Rigged based on the novel Of Mice And Men

He sat there, doing nothing, saying nothing

The other not so idle, his glance at once calculating and pugnacious.

His stride drawing him nearer as he takes his place         

And he begins slugging him in the face

Still, no response

Not even a cry out of pain

As he was pushed into the ground and his hand was battered

His eyes now looking in wonder at his crushed hand.

His body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine

As the decrepit man was once again thrown to the ground

As easily as a feather

The other now pinning him to the ground with his beefy hands.

You would have imagined he struggled violently under his hands,

But he did not

Instead, as peaceful as an angel, he laid there without a word

Growing impatient, the other reached into his pocket

Pulling out a shiny black gun.

Aiming it at the crippled man, he pulled the trigger.

The man walked away, with a smug smile

Stretched across his face

Power doesn’t always translate to strength.

Reflection

I.

Sitting on the side of the road,

its frame cracking along the edge,

with splotches of oil

covering its shiny surface.

II.

In the carnival tent,

they surround you

following you, every step.

III.

The light, reflecting off,

creates a fire in the parched grass.

IV.

It swallows you whole

and spits you back out

disgusted.

V.

The car sped by you

cracking the mirror,

sending a piece of glass

onto your lap.

VI.

Your glasses, brand new,

reflect the lamplight

glowing in the night.

VII.

You look into the mirror again,

then put it away in its drawer

until it is needed. 

Rainbow Magic Land, Italy

The summer sun would blaze down every day, perfect for a dip in the pool. The various shops, all with their own unique personality, lined the cobblestone streets. After walking for hours until our feet were numb, and collapsed at our apartments. The street markets bustled with people trying to get the latest items. Italy is a perfect mix of popular urban culture with malls lining the streets as well as quaint little towns that make you feel as though you are home. The experience of this country was one of the best in my life. Learning more about my culture and heritage was an amazing experience, but it wasn’t all fun and games for me. My sister and I kept seeing advertisements for an amusement park called Rainbow Magic Land. I had been to Disney World and loved it. So judging by the name, I thought this would be a fun time that I could have with my sister and a few of her college friends who were obsessed with amusement parks. I hadn’t the slightest idea of what I was getting into.

            So, of course, we took a train to get there for it was on some remote part of Italy that wasn’t usually traveled to. This made me a bit suspicious because of how far away it was from regular civilization. I felt like I was Pinocchio being carried away to be turned into a donkey. My sister reassured me and told me I was being paranoid. I let go of the notion. Once we had arrived at the station closest to the park, we realized that there were no attractions to be found. There were posters everywhere but no park. My suspicions were coming back, but were soon put away when my sister asked a man how to get there. He said that there were shuttles but there weren’t any coming for a few hours. We decided we would call a taxi service. When the car pulled up, it was a huge black Mercedes. We were the only ones who were to go in it and this was a bit too shady for my liking. The whole ride there I kept telling myself that this was the end. I wasn’t getting out of this one alive, but of course we made it there safe and sound. I don’t know what I was worried about.

            We got out of the car, bought our tickets, and were traipsing through the park in a matter of minutes. It seemed like a nice enough place until I saw that they had a haunted house. It looked as though it was an old manor and there was a huge snake slithering on the top. It looked down upon you as if it you were going to be its midday meal. I was not going to be snake bait. I ran to catch up with the others who were already in line for the first attraction, a dark ride based on the TV series, Winx Club called Winx Planet. It seemed nice enough, a ride based on fairies with magical powers. What is the worst that could happen? I was about to find out. My sister and I got onto the carriage that would bring us into the ride and we were off. At first, there was no light at all inside the attraction which was a bit unsettling but soon enough there was a spotlight and we could see again. This was a relief at first but when we saw the strange goblin-like creatures crawling across the floor and the trees that were reaching out to us, ready to eat us up. The ride was filled with the creepiest statues and creatures that I had ever seen. It didn’t remotely look like it was based on the children’s TV show. By the end, the fairies did make small appearances but they were surrounded by the same horrible terrain that had been showcased earlier. Bottom line: not satisfied.

