sanity, Fox’s new fall musical comedy Glee does just the trick.

     Although the pilot episode of the show was first broadcast in May of 2009, the season did not start airing on Fox until September 9, 2009. It gained a total of 9.5 million viewers for its first showing, a number which hardly decreased with the start of their first season. But with a show so rich in plot, characters, and heartwarming moments, Glee’s large audience is no surprise. Show creator Ryan Murphy stated that he picks all of the show’s songs himself, trying to keep a balance between the number of show tunes and pop songs to appeal to all audiences. His trick seems to be working so far: nine Glee songs are on the top one hundred of the iTunes playlist, including their iconic Journey cover song “Don’t Stop Believing.”

     The plot focuses largely on the trials and tribulations of the members of the Glee club at William McKinley High School in Ohio. Spanish teacher Mr. Schuester organizes his own Glee club in the hopes of restoring it to its former spot of honor. By the time the entire cast is organized together, 12 very diverse members make up the team. These members range from the quarterback of the football team, Finn, to the hated yet adorably ambitious, Rachel, to the head cheerleader of the Cheerios team, Quinn, giving the audience a slightly unrealistic, but nonetheless intriguing group to watch. Sue Sylvester, the highly eccentric and egotistical Cheerio club moderator, adds to the troubles of protagonist Schuester by doing everything in her power to stop the Glee club from functioning properly.

     At times, it appears that everyone and everything is out to get the lovable Mr. Schuester as the majority of his attempts to improve the conditions for the Glee club either go horribly wrong or end up causing someone, somewhere some form of trouble. It is these and other highly improbable situations that the characters tend to get into which have recently made critics unsure about a successful future for the show. But Murphy counters these critiques by reminding audiences that Glee is meant to be a fictional story that takes you out of the brutal realism of everyday life and instead immerses you into a relatively calming world filled with characters that one would actually want to meet in real life.

     Far from remaining stagnant throughout the show, each individual character shows his or her depth in each episode, revealing something new about their personalities. In fact, one of the defining characteristics of Glee is that while each character has the ability to put on a show-stopping number by themselves, they all work together seamlessly instead to create a truly cohesive show. The majority of the show’s female leads are given to Rachel Berry, played by Lea Michele, as she has one of the leading roles in the show, and true to her character, Rachel truly owns up to the challenge by appearing to be an obnoxious overachiever. Despite her status as a somewhat nerdy singer, though, Rachel does show that she has feelings outside of the realm of theater and musicals. In reality, some of the relationships between characters on the show stem from purely platonic backgrounds, while others stem from quite the opposite, creating a few disputes and several broken hearts for many of the show’s main characters.

     Without a doubt, Glee is of the most highly watched and loved shows this season, and with good reason also. If you haven’t already become a Gleek, it’s time to pull up a chair and start watching every Wednesday at 9 p.m. And that’s how Tanya sees it.

CD Review: The Resistance

“It’s time that fat cats had a heart attack.” These words of Muse’s hit single and opening track “Uprising,” capture the recurring theme of resistance throughout their long-awaited fourth album – you guessed it – “The Resistance.” Muse brings to light a waging war in which sides must be chosen and critical battles against Wall Street greed must be won. Largely inspired by George Orwell’s 1984, the album’s namesake, “The Resistance,” takes a new approach toward opposition, claiming that “Love is our resistance.” This innovative perspective emphasizes the defying nature of falling in love through outstanding lyrics, undoubtedly some of the best on the album. The song is creative, musically sound, and has an ending that would put any rocker to shame.

Standout track “I Belong to You” opens with a light, staccato and implausibly catchy piano riff, instantly capturing the attention of listeners. The lyrics are deep, singable and a nice break for those who don’t appreciate the politically charged lyrics of tracks like “Uprising,” and “United States of Eurasia.” The song eases into a slow, mesmerizing lullaby, where frontman Matt Bellamy makes a weak attempt at speaking French. While it’s hardly original, especially for Muse, it doesn’t drone on long enough to be intolerable. A gradual buildup leads to an epic clarinet solo that only Muse could pull off without generating laughs, and the overall quality of the piece is outstanding.

“Undisclosed Desires” utilizes a basic R&B beat, comparable to something Fort Minor would create. While recreating the catchy, synthesized rhythms of “Supermassive Black Hole,” this controversial track is a rarity in terms of lyrics. Typically, Bellamy conceals the emotions behind his lyrics with complicated metaphors or excess ambiguity, disguised as being void of meaning; however, “Undisclosed Desires” reveals straightforward, yet intricate emotions that are sure to stir the minds of attentive listeners.

Despite the overwhelming success of the album as a whole, Muse falls short of their usual excellence with the disappointing “United States of Eurasia.” Heavily influenced By Dr. Who and Queen, perhaps too much so, this experimental track gives innocent listeners whiplash, jumping in and out of awkward “Bohemian Rapsody” moments. The sudden stylistic changes are unnatural and forced, and the repetitive chanting of “Eurasia” is hardly pleasing to listeners.

