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Manooghi says Hi to fans

Manooghi Hi was not a well-known band before mid-winter break, but our Island had the rare chance to hear them at the Red Bicycle on February 19, by this break out band. Usually bands that perform at the local restaurant range from Island bands to obscure artists to Seattle based artists, but no one like Manooghi Hi. The up and coming band, who are currently preparing for their first tour in India, lead singer Mehnz’s home country.
Following their Vashon concert, Manooghi Hi stopped in Portland, Oregon, to play a show at Mount Tabor theatre and then a few weeks later they have a concert at the Triple Door in Seattle scheduled on March 30.
The Red Bicycle was a scene that night. Many people came to see the band play a show. It seemed strange that such a band would play here, so the feeling in the air was of excitement and wonder. Manooghi Hi started off with some relaxing music that many people know from their albums. But as the night went on, a sort of trance fell over the audience. Not only are they good, but they knew how to play a live show. People were enjoying themselves and in a comfortable environment being able to sit back and listen to Manooghi Hi seemed almost surreal.
A few anonymous spectators at the show only had good things to say.
“I had never listened to them before, but after this show I’m definitely checking them out,” said one fan.
Another said, “I’ve been a pretty regular listener of [Manooghi Hi]. I’m more than happy that they decided to play a show here again.”
It was a great feeling listening to that music together, and hearing the genuine Seattle influence in the sound. Feeling the mix of the eastern Indian music and Seattle based sound was inspiring and a new type of music was heard at the Red Bicycle.

The red carpet is rolled out for this year’s Oscars

The squeals of young girls become loud and obnoxious as Taylor Lautner came on the screen. From a distracted Meryl Streep, who would obviously rather be socializing then being interviewed, to a relaxed Morgan Freeman, chewing gum while talking about his most recent role as Nelson Mandela, the Hollywood Oscars red carpet twinkles with stars. But look no further then our own Island red carpet for special guests Johnny Depp, Cleopatra, Cher, and two daring and bold Avatar women.
The annual Oscar night at the Vashon Theatre was a success as always, celebrating 82 years of the Oscars. Oscarettes were given to Islanders for the best outfits in multiple categories and trays of delicious appetizers from Island restaurants circulated the room. The proceeds from the evening went to a scholarship fund for high school seniors interested in pursuing film studies.
Emcee Karen deFour desChamps said that there weren’t as many attendees as last year, but there were more than in the past. Among the costume contenders was a couple dressed as the characters from Oscar nominated movie Up in the Air and the family from Crazy Heart.

Alice In Wonderland sure to leave audiences awe struck

This is certainly not the classic, animated Alice in Wonderland. The movie begins in a typical London home sometime in the late 19th to early 20th century where we meet a young Alice who has awoken from a dream of Wonderland. The film cuts to a scene where Alice is 20-years-old, faced with a marriage proposal she wishes no part of. Here, the famous White Rabbit lures her down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland.
We witness a new spin on the classic scene with a bottle labeled “drink me” and a cake labeled “eat me” where Alice shrinks and grows in order to fit through a small door. The impressive special effects in the film allow Alice to shrink while her clothes stay the same size, turning into a circus tent over her, or grow while her ball gown turns into a mini dress. Every so often there are whispers of whether or not she’s the “real Alice”, and “You would think she would remember from the first time”. Soon, it’s clear that this film is not a re-make of Alice in Wonderland, but a continuation of the beloved tale.
Based on Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, it tells the story of the defeat of the White Queen by her sister, the Red Queen, and the necessary killing, by Alice, of the Jabberwocky for the White Queen to prevail again. Yet the story becomes more involved mixing the plots of Alice in Wonderland with Through the Looking Glass. For example, in Carroll’s second book there is no Mad Hatter or Caterpillar and Alice finds herself in Wonderland by falling through a looking glass, not down a rabbit hole.

A Chorus Line promises to be ‘One, Singular Sensation’

It’s time again for another long awaited production from the VHS drama kids. This year drama teacher Stephen Floyd and Principal Susan Hanson picked A Chorus Line. The plays chosen each year have a set of criteria based on quality, popularity, and availability. There are 17 main parts, and the actual chorus only appears in the beginning and the end.
A Chorus Line won nine Tony Awards, and is considered a classic on Broadway.
“A Chorus Line deals with important issues in a teenager’s life, which the audience can relate to,” said Floyd.
The audition process for the Musical Theatre students this year was especially demanding because in this show, there were only so many main roles. In a regular show, there are members of the chorus who would appear in many numbers. This year, the chorus will only be seen in the beginning and the end of the performance. Unfortunately, the format of A Chorus Line did not allow much room for chorus members.
The 17 characters on the line, go through an audition process like no other. They are asked to show not only their talent, but their personality as well. Characters on the line relive their past through song and dance, covering topics from abuse at home to the perils of puberty.
In previous productions, there were issues of controversy centered around specific lines or songs in the show. This year one character’s song was cut because it was thought to be too inappropriate and repetitive of previous shows. There have been no direct complaints about the songs, but rumors certainly have circulated.