            We decided that the next ride we would go on would be a thrill ride, not a scary trolley ride like what we had just gone on. We saw a tower that must have been at least 100 feet high so we went to check it out. As we got closer, we realized that it was what looked like a version of the Spring from our own local amusement park, Seabreeze. The only difference was that this one went way higher. I wasn’t so sure about it but my sister and her friends were able to convince me. I hated the fact that they could get me to do whatever they wanted. We walked over to the person who was running the ride and showed him our wristbands. When I got an up close look at the ride, I could see that there were bright purple tentacles coming out of the ground. A shipwreck was also present even though it was more like a bunch of chopped up boards were scattered on the ground. I really didn’t like to admit it, but I was trembling in my boots. I was ready to leave when the man told me he didn’t know if I was tall enough to ride. Turns out, it was a mix-up. My only shot at survival, shattered. When we got on we had to strap up our seatbelts. The seats were arranged in a circle so we all sat next to each other. I couldn’t buckle up my seatbelt which made me very nervous. The man came and did it for me but I was very loose. I felt like I was going to slip out of it. The ride started up and we began our ascent. The way up was fine. It took about a minute and let us see a nice view of the park. Then, without warning, we were jolted into place and we had reached the top. There seemed to be some sort of locking mechanism that kept us up there. It was the wait that tortured me. I am sure it was at least five minutes before we heard a slight click that sent us plummeting to the ground. My legs were thrown up into the air and I swear I couldn’t breathe for the whole ride down. I don’t remember much of it because I was too worried that my heart had stopped. I guess some people would look at it as fun, but that isn’t the exact word I would use.

            I thought I might throw up so we weren’t going to walk far to get to our next ride. The next one was located right beside the death wish I had just made. It was an old castle that looked like it belonged to an Arabian King. I was so excited to go on it until I saw the figures that were walking along the walls of it. They had dark cloaks that covered their entire body and where their faces should have been, there was a blank slab of stone. I didn’t think I could stand another terrifying experience. All I could hope was that the actual ride had nothing to do with its exterior. Surprisingly, this was the case. You traveled into a dark enclosure and there was Rock ‘n’ Roll music playing and flashing lights everywhere. It was quite enjoyable the way that one turned out. The dips were exhilarating and the whole experience was a win for me.

            As we neared the end of our journey, I was feeling more confident that this park could grow on me. We had enough time for one more ride and we were sweating profusely. What 

Paragraph #3: Inkheart

Quote #1: "But I got one of my maidservants to teach me how to read" (Funke 169).
Quote #2: "Perhaps it's true that death is only the beginning of a new story, but no one has ever read the book in which it's written, and the writer of that book certainly doesn't live in a little village on the coast playing football with his grandchildren" (Funke 275).

But I got one of my maidservants to teach me how to read. There wasn't any need for me to do it when I had the resources to get someone else do it. Why take the extra time when I could be doing other things? Reading was never one of my specialties because the first book that I learned to read scared me out of it. It had a horribly morbid plot that I just couldn't stand. This girl parents had died and ghosts began to haunt her and foretell her own. I never wanted to pick up a book again for fear that I would read something more menacing. I just couldn't stand hearing another story like that and I knew there were so many more out there that could just slip under my fingertips. That's the reason I get others to teach me to read. I mean perhaps it's true that death is only the beginning of a new story, but no one has ever read the book in which it's written, and the writer of that book certainly doesn't live in a little village on the coast playing football with his grandchildren.

The Common Stranger

The sky turned dark from the table

as my eyes snapped towards the window.

This type of light was novel

to me. I could sense a figure on the block

and I decided to click

on a flashlight. I started to bite my nail

as the picture on the wall fell. The nail

had come undone. As I stood up, I saw the table

on the computer click

off the screen. I ran over to the window

to look at the lines. The rain attempted to block

my view. I decided to go back my novel.

