Manooghi says Hi to fans
Sawyer Auer
Manooghi Hi was not a well-known band before mid-winter break, but our Island had the rare chance to hear them at the Red Bicycle on February 19, by this break out band. Usually bands that perform at the local restaurant range from Island bands to obscure artists to Seattle based artists, but no one like Manooghi Hi. The up and coming band, who are currently preparing for their first tour in India, lead singer Mehnz’s home country.
Following their Vashon concert, Manooghi Hi stopped in Portland, Oregon, to play a show at Mount Tabor theatre and then a few weeks later they have a concert at the Triple Door in Seattle scheduled on March 30.
The Red Bicycle was a scene that night. Many people came to see the band play a show. It seemed strange that such a band would play here, so the feeling in the air was of excitement and wonder. Manooghi Hi started off with some relaxing music that many people know from their albums. But as the night went on, a sort of trance fell over the audience. Not only are they good, but they knew how to play a live show. People were enjoying themselves and in a comfortable environment being able to sit back and listen to Manooghi Hi seemed almost surreal.
A few anonymous spectators at the show only had good things to say.
“I had never listened to them before, but after this show I’m definitely checking them out,” said one fan.
Another said, “I’ve been a pretty regular listener of [Manooghi Hi]. I’m more than happy that they decided to play a show here again.”
It was a great feeling listening to that music together, and hearing the genuine Seattle influence in the sound. Feeling the mix of the eastern Indian music and Seattle based sound was inspiring and a new type of music was heard at the Red Bicycle.
The red carpet is rolled out for this year’s Oscars
Neah Lynch
The squeals of young girls become loud and obnoxious as Taylor Lautner came on the screen. From a distracted Meryl Streep, who would obviously rather be socializing then being interviewed, to a relaxed Morgan Freeman, chewing gum while talking about his most recent role as Nelson Mandela, the Hollywood Oscars red carpet twinkles with stars. But look no further then our own Island red carpet for special guests Johnny Depp, Cleopatra, Cher, and two daring and bold Avatar women.
The annual Oscar night at the Vashon Theatre was a success as always, celebrating 82 years of the Oscars. Oscarettes were given to Islanders for the best outfits in multiple categories and trays of delicious appetizers from Island restaurants circulated the room. The proceeds from the evening went to a scholarship fund for high school seniors interested in pursuing film studies.
Emcee Karen deFour desChamps said that there weren’t as many attendees as last year, but there were more than in the past. Among the costume contenders was a couple dressed as the characters from Oscar nominated movie Up in the Air and the family from Crazy Heart.
Alice In Wonderland sure to leave audiences awe struck
Jessica Ohmert
This is certainly not the classic, animated Alice in Wonderland. The movie begins in a typical London home sometime in the late 19th to early 20th century where we meet a young Alice who has awoken from a dream of Wonderland. The film cuts to a scene where Alice is 20-years-old, faced with a marriage proposal she wishes no part of. Here, the famous White Rabbit lures her down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland.
We witness a new spin on the classic scene with a bottle labeled “drink me” and a cake labeled “eat me” where Alice shrinks and grows in order to fit through a small door. The impressive special effects in the film allow Alice to shrink while her clothes stay the same size, turning into a circus tent over her, or grow while her ball gown turns into a mini dress. Every so often there are whispers of whether or not she’s the “real Alice”, and “You would think she would remember from the first time”. Soon, it’s clear that this film is not a re-make of Alice in Wonderland, but a continuation of the beloved tale.
Based on Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, it tells the story of the defeat of the White Queen by her sister, the Red Queen, and the necessary killing, by Alice, of the Jabberwocky for the White Queen to prevail again. Yet the story becomes more involved mixing the plots of Alice in Wonderland with Through the Looking Glass. For example, in Carroll’s second book there is no Mad Hatter or Caterpillar and Alice finds herself in Wonderland by falling through a looking glass, not down a rabbit hole.
A Chorus Line promises to be ‘One, Singular Sensation’
Phaedra Powell-Zecher
It’s time again for another long awaited production from the VHS drama kids. This year drama teacher Stephen Floyd and Principal Susan Hanson picked A Chorus Line. The plays chosen each year have a set of criteria based on quality, popularity, and availability. There are 17 main parts, and the actual chorus only appears in the beginning and the end.
A Chorus Line won nine Tony Awards, and is considered a classic on Broadway.
“A Chorus Line deals with important issues in a teenager’s life, which the audience can relate to,” said Floyd.
The audition process for the Musical Theatre students this year was especially demanding because in this show, there were only so many main roles. In a regular show, there are members of the chorus who would appear in many numbers. This year, the chorus will only be seen in the beginning and the end of the performance. Unfortunately, the format of A Chorus Line did not allow much room for chorus members.
The 17 characters on the line, go through an audition process like no other. They are asked to show not only their talent, but their personality as well. Characters on the line relive their past through song and dance, covering topics from abuse at home to the perils of puberty.
In previous productions, there were issues of controversy centered around specific lines or songs in the show. This year one character’s song was cut because it was thought to be too inappropriate and repetitive of previous shows. There have been no direct complaints about the songs, but rumors certainly have circulated.
LOST fans discover final season
Christian Hasson
The stone is cast from the depths of the cave into the deep, endless ocean. The scale upon which the stone sits suddenly drops from being perfectly balanced, to favoring the side of the darkness. A weight has been lifted from the island’s presence, but is it in the name of good? What is the true meaning behind the everlasting struggle between light and dark presented in the pilot episode over five years ago? Six seasons later, this question remains one of the most prevalent themes in Lost, one of ABC’s highest rated shows.
