A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION Woodland Hills, California Volume 137 - Issue 7
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
One copy free, each additional copy $1.00
Review: "Clue" is funny whodunit
Play based on 1985 film premiered on campus Halloween weekend BY SAMMY JOHNSON Opinions Editor
D
uring Halloween what could be more fitting than murder and malice at Pierce College? But don’t worry. This isn’t the kind of morbid murder that one will expect this time of year. Instead, “Clue,” directed by Shaheen Vaaz, is an intentionally over-the-top comedic ballet that is on the edge-of-your-seat humorous. “Clue” ran from Oct. 28-30 at the Performing Arts Mainstage. Adapted from the movie in 1985, the play features a cast of colorful characters and boasts some impressive choreography between the actors and backstage sound and effects design. The first thing of note about the play had little to do with the play itself, but was more related to the production. The stage was intricately decorated beyond expectation as opposed to other shows. At the beginning of the play, it was peppered with random objects, such as a table with wine glasses and silverware. Couches with cushions, cabinets and cupboards, more tables, there were many places to hide murder weapons, as well. This is a murder mystery, after all. The play itself starts with two characters implying that the “players,” such as Colonel Mustard
Photo by Benjamin Hanson
Itzhak Matos, who portrays Wadsworth, gestures during the dress rehearsal at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2022.
(Jonathan Bowen) and Mrs. White (Laura Lyles), are participants in a game. Mustard’s entrance into the lounge was received with cheers and chuckles from the audience, as were the entrances of the other characters. Their names were pseudonyms,
alternate egos, but not real. After a bell went off and humorously startled some of the game’s participants, everyone gathers around a dinner table, giving the actors a chance to show off their acting, which trades some believability for a healthy dose of
stylism. The dinner scene sets the stage for the play’s signature acting style, which is reliant on choreography. The guests are then ushered from the dinner table to a study, where the butler Wadsworth (Itzhak Matos) tells them that they are present
because they have been blackmailed and were to have secrets extracted from them. It should be noted that every guest was revealed to live in Washington, D.C., and many of them come from political backgrounds. It is at this study that the host Mr. Boddy (Jacob Gonzalez) dishes
accusations and the guests defend themselves. The Red Scare serves as a setting for the play; the suspects themselves are blackmailed into telling the truth with the fear of being framed as communists. One specific character even says at one point, “I’m not a communist! I’m a Republican!” The lights went out, and when they turned back on, the play took its signature murder mystery form as multiple people on set were revealed to be dead. This clearly wasn’t going to be a game anymore for them. It is during this segment that the acting, while well executed, becomes a little overdone, although this is clearly intentional. But the acting is presented in a talented, energetic fashion. It is, at times, done in sync with the music, sound effects and other actors. It takes a lot of talent to be as animated as the performers are. The suspense of the play is built up as the guests and some visitors have to find the killer against the clock, before the cops show up to collect damaging evidence. The play is a ballet of technical prowess, compelling set design, and well-choreographed acting that all comes together in a fitting adaptation that does the movie justice.
sjohnson.roundupnews@gmail.com
Showing their spookiness and creativity
Costume contest starts weeklong activities for students BY MADELEINE CHRISTIAN Reporter
S
pirit week is off to a spooky festive start and Pierce College students are joining the action in costume. The Associated Student Organization held a Halloween costume party on campus Monday. The costume contest marks the first day of spirit week at Pierce and ends with the Saturday home football game. The event kicked off Spirit Week but was also a way for ASO to get some on-campus exposure. ASO Freshman Senator Kaden Lewis hopes people have fun and get to know ASO and what they offer. “We have this big room just for you guys to hang out ,and even when there are no events you can always come in (the ASO room) and chill out,” Lewis said. “Not a lot of people know what ASO is, and I want to make sure that before I leave we’re more connected to students.”
Photo by Jamie Ortiz
Shabnam Malakoot Tabary, dressed as Marie Antoinette, was the first place winner at the costume contest on Oct. 31, 2022, in the Student Engagement Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.
Men's basketball starts Thursday [see SPORTS on pg. 6]
Students gathered in the ASO room where they could grab candy and Halloween treats after following the ASO Instagram and TikTok. There were about 30 students in attendance, some costumed and some not, but all were in the Halloween spirit. About 10 students participated in the contest portion of the event and were voted on by applause from peers. When Pierce psychology major Orion Kindred-Shafron heard about the event through an ASO Instagram post, they jumped at the chance to share their handmade costume. “I'm Glados from the video game portal,” Kindred-Shafron said. “I'm here because I really wanted to show off my costume, I'm very proud of it. I bought all these clothes and threw them together and used some EVA foam, paint, and hot glue.” The students voted the ten participants down to three finalists. The final costumes were Marie Antoinette, GLaDOS from Portal, and
Deku from My Hero Academia. A roar of applause and cheers erupted for sophomore Shabnam Malakoot Tabary as Marie Antionette and she came in first place followed by sophomore Orion KindredShafron as GLaDOS in second and freshman Albert Colmenares-Pena as Deku in third. First place prize was a $50 amazon gift card and the runner ups each received $25 gift cards. Pierce College faculty and staff held a similar event just down the mall with almost every faculty member in costume. Shannon Krajewski shared how important she thinks it is that staff are involved just as much as students. “It's an employee social part of our caring campus initiative,” Krajewski said. “This is helping our employees become more connected to the college so that they can help our students become more connected to our college.” mchristian.roundupnews@gmail.com
Opinions...................................2 News/LA Life...........................3 Features.....................................4 Photo Essay...............................5 Sports.........................................6