Possibly the most anticipated tracks on the album, Muse’s 15 minute Exogenesis Symphony, is nothing short of brilliant. The piano is soothing, yet entertaining, and it speaks volumes despite the usual absence of lyrics. Part I, “Overture,” displays an obvious theme of pain, and its heartbeat rhythm and science-fiction qualities effortlessly draw the listener in. Bellamy’s falsettos flow naturally with the ups and downs of the music, and the foreboding guitar solo introduces a flawless expression of the sorrow of the piece. Part II, “Cross Pollination,” begins with a piano piece that wouldn’t sound out of place in Phantom of the Opera. The song builds up to a powerful coupling of Muse rock and piano genius, ending on a soft note that easily sets the tone for Part III, “Redemption.” This conclusory track is an apologetic sonata. Chopin’s influence is evident, and Bellamy’s simple lyrics are tremendously strong as he concludes his masterpiece with the line, “It’s our last chance to forgive ourselves.”

Popular New Music Review

Humbug – Arctic Monkeys

Humbug is a collision of newfound maturity and a slower, more musical sound previously foreign to the A.M. 23-year-old frontman, Alex Turner, captivates listeners with a smooth, hypnotic voice he’s been hiding until recently. Leaving quite a few loyal but closed-minded fans disappointed, Humbug’s mysterious, darker sound appeals to a whole new genre of listeners. The punk pop melodies were replaced by softer, haunting tracks that are not necessarily better or worse, but different. It would be easy to dismiss the album as a mediocrity due to its unexpected and experimental nature, but once the shock has settled in, the genius behind this innovative third album is hard to ignore. Standout tracks “Crying Lightning” and “My Propeller” exemplify the new, sharper direction taken by the A.M. The quality of the songs is magnificent, as each measure was meticulously constructed, coupling bleak, yet clever lyrics with complex, menacing guitar and bass riffs. “Potion Approaching” and “Dance Little Liar” pacify nostalgic fans who preferred the danceable indie rock of the first two albums. So what inspired the A.M. to abandon the Oasis-like path before them for a gloomier, weirder future? A little bit of soul searching in the Mojave Desert with Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme did the trick. Homme produced seven out of the album’s ten tracks, and it shows.

The Resistance – Muse

Today is a glorious day for Muse fans worldwide, who can now hear more than a fifteen second sample of the trio’s long-awaited album, The Resistance. A sneak peek into the album’s classic Muse style and political agenda, the newly released single “Uprising” did not disappoint. After rumors of the band taking a new experimental direction, it was reassuring for fans to hear a little bit of Muse’s signature modus operandi at work, over-the-top political messages and all. While the recently released “United States of Eurasia” is heavily influenced by Dr. Who and Queen, perhaps too much so, “Uprising” has the sort of other-worldly qualities that Muse fans traditionally love, stylistically similar to the much esteemed “Time is Running Out.” Despite the success of “Uprising,” Muse fans noted “United States of Eurasia” as a red flag. Giving innocent listeners whiplash, frontman Matt Bellamy can’t decide whether or not he wants to be a cheap imitation of Freddie Mercury. One minute the song is indistinguishable from Queen’s “Bohemian Rapsody,” and the next it’s a typical Muse ballad. Even Bellamy’s accent is inconsistent. The almost humorous lyrics are also a concern. Muse has always been obsessed with conspiracy theories and taking down the government, but they’ve gone to such an extreme that even they can’t help laughing at their own lyrics.  Nevertheless, there are still high hopes surrounding The Resistance. Political controversy has never weakened a good Muse album before, and its rock opera structure is already the object of much praise.

Love Drunk – Boys Like Girls

Boys Like Girls is back, strong as ever with their much anticipated second album Love Drunk. Its automatic success is inevitable due to the band’s massive following and the pristine quality of the production. However, Boys Like Girls is still young, and the album has the sort of immature annoyances that leave a lot of room for improvement. The predictable, repetitive qualities of Love Drunk clump lead vocalist Martin Johnson with the dime a dozen pop artists who make the charts but fail to gain respect from serious musicians. The myopic lyrics reflect an adolescent worldview with excessive emphasis on relationships. But really, what else could be expected from a band who christened themselves “Boys Like Girls?” It may not be the most insightful or innovative album out there – not even close, but fans aren’t looking for anything more than a replica of the pop punk band’s self-titled freshman album. The catchy chorus chants and na-na’s liven up the album’s namesake, “Love Drunk,” which has already received a warm welcome into the music industry. It even gets a little fancy near the end with a glorious key change. Tracks “Heart Heart Heartbreak” and “Chemicals Collide” are natural radio hits with the type of singable melodies that will easily find a place in the hearts of their target audience, teenage girls. Fortunately for everyone else, Boys Like Girls has a little more up their sleeve than a few happy choruses and a handful of cute haircuts. Johnson’s epic vocal mastery more than makes up for any second-rate or just plain boring melodies. His pure talent as a vocalist is arguably the band’s strongest asset, although it gets a little lost in the musical chaos of Love Drunk. Regardless, the typical songs and cliché lyrics actually render an effortless enjoyment that, overall, outweighs petty criticisms.