LOST fans discover final season

The stone is cast from the depths of the cave into the deep, endless ocean. The scale upon which the stone sits suddenly drops from being perfectly balanced, to favoring the side of the darkness. A weight has been lifted from the island’s presence, but is it in the name of good? What is the true meaning behind the everlasting struggle between light and dark presented in the pilot episode over five years ago? Six seasons later, this question remains one of the most prevalent themes in Lost, one of ABC’s highest rated shows.
In its sixth and final season, anxiously waiting fans are slowly receiving the answers they have craved since the show first jumped on the airways in fall 2004. The central plot of Lost revolves around the crash of Oceanic Flight 815, which collapsed from the sky in the middle of the Pacific en route to Los Angeles from Sydney, Australia. As the story progressed, viewers were introduced to prominent characters Dr. Jack Shepard, John Locke. James ‘Sawyer’ Ford, and Kate Austen. Attempting to find a way to survive a plane wreck, the survivors began to realize that this island had more to it than met the eye. A monster made of smoke, a hatch 40 feet underground that supposedly was used to save the world, and a band of strangers deemed ‘the others’ were some of the surprises the survivors found themselves faring against.
“So far, I’m really pleased with how the season has played out. What I love about Lost is how the creators leave you hanging for answers,” said senior John Gage, who has been an avid fan for the last three years. “It’s brilliant how they don’t just give you answers, but pose new ones in the process.”
One could spend countless hours describing the intricate details of Lost, but what’s special about the show to true die hard fans, are the intertwining story lines and themes that seamlessly run the show. The battle of free will versus destiny is a question open for discussion ever since John Locke brought up the subject with Jack Shepard, the survivors elected leader.

Baseball has high hopes for the 2010 season

With spring just around the corner, a whole new set of sports is starting up. Among these is baseball.
The Pirates are coming off a 4-7 in league, and 5-7 overall record in 2009. One of the returning seniors is Matt Amick.
“We have all the talent to go far this year, but we need to step up our attitude and leadership to really harness our ability,” said Amick.
The first day of the season is on March 1 when tryouts will be held. The first game will be on March 13, at home, against Port Townsend.
Returning as head coach this year is Steve Hall. Hall has been coaching the team since 2004, and has a lot of experience from coaching in Kitsap County for many years. The JV coach will be Joe Wald. Wald has coached baseball for 16 years, including in men’s National Adult Baseball Association leagues.
It will be exciting to see how far the Pirates will go this year. It looks like they have the talent and coaching to succeed.

Pirates teach Pride, Power and Passion to youth

“Football to me is a sport that really brings a team together because no one person can ever carry the team. Everyone needs to be doing their job for you to win and the bonds that are formed between teammates are inseparable,” said junior Petey Byrne, wide receiver, defensive back and mentor.
Youth Pirate football players can look forward to not only singing the fight song with the high school Pirates at the end of games, but also joining team dinners, bonding with the older kids, and eventually, taking the lead as mentors for future of VHS football- as well as the community.
Under wing of youth football coach Paul Walroff, “Big Wally,” the mentor program P3: Pride, Power, Passion, came to being. Though similar in idea to the Pirate Pals program, P3 focuses on creating a strong, consistent relationship between the younger and older football players. The mentor program started in 2008 with the goal of building trust and respect between the high school and youth players. During the season, the teams get together for pre-game dinners. In the off season, the high schoolers are encouraged to bond with the young players by going to a sports event, grabbing a burger at Zoomies.
“I look forward to be a role model and giving the kid someone to look up to,” said Byrne.
The youth football players meet the high schoolers on the practice fields for games that focus on team building like getting the most amount of people in a small parceled area on the field.

Soccer starts strong, but lacrosse, track off to a rough start

Inexperience and lack of coaches plague track and lacrosse teams.

As the winter months dwindle and the sun returns to the Northwest, it can only mean one thing: spring is coming. And spring brings a whole new selection of spring sports like lacrosse, soccer, and track.
Lacrosse was the first team to begin practices this season with captains’ practices starting at the beginning of February. Captains’ practices are simply practices arranged by the captains of the lacrosse team instead of the coach.
“Captains’ practices benefit our team greatly. It gives everyone a chance to knock off the rust from the off-season and get back into the swing of things. These practices also help build a bond within our team,” said senior and team captain Austin Franks.
Despite starting the season early, Franks is concerned about the team’s experience level.
“We had a great turnout for captains’ practices this year, but we still have a ways to go. This year’s team is not as experienced as teams in the past. So the stress this year will be put on hard work and playing as a team, not individuals. If we succeed in both of those categories, then we will succeed on the field,” said Franks.

Girls tennis welcomes a new season

With the sunshine and the final day of school close in sight, what better to do than breakout the old tennis racket from that dusty corner of the garage and hit the court?
Every spring, a gaggle of giddy VHS girls try out for tennis. Besides being outside in the spring sunshine everyday after school and getting a good workout, girls’ tennis also provides a sense of camaraderie for all the players.
Junior Natalie Kerns, who could not participate in tennis last season due to a bout of mononucleosis, said, “I’m really excited to play this year. I really need to work on my tennis grunt and my backhand.”
Along with girls who have played tennis every year through out high school are many first-timers.
“I’ve heard it’s a lot of fun, and it’s my senior year, so I might as well try it out,” said senior Paige Vogel.
Although tennis is indeed a good time, this year’s tennis players have a legacy to uphold. Last year, then VHS senior Zelda Porter traveled to the tennis state championship in Yakima. Longtime varsity tennis coach, Eva Lou Grimsley will be back coaching again this spring along with Laura Johnson and hopes are high for the incoming team.