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PALOS VERDES HIGH SCHOOL - ISSUE 6, VOLUME 27 - APRIL 14, 2023
Spring Musical “Something Rotten!” Will Crack You Up
(Photos by Chloe Choi) By Amber Chen editor-in-chief Bright lights, stage fights and a dazzling chorus — what’s not to love? On April 14, the satirical musical “Something Rotten!” is opening at PVHS. Shows run until April 23. Set in 1595, the 2015 Broadway hit is a parody to the standard musical, deconstructing the techniques of famous playwrights like Shakespeare. Numerous references to literature and other musicals are dispersed throughout the show. “This show is really special because there’s a lot of aspects of classical theater, but it’s all updated and modernized in a really funny way,” senior cast member Neela David said.
With its variance in styles, the show reaches a broad audience. “There’s a little adult humor, which I think will be enjoyed by the high school crowd,” David said. “There’s also a lot of aspects of classical theater, like tap-dancing, and classical singing, which is usually enjoyed by an older crowd since it’s what they know. It reminds them of what theater was like in their youth.” The show has a simple plot, following two brothers who struggle to compete against Shakespeare as playwrights during the Renaissance. Nigel Bottom looks up to Shakespeare, while his older brother, Nick, absolutely despises him. Though it contains “lots of spectacle and lots of comedy,” the musical is really “a story about family at its heart,”
according to junior and lead actor Gavin Kresser. “It’s got a little something for everybody,” Kresser said. “It’s got humor, it’s got songs, it’s got tapdancing. And it really is a very heartwarming story at the end.” After studying line after line, the actors have learned important lessons from the musical’s storyline. “A big theme throughout the show was that people had been deceiving each other,” junior actor Jake Weyrick said. “There were a lot of restrictions over what the characters could and couldn’t do. I feel that the main message of the show is just pure honesty — doing your absolute best, doing what you love.” And on the stage, Weyrick is doing exactly what he loves. When he initially found out he
was cast as Nick Bottom, one of the lead characters, Weyrick “jumped with joy.” “Not only is it a main role, but I just feel like he fits my character in the best way,” Weyrick said. “I love Nigel’s honesty as that character — his innocence, his passion for things.” As juniors cast into the leading roles, both Weyrick and Kresser cite the senior actors as their role models. “Work ethic and positivity are two very important things,” Kresser said. “It’s not like anybody ever sat me down and taught me those things, but just being around people who exude that confident, positive, go-getter energy makes me want to embody that more, and it makes everything run so much more smoothly.” Having acted in the PVHS
drama department for four years, David speaks of her admiration of the younger actors. “There’s so much talent among the underclassmen,” David said. “Watching them do so well in their parts makes me feel better, because I know it’ll be such a good show.” The entire cast, crew and pit are thrilled to finally see their hard work come into fruition. Over the past three months, production members have made unforgettable memories together. “The best part is always the people,” Kresser said. “You get so close just hanging out every single day, working on something you love and making art with all your friends. “The bonds you make, that’s really what you’ll remember. It’s really the friends you make along the way.”
Walther Won’t Falter A glimpse into the life of PVHS icon Grant Walther By Lucia Ruiz editor-in-chief “You’re the man, Grant!” campus security guard Coach exclaimed, zooming past our interview in the golf cart. Senior Grant Walther is The Man, two-time Scholar Quiz champion, Model United Nations Secretary General, Mock Trial attorney, Boys State , and the list goes on. Walther, also known as G-Money, has also been described as “brilliant,” “funny,” and “outgoing,” according to Associate Principal Dane Hill. “He’s eager to learn,” Hill said. “He’s constantly on a quest for knowledge.” Of course, Walther could not have won the 2022 and 2023 Scholar Quizzes without this hunger for knowledge and 10 hour “Jeopardy!” binge the night before. Walther’s academic excellence is obvious, but he also has a secret talent. “I’ve heard Grant is quite the dancer,” Hill said. What an understatement. Walther says that his favorite style of dance is “80’s dad’s
moves that your dad breaks out at every wedding.” “I can get down on the ground, I can spin around a little bit,” Walther said. “It’s harder getting up, but I can get down there.” When asked what animal would best describe him, Walther didn’t have an answer. Instead, self-proclaimed best friend and senior Marielle Sandler spoke up. “Orangutan,” Sandler said, “because it’s fun-loving, wise, and kind of underrated.” Another friend of Walther, senior Kieran Kearns, feels similarly. “He’s very intelligent, but he’s also always the most fun to have in the room,” Kearns said. “He’s always down for a good singalong [or] dance. Party Grant is my favorite.” “Party Grant” is a term of endearment coined by his peers to describe the side of Walther that comes out after he studies on the weekends. “Party Grant knows all the words to all the popular songs,” Kearns said. “He can boogie. He can boogie a lot. He’s very
famous for his Prom and Formal exploits on the dance floor. He doesn’t come out all the time, but everyone loves Party Grant.” However, Walther hasn’t always been the friendly and animated person everyone knows and loves. “I had him as a freshman and he was squeakyvoiced, a little more introverted at the time,” Hill said. “Then I [taught] him again as a junior and he was a totally different person. He came out of his shell and became a lot more confident and outgoing.” Now a senior, Walther is preparing to spend his next four years studying government at the University of Texas at Austin. “He’s got a lot going for him,” Hill said. “I’ve seen him grow a lot these past few years and I’m excited to see what he accomplishes.”
(Photo courtesy of Marielle Sandler)
Q: Any tips for future Scholar Quizzers? A: Know your strengths. I was horrible at math, so I surrounded myself with math geniuses. Q: How would you survive a zombie apocalypse? A: First, I would try to find my family. If I couldn’t find them, I’d find a big grocery store and just lock myself inside. Q: What if the zombies could make it inside?
A: Well, then I’m dead. I’d just accept my fate. Q: Spotify or Apple Music? A: Apple Music. I don’t understand the argument. My family has a sharing plan so I just use that. My parents are already paying for it so I might as well use it. Q: What animal would you choose to be?
A: Bald eagle. No question. So I could fly. Plus, America.
Q: How many unopened emails do you have right now? A: Yikes. 14,270 unopened emails. Q: What would you do with 1 million dollars? A: I’d invest it immediately. Q: If you were a brand, what would your motto be?
A: I feel like I am my own brand at this point. But it’s got to be “The King of Money”