School Play

Behind the curtain: Preparation for the Spring Play

Mark your calendars now - May 9th-13th.  With only a little over a month to go, the Spring Musical at McMath rehearsals are in full swing.

Dramatic productions don't just happen.  In order to ensure a successful opening night and an even more successful run, so many pieces must come together.  This is compounded when the production is a musical. Starting with script selection and readings, auditions, rehearsals, sound, lights, front of house and behind the scenes, so many students along with Ms. Rough and Ms. Wilkinson, have spent many hours of their time already with many, many more hours to come.

Ruth Bruhn (Stage Manager) and Kathleen Tweedie (Actress) provide us a behind the curtain look at the preparations that are taking place.

What involves spelling, dancing and free candy? This years musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” presented by McMath’s very own Music and Drama Departments! This exciting show, brings together catchy songs, hilarious script and the best improv McMath has to offer! 

A typical rehearsal of the Spelling Bee goes a little something like this, told to us by Kathleen Tweedlie, who plays “Rona Lisa Peretti. 

As I start walking towards the drama room I can hear laugher and singing and I know the fun is about to begin. Once the scene we are working on that day is announced we all get into position ready to rehearse. The moment we hear 'action' we are transported to the 25th annual Putnam county spelling bee. A spelling competition that includes much more than just spelling words. When we read through the scene, the actors experiment by reading their lines in different ways. With a cast as creative and spontaneous as the one we have, every rehearsal is filled with surprises. Improvisation makes the run through of a scenes unpredictable and hilarious. As we are going through the the scene, suggestions and new ideas are bounced back and forth among actors and directors. An hour of running through the scene goes by in a flash and before we know it we are off to the music room.

As we enter the music room the sounds of the piano surrounds us . We scatter among the steps as we are instructed to get ready to sing. We warm up our voices and focus on our harmonies by doing creative scales like "1.1,2,1.". After our voices have been warmed up, we flip through our books to the song we are working on that day. As wesing the songs, we break down the song and find the harmonies in the chords. It is such a beautiful moment when everyone finds their notes and we can hear voices work together in the harmonies. The music from this musical is up beat and very catchy. It's near to impossible for me to leave rehearsal without a song from the musical struck in my head.

After school when I go to rehearsal I know it's going to be an adventure. It's the time of the day when I can take a break from my life and venture into a world of song, spelling and pandemonium! 

Rehearsals have been started, band is tuning up, sets are being painted, and measurements have been taken, all in preparation to preform this entertaining show, for you the audience. This cast of over thirty takes to the stage May 9th-13th, so get your tickets A-S-A-P when they go on sale, because last year sold out.

by Kathleen Tweedlie

From the Sidelines -- by Jenessa Chan

Obnoxious jokes are followed by endless laughter and the chewing of food.  Each table is stacked up with books, juice boxes, crumpled wrappers, and Tupperware containers.

     You enter by slowly taking a step down the short flight of stairs, your eyes squinting, as you examine the damage in which you find home from 12:40-1:25PM on Mondays to Fridays.

　 Keeping an eye out for an overly-familiar face, you had just rushed out of your third black classroom, after having to stay an extra two minutes to talk to your teacher.

　 All the familiar senses: relaxed, yet chaotic; calm voices, yet with much excitement; all of these feelings and observations echo up to the round, skylight window on top of the 35-foot high ceiling.

      A warm tap on your shoulder breaks your concentration.  Looking for a few faces in this crowded, popular destination is like finding Waldo.  You turn around, surprised to see your bed friend standing next to you.

　  "Oh, so we didn’t get a table today, huh?"

      "Welp, I guess not," you realize, grasping your brown paper bag.

      From the sidelines, it’s easy to believe that this place is nothing but a mess of hormonal, noisy students, releasing their energy that’s been built up for hours beforehand.

     You're on the sidelines.

　

Two Week's Spring Break ... what are you going to DO?

                Hey Wildcats! Spring break is just around the corner, and everyone is sure to be busy with schoolwork and other activities. Don’t worry, it’ll be here soon! And when it does come, here are a few things to keep you occupied and amused if you’re staying in Richmond during the first ever two week spring break!

Check out Richmond Centre’s new stores:

I’m sure you’ve all heard already, but just in case you haven’t, Richmond Centre has done some major renovations and store moving. We now have a Forever 21, improved Dynamite, and a Guess Accessories store. Whether you are a shopper or not, I’m sure you will be able to find some pleasure in at least checking these new options out.

See a Movie:

So yes, these ideas are all pretty generic. But…they work! The best thing to do during a break is relax and rejuvenate. Therefore, it is safe to say that lounging at home with some unhealthy snacks after months of stress and worry is exactly what the doctor prescribed. There have been plenty of great movies to come out on DVD recently, along with some great Oscar flicks. Check them out! Or, go to “theatres near you” to watch some of the newer ones with friends after a day of sleeping in.

Finally (like previously mentioned)…sleep!

