4 NEWS The Harbinger - March 2019
Variety Show dazzles audience BEN WEBER News Editor
Fifteen student acts performed at the Variety Show on February 7 in the auditorium, an annual fundraising talent competition hosted by the class of 2020. The acts showcased many different talents, including songwriting, stand-up comedy and dance. Junior Meredith Lapidas won the talent contest and a $100 cash prize for her contortionism performance. “I think this year has been our most variety,” English teacher and junior class adviser Emily Philbin said. “We had a ton of great singers, but we also had people who could play instruments and a contortionist who won, so I think it was cool to see so many different kids that I’ve never seen perform before to get up there.” The event was hosted by applied arts and technology teacher Nicole Ruffo, who has hosted the event in prior years as well. “Every year I’m amazed at the talent,” Ruffo said. “And this year, I’m even more amazed. The performers are good, kind and talented kids. What more could you ask for?” At the end of the show, audience members were able to vote for the best act by scanning a QR code on the back of their program. Lapidas impressed the audience with her flexibility. “I loved Meredith’s performance,” senior Veronika Jaster said. “I think it was horrifying, but really amazing at the same time.” Lapidas developed her skills through years of experience with acrobatics and athletics. “I’ve been a gymnast since I was four, a dancer for five years and I’ve had lots of contortion training,” Lapidas said. Jaster played cello alongside junior violinist Grace Liu as they performed “Passacaglia for violin and cello” by Handel-Halvorsen. “This is my first year doing [the Variety Show,] but it went very well,” Jaster said. “I enjoyed
it a lot, especially watching other groups.” Behind the scenes, junior class adviser and world languages teacher Angela Moll and Philbin organized the Variety Show and made sure everything ran smoothly, including gathering all the acts and reserving the audi-
torium. “All props to the departments here at Algonquin because everyone has played a role in the success of these kids,” Ruffo said.
PHOTOS ANNEMARIE WOOD
Top: Junior Meredith Lapidas performed her contortionist routine for the Variety Show. The unique skill won her first place and a cash prize in the talent competition. Bottom Left: Freshman Priscilla DeCarvalho performed an original song, “Victory,” showcasing her creative talents and musical ability. Bottom Right: Algonquin dance group NRG performed a creative routine to Chris Brown’s “Forever.”
Blight shares fantasy, adventure through D&D club JAIDEN WILDE Staff Writer
Senior Ryan Blight shared his passion for Dungeons and Dragons by creating a new club where students can work together to explore worlds of adventure as Sorcerers, Druids, Monks and Warlocks. Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop, role-playing fantasy game that was first created in 1974. The Dungeon Master (DM) is the main story-teller who creates and describes the adventure the heroes go on. The heroes in D&D work together to survive and explore the world the DM has created. “It’s a creative outlet for me because it’s the perfect format for having a bunch of crazy ideas that wouldn’t make sense alone, and then taking those ideas and
creating an entire story about them,” Blight said. Blight has been playing Dungeons and Dragons for over two years, and he doesn’t quite know what had sparked his love for the game. “It’s just this thing you hear about, and I wanted to get into it,” Blight said. Last year, Blight wanted to share his passion with other people in our community so he asked English teacher Virginia Fitzgerald if she would be the adviser of the club. She was more than willing, and even started to join in on the game. “Ryan is great, and he is incredibly organized,” Fitzgerald said. “From the moment the club began, there was a plan for what was going to happen.” In the club’s first year, they already have seven members.
Although he is a senior, Blight hopes to grow his club and leave his mark on Algonquin. According to Blight, the club is in great hands. “I think I’m going to hand it off to [junior] James Murphy,” Blight said. “He’s dedicated, and he’s doing a great job as a DM. He’s passionate about the game, so it seems like he is gonna do a great job.” After Blight graduates, he has no doubt he will continue his passion for Dungeons and Dragons. “There’s a hobby store in Westborough called The Whiz that hosts D&D on Wednesdays,” Blight said. “I’m going to try and go there as much as I can.” Overall, the club is a fun place to be for beginners and for skilled players.“I’m really im-
PHOTO MARIA TAND
Senior and founder of the Dungeons and Dragons club poses with his homemade board. The club meets Thursdays in H219.
pressed with how much imagination it takes for each of the games they have going on,” Fitzgerald said. “Everyone just has such a
good time, so it’s a really positive and happy environment.”