At least I had the novel

to nail

myself to the couch, away from the block

where the stranger was. The table

I was at was not far from the window.

They could have seen me. Heard the click

of my flashlight. The crickets continued to click

in the night. The unknown was too novel.

I had to face them and look out the window.

I wouldn’t be able to nail

them in the dark. I went back to the table

and attempted to block

out my fear. I couldn’t block

it out. I began to click

my heels together under the table.

I kept looking over at my novel,

prying my eyes away. I picked up the nail

and threw it at the window

as the window

gave a shudder. My block

was normally safe at night. My nail

was almost invisible. The small click

of the streetlamps. My novel

was still sitting on the table

so I stayed at the table, still glancing at the window

as I continued my novel, my mind breaking away from the block.

Because of that subtle click, I no longer had to sooth my mind with the nail.

Warmth

Sometimes a piece of sun

burned like a coin between my hands

---Pablo Neruda

The icy wind that filtered in

would no longer chill my bones.

The sun, so massive, yet so small

could shift the balance of everything.

The warmth that radiated from my hands--

enough to make my day.

I took a chisel and went up to the sun
breaking off pieces

to sprinkle over the earth.

Everyone can have their own sliver

to keep with them

so they are never cold.

Paragraph #2: The Hunger Games

Quote #1: "I'm not as good as my father was, but he'd had more practice" (Collins 89).
Quote #2: "My throat releases the tears and they slide down my cheeks" (Collins 235).

I'm not as good as my father was, but he'd had more practice. He could comfort me at a moments notice and get me back up again to take another hit. It didn't matter what was going on or where I was. He would always find me. I didn't have to worry back then when I was small and I had my entire life before me. I would toss and turn in my bed having nightmares about monsters but now I have nightmares about this months bills. I was never good with budgeting and it was too late to ask for help. I had been cut off and I had my chance. I chose to leave my family behind and start fresh so I only had myself to blame. I work at a daycare now and I look after the toddlers. They remind me of myself when my dad would take care of me and now I was following in his footsteps. Today, a little girl came up to me and said that she needed help because she was scared there was a monster in the toy bin and at that moment my throat released the tears and they slid down my cheeks.

Paragraph #1: Alice in Wonderland

Quote #1: "If you knew Time as well as I do you wouldn't talk about wasting it" (Carroll 101).
Quote #2: "So, you think you're changed, do you?" (Carroll 62).

If you knew Time as well as I do you wouldn't talk about wasting it. As a matter of fact, Time has been one of my best friends since Kindergarten. We played on the playground for as long as we like and he would always get me through the next day, but sometimes he wasn't the nicest. He would block the way back outside to the park while he made the sky turn dark. He would make you fall asleep even though you didn't want to. Time was a friend who could always help but didn't always listen to you. He does whatever he wants and keeps going no matter how much you want him to stop. But you most definitely don't want to waste him because it will punish you in the end. Don't be a fool I always say and if you live like that, Time will never be wasted. It's not very hard but it is something that must be dealt with. And no matter how hard you try to run away, Time will always hunt you down and ask you the same question: So, you think you're changed, do you?

Creative Paragraph Writing Explanation

I have decided that for the next few weeks I will try an experiment on my blog. I will take an ordinary novel, open to a random page, point to a quote, open to another random page, point to another quote, and use those two sentences to create a short paragraph in which I come up with a story. The first quote would be the first sentence and the second, the last sentence. This idea occurred to me about a year ago when I was very bored and I did it so that I would have something to do. now I have decided to share it with the world! I thought that it was sort of cool ad you may think that I am kind of a dork for doing something like this but your assumptions would be correct. I am a total dork! Also, if you would like to try this exercise yourself, please comment yours so I can talk to you about it and ways it could improve. I hope you have fun!