In its sixth and final season, anxiously waiting fans are slowly receiving the answers they have craved since the show first jumped on the airways in fall 2004. The central plot of Lost revolves around the crash of Oceanic Flight 815, which collapsed from the sky in the middle of the Pacific en route to Los Angeles from Sydney, Australia. As the story progressed, viewers were introduced to prominent characters Dr. Jack Shepard, John Locke. James ‘Sawyer’ Ford, and Kate Austen. Attempting to find a way to survive a plane wreck, the survivors began to realize that this island had more to it than met the eye. A monster made of smoke, a hatch 40 feet underground that supposedly was used to save the world, and a band of strangers deemed ‘the others’ were some of the surprises the survivors found themselves faring against.
“So far, I’m really pleased with how the season has played out. What I love about Lost is how the creators leave you hanging for answers,” said senior John Gage, who has been an avid fan for the last three years. “It’s brilliant how they don’t just give you answers, but pose new ones in the process.”
One could spend countless hours describing the intricate details of Lost, but what’s special about the show to true die hard fans, are the intertwining story lines and themes that seamlessly run the show. The battle of free will versus destiny is a question open for discussion ever since John Locke brought up the subject with Jack Shepard, the survivors elected leader.
Portage Fill-harmonic: still filling Island hearts
Neah Lynch
It seems like they’ve been around forever. The Portage Fill-harmonic has played many Strawberry Festivals and New Years Eve gigs around Vashon for the past 36 years.
Islander Monte Sewell started the swing and jazz band around 1972. He used to play the trumpet in Louis Armstrong’s band and owned a music store where the flower shop is today. Lou Engels, owner of Engels Repair & Towing, is the last remaining charter member of the band.
Portage Fill consists of 21 members, 19 instrumentalists and two vocalists, all Islanders.
“They’re a great group of people to work with,” said Director Tony Willing who has been a member of the band for 12 years and director for five.
Three of Portage’s 21 members are actually high school students. Junior Jack Johannessen, sophomore Dylan Basurto, and eighth grader Grant Lyons are in a mentorship program with the band. Willing said it’s very important to him that Portage Fill maintains a connection with Vashon High School and the youth on the Island.
Beyoncé transcends industry
Rowan Eister
“I remember being 17-years-old, up for my first MTV award with Destiny’s Child, and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life,” Beyonce Knowles reminisced after Taylor Swift had the microphone stolen from her by Kanye West at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2009. “ So I would like for Taylor to come out and have her moment.” Put in the extremely difficult position that Knowles was, most people would flounder for the right words to say. The poise and confidence that Knowles embodies can perhaps be credited to her relatively lengthy career in the spotlight.
From age 16, Knowles has been making hits like “Say My Name” from her fourth album with the group Destiny’s Child in 1999 to “Single Ladies” and “Halo” from her most recent album I am…Sasha Fierce. She has won twenty-three Grammy awards, seven with Destiny’s Child and sixteen in her solo career, for her contributions to the music world and is a multi-platinum artist.
Besides being the most successful female performer of our time, Knowles also produces a fashion line with her mother called “House of Dereon,” participates in various humanitarian efforts, has acted in eight movies, and maintains a private relationship with husband and fellow performer, Jay-Z, something nearly impossible to do in Hollywood.
Artist in the Spotlight: Alex Soriano
Corey Williamson
I
As high school freshmen, most students haven’t even thought about what they’re going to do when they grow up. If they have, they probably haven’t made a huge step toward their dream job. But not Alex Soriano. Soriano has chosen to be a graphic novelist and has already had an art show.
Soriano prefers creating graphic novels over comics. He said creating a longer story is much more interesting and challenging. The three or four frames in a comic are not nearly enough space to contain Soriano’s ideas.
Currently Soriano is working on a graphic novel called Into Honcoura. It is about a group of friends who go on an adventure to save another friend, but find much more on the way. The characters in the novel are made up of kids and frog-people. Almost all of Soriano’s comics and graphic novels feature frog-people going on some sort of adventure.
Soriano said he draws inspiration from other comic and graphic novel series. “Bones” and “Calvin and Hobbes” are examples, but Soriano said there are many more.
Artist in the Spotlight: Alex Soriano
Corey Williamson
As high school freshmen, most students haven’t even thought about what they’re going to do when they grow up. If they have, they probably haven’t made a huge step toward their dream job. But not Alex Soriano. Soriano has chosen to be a graphic novelist and has already had an art show.
Soriano prefers creating graphic novels over comics. He said creating a longer story is much more interesting and challenging. The three or four frames in a comic are not nearly enough space to contain Soriano’s ideas.
Currently Soriano is working on a graphic novel called Into Honcoura. It is about a group of friends who go on an adventure to save another friend, but find much more on the way. The characters in the novel are made up of kids and frog-people. Almost all of Soriano’s comics and graphic novels feature frog-people going on some sort of adventure.
Soriano said he draws inspiration from other comic and graphic novel series. “Bones” and “Calvin and Hobbes” are examples, but Soriano said there are many more.
BOOKSHOP HANGS STUDENT ART
Carter Roberts
Many shops and restaurants around town show student work as a way to acknowledge the talents of Vashon High School students. Starting at the beginning of February, Vashon Bookshop hung the work of three high school students, Jessica Ohmert, Claire Green and Hailey Brock. Each student is offered to share up to six pieces of work, and these students are taking advantage of the chance to share and sell some of their best work. Not every piece hung is for sale, but Vashon Bookshop is providing a great location for students to exhibit what they’ve worked on. Each month new artwork is hung.
“We’ve had student work before, and we hope to have more in the future,” said Nancy Katica, one of the Vashon Bookshop owners.
Any students interested in sharing or selling their artwork in the months to come, keep in mind the Vashon Bookshop.