Everyone knows that teenagers are just not programmed to be awake and ready to learn at the sinful hour of 8:20 am. It’s just not right! Take advantage of the break to sleep your troubles away and recharge your below empty batteries. Don’t waste your time, but a little extra sleep can’t hurt that much.

Basically, enjoy yourselves! If you are going away, have a blast and make the most of it, and if you’re not…do the same! Two weeks is definitely worth the nine extra minutes a day of learning, so use it to its full potential. Forget about your problems, worries and dilemmas in your life for the moment and just live life as it comes at you. Come back happy and maybe even tanned, and you’ll be ready to conquer third term. HAKUNA MATATA!

by Ana Pacheco

Crush Cans: A Test of Courage

Crush Cans have made their appearance once again after a two year absence. Student Council’s reintroduction of Crush Cans has stirred up some excitement amongst many of the senior students who have seen them before, but it appears as though many of the younger students have yet to find out what they are.

The concept of Crush Cans is extremely simple. A student can choose to buy a can of Crush Soda to send to another student anonymously. A student would choose to send a crush can as a subtle hint to let the receiver know that they have feelings for them. The Crush Cans are sold in three flavors: orange, grape, and cream soda. Each color signifies something different; the orange one representing friendship, the purple one representing the words, “I have a crush on you”, and finally, the pink one representing the three unforgettable words, “I love you”.

Some students will have no problem deciding whether or not they want to send a Crush Can. Those who are already in a relationship will find no difficulty purchasing a pink Crush Can and sending it to their significant other. However, people who are secretly admiring someone else would find it much more difficult to pluck up the courage and send one. Fortunately for those students, Student Council has decided to send all Crush Cans anonymously this year. However, something that may begin as a subtle hint might turn into an opportunity for open humiliation. Although these Crush Cans are sent anonymously, there’s no way to be certain that rumors won’t get started and go around the school. In a community like a high school, gossip spreads as quickly as germs. There wouldn’t be a sure way to make sure that one who sends a Crush Can won’t get ridiculed for sending one.

So this Valentine’s Day, I won’t be wishing for anything like getting to be with the person I have feelings for. Instead, I’ll wish for courage. I’ll wish for courage to send a Crush Can, for courage to let that person know how I feel, and for courage to pull me through the possibility of getting a few jokes here and there if anyone finds out. I hope the rest of the student body will do the same; pluck up their courage to make Crush Cans 2011 a success like it was a few years ago, and make this Valentine’s Day a memorable one.

by Natalie Lo

Valentines Day -- love yourself...

VALENTINES DAY

Back in the early years of elementary school I always enjoyed Valentine’s Day. We used to make boxes or envelopes, which we decorated with pink and red hearts made out of construction paper. Then all the other kids in the class would walk around the class putting valentine’s into each bag or box. No one was left out. After we all returned to our seats we would dump out all the cards and candy onto to our desks. We would smile and giggle at the funny cards and stuff our faces with the chocolates and the candy hearts.

                                                                                                                               

Now, we can fast forward to the later years of high school. Valentine’s Day works completely differently than the previous years. Students line up at a table to order Crush cans for their “crush” or their friends. Then on Valentine’s Day, during one of the blocks, the student council members bring the drinks to the door. There, student’s names are called to receive their Crush cans. Kids laugh nervously as they walk to the door while other members of the class sit there and watch anxiously, wondering if their name is going to be called.

               

It’s really hard sitting in class watching other students receive Crush cans from their friends and admirers knowing that you’re not going to get one. That’s why I think we should come up with an alternative to Valentine’s Day. It could be called Love Yourself Day. You can buy yourself own favourite chocolates and jewellery and give yourself a big hug. That way, instead of having a Hallmark holiday that can make you feel lonely and insecure; you can celebrate this day every day! Because who wouldn’t like to feel loved every day?

Doncha just hate it when...?

You know that feeling when you find an amazing band and you can't seem to live without them? Then there's the feeling when one of your friend mentions their name. Your whole heart sinks into a bottomless pit and the thought of "so much for that" and you drop the band like a used tissue. To some, it's one of the worst feelings in the world and to others its just another obstacle to jump over.

Apart from that, there's always the feeling of hearing that song on the radio. Favourite part of my day, sarcasm intended.

As a member of the current generation, I can confidently say that we may be one of the most musically diverse generation to date. Whether it is indie, rock, metal, country, or the infamous top 40s, we have it all. Why is that?

ITunes may be the answer, as well as the access to the internet, but the main reaason is the fact that we live in Vancouver.

Art, theater, sports, music, we have it all. As a metropolitan city, we are bursting with artists and extraordinary individuals that only want to express themselves. Never forget, they're trying to make a living as well.

So, next time you want to drop one of your discoveries, remember, they are doing what they love. Can you say that for yourself?

　

Jessica Tsai

An Interesting Poetry Webquest!

Got some time on your hands?  Want to explore poetry a bit?  Check out the following webquest and do the activities.  Better yet, send in your results to Youthink or another student publication or put in on this very blog!

http://questgarden.com/47/36/8/070228133445/process.htm