FEATURES FEBRUARY 6, 2009 • VOL. 45, NO. 5
Spotlight on comedy by Xander Tapling The winter season is already in full swing, and with the winter season comes this year’s winter play. This year’s performance is a Greek comedy named “Lysistrata,” written by the Greek playwright, Aristophanes. When asked, the director, Mrs. Lauri McCleneghan, stated that “Lysistrata” was a play she’d always wanted to direct, but was very unlikely to get permission due to the fact that real Greek comedy “was really bawdy.” Due to this, Mrs. McCleneghan spent a great deal of her time and energy before the play even began in order to censor the most explicit parts in order for the play to be approved by the school. The main reason the school was so tentative about allowing Aristophanes’ work to be performed was because it deals so exclusively with sexual tension and with the act of sex itself as a bargaining chip which women use to gain leverage over men. However, Mrs. McCleneghan explained that the real issue is not sex. Rather, “Lysistrata” is intended to convey the message that “when people put aside their differences they can succeed.” In this case, the goal of the protagonist, Lysistrata, and her allies is to stop a long and costly war that has raged across Greece and her colonies for ages. Despite the relatively serious message, McCleneghan laughed, saying that, “sexual tension has always been funny.” While Mrs. McCleneghan and her cast work
hard off in the PA wing, the stage crew, led by technical director Mr. Patrick Sanchez and stage manager senior Katie Rose Brosnan, work on assembling a stage that resembles traditional Greek amphitheaters. To stick as close to the real thing as possible, Mr. Sanchez drew up the stage plans using artist renditions of Greekstyle theatres. When asked about challenges that Greek stages present, Brosnan remarked that she was mostly “apprehensive about the columns.” Unlike most productions where the columns would simply be painted into the background, the stage crew is going the extra mile to create actual Doric columns carved out of cardboard, standing tall on the stage. One continuing motif from last year is the inclusion of on-stage musicians and an all-original sound track, written by Maine South band director, Mr. Joel Matter. From the young to the old, no matter what your political affiliation may be, “Lysistrata” is a play for everyone and anyone who believes in the potential of humanity. Whether you appreciate slapstick comedy or intelligent, refined sucker punches at people’s dignity, there’s something in the play for you. The show runs from November 19-21. The cast includes Rachel Lapp as Lysistrata, Jonathon Jamison as the Commissioner of Public Safety, Nora Pace as Myrrhine, Jonathon Black as Kinesias, Kristin McGuire as the Koryphaios of the Women, and Xander Tapling as the Koryphaios of the Men.
celebration 2009 phone-a-thon Celebration 2009 needs volunteers to help with calling Maine South families to raise money. Come for a couple hours or more! Bring a friend or two. You don’t need to be a Senior to make calls. We also need parent volunteers. Thursday, March 12th 5:00-9:00 p.m. Coldwell Banker Estate Office 991 W. Touhy
Contact terreberg12@comcast.net to sign up!
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by Lesia Witkowsky Take a deep breath and exhale. Finals are over and it’s the start of a new semester. It’s time to discover a new stop along the blue line: Division. Many people ride right past it to get downtown but not many ever take the time to discover what it has to offer. Upon coming out of the “L” station, one is greeted by numerous park benches and a fancy water fountain. Once a Polish neighborhood, Division now houses a variety of people. Even though the street is mostly populated with clubs and bars, there are also many interesting shops and cuisine here that are just as enjoyable. When walking out of the Blue Line station, one is instantly surrounded by wig shops and furniture stores. They are everywhere. If you need a wig or discount couch, this is definitely the right place. At first, the stop seems to lack good restaurants; even a local, upon being asked where the best places to eat are, stated, “I just go to McDonald’s or Wendy’s.” However, Division/Milwaukee has some unique places at which to dine. If one is looking for somewhere fast, though, Veggie Bite (1300 N Milwaukee Ave: 773-7722483) will satisfy those demands. This Veggie Bite location is the second ever in the city of Chicago. The first one is located on the south side; Division, being much closer, makes it a more convenient location for a nice Veggie Chicken surprise. However, if one desires a fancy night out, Aki Sushi (2105 W. Division St : 773-2278080) is the perfect choice. The dimmed lights and pop beats create a pleasant atmosphere, while the choice of food is unbeatable. Whether one is in the mood for a deep-fried Hawaiian maki, the Snow Dragon, or just tuna, one is sure to find it here. The customer looking for an old favorite as well as the one looking for a novelty will definitely be satisfied. However, if one is searching for a simple sit down meal, a good place to go is PotPan (1362 N Milwaukee Ave: 773-862-6990). They serve all the best Thai food, from egg rolls to seafood noodles. For those who prefer spicy foods, the Spicy Noodle dish (or Khee Mao) makes another delicious meal. The next time boredom is causing a problem, check out Division/Milwaukee.