A Few Pieces of Hint Fiction

Hint Fiction is a genre of short stories with 25 words or less. I attempted some of my own!

Blind

The old man wore dark glasses, hobbling along the street. I had perfect eyes, but still couldn’t see as well.

The Second Year(s)

We had already been there for 365 days. We couldn’t stay. I died in a matter of a minute.

Crash and Burn

The car hit the tree with massive force. The glass flew. The flames engulfed the car and expanded.

Halloween

We ran around chasing and scaring. It was all in good fun. We hadn’t bothered to look back.

Midnight

It was 12:00 am. The battle between the sun and the moon was over. The light prevailed.

Associative

Associative.

A property of multiplication and addition.

We had just learned it the week before

our final exam.

She had moved away a few years ago,

Waving to us from the dusty window of her car   .

I remember how the tires screeched on the road

leaving tracks that would stay forever.

I was sad at first,

but it didn’t take long for me to move past it.

She would always write to me,

making sure she told me of all her new adventures.

New school, new friends.

She hadn’t forgotten about me.

We were still close, just differently.

As the shrill bell rang that day,

I picked up my notebook

and stuffed it in my backpack.

The test had read, what is the associative property?

It’s a regrouping that doesn’t change the value.

Fractured Fable

This is another one of my latest short stories. I took my inspiration for this one from the Hans Christian Andersen fable entitled The Wild Swans. It is called "Birds of a Feather" and I hope you enjoy it!
                                                                    Birds of a Feather

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Recently, I have become particularly interested in the work of Roald Dahl specifically Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Because I am so interested in theatre, during this strange obsession, I figured out that there was a London West End musical of the beloved children's tale. You can see a preview of it to the left! If you have never heard of this story, what was your childhood? The story follows Charlie Bucket, a poor boy who lives with his parents and grandparents who are slowly wasting away. All of the sudden, Charlie finds a golden ticket, along with Augustus Gloop, a fat, greedy boy, Veruca Salt, a spoiled girl, Violet Beauregarde, a gum chewing fiend, and Mike Teavee,a boy who spends all of his time in front of a screen. These golden tickets allow the finders to spend a day inside Willy Wonka's marvelous chocolate factory. As they enter, they are met with loads of candy, fun, as well as some unexpected twists. If you want to find out what happens, read the book or watch one of the two movies or perhaps if you live in London, you can go see the musical yourself. The only limit is your imagination!

Reflection of My Middle/High School Theatre Experience

So, I have been going to School of the Arts three years now and its amazing how far I have come. In 7th grade, I played Michael in Peter Pan, but I had a lot of trouble. I couldn't find room for my work and I would have total breakdowns almost every day. I knew at that point that I wasn't going to be doing another show that year but the one I did do was amazing. I got to fly and did I mention it was my twelfth birthday? It was an experience never to forget.

My 8th grade year, the first show that I was a part of was Shrek the Musical where I played the Elf as well as Grumpy the Dwarf. I was a bit disappointed that I had gotten such ensemble roles but nevertheless, it was still a great show to be a part of. It was very fun and I got to hang out with all of my theatre peeps. The second show that I did that year was The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet where I played Monk Larry as well as Sampson. First off, it was a middle school show and middle school shows are never that well put together. Also, it was horribly written. The concept was basically to take Shakespeare plays and use Dr. Seuss language instead. But besides that, it was really fun. My favorite experience was probably doing a Bronx accent for my character. It was fun to learn the accent and then get praise from my director on its execution.

