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BHS LENDS ITS STAGE TO STUDENT-LED PLAY PRODUCTION: THE GLASS MARRIAGE

By Fiona Zhuo

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     The lights dim and the curtain opens on April 8th, 2022 as Bayside High School lends their stage to the first student-led play in the past fifteen years: The Glass Marriage - written by Bayside High School senior, Nicole Meselsohn. 

     Every Monday during period 10, the auditorium is open to students of all grades who want to help with sets/backdrops, costumes, and props or be a part of the stage crew. Students are welcomed by Nicole Meselsohn and Winnie Yap, director and co-director of the play, along with their advisors, Mr. Fodera and Mr. Weissmann. 

     Although the play is still in production, the plot can be described as drama/fiction. Revolving around a young woman named Jen, she is roped into the lives of father Ben and his chronically ill son, Nick. Resentful of having to pay for Nick’s medical bills, Ben hires Jen in hopes of making Nick fall in love with her and asking for her hand in marriage. Once wed, Nick and Jen will receive millions of dollars in family inheritance that Ben hopes to steal back through Jen. As Nick’s health deteriorates, Jen has a change of heart that motivates her to betray Ben; but will Nick be willing to help her? Can Nick find peace from the hospital?

     Bayside High School senior Nicole Meselsohn (writer, director, and producer) states, “I actually began the play in sophomore year but unfortunately I faced a rejection that caused us to not continue ahead; but when it became my senior year, I really wanted to do something that would involve my fellow schoolmates after a year and a half of isolation. I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to try again with my play and was fortunate enough to have found success amongst amazing people who continue to help and encourage me throughout my endeavor.”

     Video Journalism teacher and play advisor Mr. Fodera states, “I was handed Nicole’s play two years ago and was genuinely impressed that a young person put it together simply because there was a story that needed to be told. Helping out as an advisor was a no-brainer, not just because of the writing, but I was involved in theater productions throughout high school and college and want to support those who are looking for the same experience.” 

     Bayside High School junior and cast member Eugenia Aquino comments, “Well, at first I joined the play because I wanted something new to do, especially after not doing anything for such a long time. It is really exciting and a great experience that I did not expect to be a part of.” 

     Nonetheless, Nicole and her crew have been presented with challenges again and again, such as approval of the script and topics within the plot, holding auditions to find people who fit the roles, adhering to COVID safety guidelines, and budgeting for supplies including props, backdrops, and costumes. 

But what makes them continue going? What is the end goal for the play? 

     English teacher and advisor Mr. Weissmann says, “I have known Nicole for a long time. She came to me with this project when she was in the 10th grade. I strongly believe in fostering students and all the talents, and this was a perfect opportunity to do so. I enjoy seeing students take charge of their education, especially when it comes from the heart. Students who work on this will gain the satisfaction of creating something that is uniquely and specifically their own. The creative process is its own reward. This project gives students an opportunity to work on various levels, from stage design to performance.”

     "I am very grateful for our enthusiastic advisors and Winnie (my friend and co-director). They have given me nothing but time, dedication, and support throughout the entire process,” Meselsohn expresses. 

     The play production offers an escape for students to express themselves and their creativity. It is an opportunity that students should not miss out on!

THE LITTLE PRINCE

BOOK REVIEW

By Paayal Cheema

Editor’s Note: Views expressed in this article are

solely from the author's opinions and beliefs.

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     The Little Prince is a novella written in 1943 by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who was a French writer, poet, aristocrat, journalist, and military aviator. The story begins when the narrator crashes into the Sahara Desert. He finds himself distraught and stressed when he comes across a small being — the little prince. Confused of what a child could possibly be doing in the middle of this torturous nowhere, the little prince adds to his bewilderment and requests that the narrator draw him a sheep. Though he is overwhelmed, he obliges, for he believes, “When a mystery is too overpowering, one dare not disobey.” 

     After much bantering and drawing, the little prince is finally satisfied by one picture drawn by the narrator, beginning the start of their companionship. The narrator learns that the little prince is not from Earth, but from a very small planet named Asteroid 325. On his planet, the little prince tends to many of its needs such as ensuring that the baobab trees could never take over and spread throughout his planet and cleaning out the three volcanoes that come up to his knee (“for one is extinct, but one could never know”). 

     Here also lies the little prince’s cherished Rose, who is immodest, hubristic, and very easily embarrassed. Regardless of her flaws, the little prince loves, protects, and provides her with everything she asks for. But due to conflict between the two, the little prince decides to depart from his planet and his Rose. And so begins his journey to other planets, where he comes across a king, a conceited man, a drunkard, a businessman, geographer, and a lamplighter, a snake, field of roses, a fox, and finally, our narrator. 

     In his journeys, the little prince comes across a field of roses, he is distraught. His Rose told him she was one of a kind, yet here lays a thousand roses that all resemble her beauty. But it is then that a fox gives him the truth. He tells him, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. It is the time you have wasted for your Rose that makes your Rose so important.” With this, the little prince realizes reality and is regretful of his obliviousness and frustration. He says, “But I was too young to know how to love her.” 

     It is the connections, the work, and the love that we put into certain things or people that distinguish them from millions of others. As if there were a million others that resembled his Rose, it is she that he has watered, she that he put under a glass globe, and she that he has sheltered. 

     The Little Prince makes us aware of little truths that we have simply ignored. How a book can hold such an innocent and childish tone with dark meaning is beyond me. After reading this book, I’ve come to understand things better - things that we usually do not stop to think about, which this book does. 