This year, my Freshman year as SOTA, I was first in The Crucible where I played John Willard, one of the guards at the jail. This was the first drama I had been in and it was very intense. The story that focused on the Salem With Trials was very serious but I think that it was a good change for me since I was able to show off a different side of my acting. I rather enjoyed it. The next show I was in was Annie where I played the Assistant Dog Catcher as well as Ensemble. I wasn't completely thrilled about the characters I was given but I can't stop saying how wonderful it is to be in a performance, especially one with such good songs and a wonderful cast. Although I didn't have a lead, that didn't mean that I didn't do the best that I could possible do because every part is important. The final show I did this school year was The Addams Family where I played Pugsley Addams. This was the best show I have been in at SOTA so far. The cast worked very well together and all the teachers that put it together were amazing. The crew was also spot on and the set looked magnificent. It is the first show that i was in at school when I wasn't too worried during tech week because we really pulled things together. The costumes were exquisite and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. It was a part I truly wanted and I got it which made me very happy.

In the end, I am very pleased with how these past three years have turned out and can't wait for the next one. What I also noticed is that as the years go on, I do one more show per year. Maybe I'll go for four next year, but who knows. Only the future will tell!

Rain: Don't Go Away!

As the weather changes and the temperature begins to rise, summer is ushered into our lives. We are all happy that we don't have to endure the cold winter months anymore but we aren't completely happy. As we get closer to June and July, the humid air and the beating sun get to us. We all know that it is way too hot. This is the worst time of year because school is so close to being over but yet we aren't there yet. The heat makes our brains stop working and we are stuck in a classroom just wishing that school was out. But yesterday was the best day this week because last night, the wind whooshed into my living room and rain began to pour. At first, I wasn't sure what it was and thought that the world was playing a tick on me, but that was not the case. Fresh rain fell onto the grass and gardens and all over our street. I was so excited that I put on my flip flops and ran out to enjoy the weather. Personally, I would take a rainy day over a sweltering one any day. I ran up and down my driveway who knows how many times and still couldn't get enough. The rain made my day, and I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Settings of Operation Red Jericho

Operation Red Jericho by Joshua Mowll is a fascinating adventure novel that pulls you deeper into the story every chapter. The book follows young Becca and Doug Mackenzie as they try to crack the code and figure out the secret of their parents disappearance. The entire novel takes place in Shanghai, China in 1920. The thing I most enjoyed about the book was the wonderful settings that it offered. The first setting I was intrigued by was The Expedient, a ship run by Captain Fitzroy Mackenzie, uncle to Becca and Doug. The ship is filled with tons of gadgets and weapons that Doug can't wait to get his hands on. Unfortunately, this caused lots of problems on the ship for Doug would often sneak out of his cabin and search around where he shouldn't have been, but who can stop a mischievous soul? Another cool setting was The Galacia, an underwater sub that traveled to the depths of the ocean. This was an awesome setting because so many things can go wrong. That sounds a little weird but that's how writers create conflict. The most amazing setting in the novel is Sheng Fat's Fortress located on Wenzi Island. I don't want to describe it too much because I want you to read the novel but let me just say that it is a place where nobody is safe and danger is on every corner. These settings create marvelous conflict for the characters to endure and make for a perfect adventure novel.

Moses Man

This past Sunday, I went to Geva Theatre Center to see Moses Man, a musical about two Jewish people during World War II trying to make the best of things. It is a workshop performance and it had been a workshop for quite some time now. It has been a work in progress since it started and now is almost completed. It is a musical and the songs are beautifully written and sung. All of the actors had excellent performances in my opinion and made the story come to life. As far as the plot goes, it was really interesting with so many twists and the characters not knowing when they will see each other again. I has come very far since its first workshop performance and they are ready to take it to New York City. I enjoyed it very much and think that it is a musical everyone can relate to.

Glitch!

As promised, here is my completed draft of my science fiction story. Seeing as it is still a work in progress, I am very open to suggestions on how to make it better whether it be grammar or plot changes. I hope you enjoy!

Glitch! A science fiction short story.