     One specific theme I favored was childhood versus adulthood. The Little Prince compares both phases of a life, portraying how the children have a beautiful aspect of life - one that includes open mindedness and is not involved with the matters of consequence. Children, in the book, are strongly partitioned from the grown-ups due to their innocence and wonder, for adults have lost any childish curiosity and instead involve themselves with materialistic and utilitarian concerns. The little prince cannot help but ponder, “People where you live, grow five thousand roses in one garden, yet they don’t find what they are looking for, yet what they are looking for could be found in a single rose.” 

     Would returning to a childish perspective and simplicity of the world help us live a better life? The Little Prince makes me feel as if there is only one way to find out.

     The Little Prince is a book about childhood, enlightenment, truth, curiosity, humanness and much more. Even in this unusual and magical book full of confusing anecdotes, the message is loud and clear whether it be for a young child's bedtime story or for a senior citizen.

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SPIDERMAN: NO-WAY HOME

MOVIE REVIEW

By Anson Quan

Editor’s Note: Views expressed in this article are

solely from the author's opinions and beliefs.

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     Released in 2022, Spider-Man: No Way Home follows the events after Spider-Man: Far From Home. The movie starts out with Quentin Beck (a.k.a. Mysterio) telling the world Spider-Man’s true identity - Peter Parker. Since Peter’s secret has been told, he runs away with his girlfriend, MJ, in order to find safety. The next day, Peter talks with Doctor Strange about a way to fix his problem. He learns that Doctor Strange can create a spell so everyone will forget who he is. Upon casting the spell, Peter changes it so his family and friends would still be able to remember him, causing the spell to become unstable and Strange needing a way to contain its effects.

     Due to this, Peter decides to find the president of MIT who is currently on her way to the airport. In this scene, we see our first familiar face of the movie, Doctor Octavius. They start fighting until he pins Peter into a pillar. This causes Peter to show his face, making Doc Ock realize that he is the wrong Spider-Man. Before they can begin arguing, a pumpkin bomb blows up in the distance, leading the way to the Green Goblin.

     Unfortunately, Peter does not realize that since he changed Doctor Strange’s spell too many times, it caused a break in the multiverse, allowing different Spider-Man villains to enter Peter’s universe. When Strange realizes what happened, he gives Peter a weapon to contain those villains to prevent any further destruction. 

     Spider-Man faces Sandman and Electro before they get contained by the weapon. Back at Doctor Strange’s lab with all the villains, Peter tries to find a way to get them back to their universes and takes them to his apartment to find a cure. While that is happening, the Lizard decides to attack Peter, which causes the other villains to revolt. Norman Osborn turns back into the Green Goblin and decides to fight Peter, leading to a devastating death.

     Peter wants to find a way to cure all the villains and take them back to their own universes, but he needs help. The other Spidermen come back and team up with Peter after his friends find them through a portal. Although they are able to safely cure all the villains, Peter tries to kill Green Goblin but the other Spidermen stop him from doing so.   

     Overall, Spider-Man: No Way Home is an action-packed and heartwarming movie to watch. Bringing back Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield was one of the best things that happened during the movie because it brought back old villains, which felt refreshing and nostalgic. 

     However, the movie was a little predictable in terms of who was coming back. Although the trailer edited out Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, it felt obvious since it would not make sense for the other Spidermen to not come back if their villains were in the movie. 

     Furthermore, Aunt May’s death was a powerful act because it was able to create a bond between the other Spidermen, since Uncle Ben was killed in their universes. When Aunt May died, Peter told them a quote that she said. “With great power comes great responsibility.” It felt really heartwarming to hear that again.

DEXTER: NEW BLOOD 

TV SHOW REVIEW

By Abrielis Mejia

Editor’s Note: Views expressed in this article are

solely from the author's opinions and beliefs.

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     Available on Showtime, Amazon, and Hulu, Dexter: New Blood is a crime, mystery, and drama series that centers around the main character named Jim Lindsay, an alias for psychopathic killer, Dexter Morgan.

     Jim Lindsey lived a peaceful life in the small town of Iron Lake for the last decade as a well known and favored figure in his town. His tranquil life ends when he does not know if he can control his murderous urges, causing an unknown serial killer to become prominent in town. This killer has been targeting women and leaving their bodies dismembered and without blood. Further unpredictability is added to Jim’s life as his estranged son - who he abandoned - is coming to live with him. Attempting to balance his psychopathic urges and being a good father proves to be difficult for him. Alongside having a cop girlfriend, Jim’s life is no longer as quiet as it was for the last decade.

     Dexter: New Blood is a very easy transition from its predecessor Dexter. Even if you have not seen the previous series, little explanation is needed. Michael C. Hall’s performance as Dexter is flawless, making him truly seem as if he is an actual serial killer. The way the show explains why and how Jim is doing something is impressive since it draws you in like a true crime podcast would do with its murders.        Furthermore, all of its side characters' stories are compelling. Bayside High School senior Guinevere Emmerich says, “My favorite character was not even Jim. I really liked Julia since I thought her story was super cool, especially with her crime solving arcs.”

     However, many fans were angered by the ending. There was something unsatisfying, and there are no current plans to make a second season. According to an article in Forbes titled “Why Are Fans Wrong About Dexter: New Blood’s Divisive Ending” by Erik Kain, “Some fans felt like the whole thing was unnecessarily rushed.” I tend to agree with this complaint. It is very possible that one or two more episodes would have helped bring this story to a more fitting conclusion.”

     Dexter: New Blood is a flawless sequel that brings in not only an amazing main plot, but side characters with genuinely intriguing lives that give you variety throughout the show.

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