Tomorrowland

On Friday, I went to go see the new Disney movie Tomorrowland, which had great actors, an amazing plot, brilliant special effects, but a weak and underwhelming conclusion. The film created a good back story for its character by bringing you into the past when George Clooney's character, Frank Walker, is just a kid and is introduced to Tomorrowland. Athena, Raffey Cassidy, who we find to be a robot, is the one who leads him there because she believes that he could change the world. Tomorrowland is a place for great minds to make a change and create a new world. Britt Robertson. who plays Casey Newton, comes into the picture when more help is needed. She is given a pin that will transport her to Tomorrowland but only for a short while. it is given to her by Athena who believes that Casey is the one that could help save the world. This gave way for an extremely enjoyable plot with twists and turns that kept you guessing. Now, there is some bad news. The end becomes very preachy and wasn't to my liking at all. It basically consists of pins being distributed to all the great minds in the world and all of them ending up in Tomorrowland so they can all help to make the world a better place. It was very happy but cliche and I would have liked to see something better from the director of The Incredibles, Brad Bird. All in all, it was an awesome movie that I do recommend but just don't expect a shocker at the end like I did.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

A new book that I have just finished reading that I enjoyed immensely was Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. This is a murder mystery novel. I don't usually read mysteries and haven't really been interested in them in the past. This novel made me open my eyes. The novel follows Hercule Poirot as he searches for a murderer upon a train. The way that Christie subtlety hints at who the murderer is throughout the book was very good. You had to really pay attention to catch the clues. Each of the characters had their own unique backstory that contributed to the mystery. I appreciate the time and effort that went into creating each of these characters and planning out how the entire murder would work. Agatha Christie did a great job with this novel, so great in fact that I want to read another. Overall, it was an amazing novel that I strongly encourage all who love a good mystery to pick up.

    

Fairy Tales: The creepy stories that have shaped literature

“It's not the prince at all, but my father drunkeningly bends over my bed, circling the abyss like a shark, my father thick upon me like some sleeping jellyfish. What voyage is this, little girl?” Can anyone guess what that is? When you first hear it, the tone is dark. That is true but it is also a fairy tale. Wait what you say? You heard me correctly. This is the story of Briar Rose and how her father sexually abused her. It doesn’t seem like a happy story but that is because it’s not. That is only what the story has come to mean to us today. As writers, we have gained information from folk lore and fairy tales to help us with our own stories. These iconic tales of princesses being rescued by handsome princes and all of their dreams coming true were burned into our minds ever since we were born. As children we loved to watch Disney movies and see how they all ended with happily ever after. We never looked deeper and saw the true colors of the stories. There is death, betrayal, and poison hiding in those pages. These morbid tales have helped literature to become what it is today.

            Does everyone here know the tale of Snow White? First off, she is a princess. She frolics in the forest and sings with animals, but not everybody feels the same way about her. Her stepmother, more commonly known as the Evil Queen, was jealous of her beauty so what does she do? She sends a huntsman to stab her and rip out her heart so that she can be the fairest of them all. This story is considered a children’s tale and yet it has this thematic element. We don’t focus on this because the first thing we think is that the Queen is evil but yet that is no excuse for murdering and innocent child because a mirror tells you that she is more beautiful. Also, the Queen goes a step further and poisons the child when the huntsman comes back without Snow White’s heart. This is one of the most morbid stories I have ever heard but as times go on, authors begin to shift the story so that it is a happy tale.

            Today media and authors have made adaptations to these classic tales. In other words, they have modernized them. For example, there is a popular show on ABC called Once Upon A Time. The plotline of the TV show is the lives of the fairy tale characters in modern times. This show collected much information from various fairy tales to make the project a reality. Another modern take on the stories is the Land Of Stories series written by Chris Colfer. This series gives a whole new meaning to fairy tales. All of your favorites are there but they have completely different stories. Take Goldilocks for example. In the fairy tale she is an innocent little girl walking into a cottage of bears by accident while in the modern take, she is a bandit running from the law for all of the crimes that she has committed. While the characters in these two stories are the same, they could not be more different.

            The authors who wrote these classic stories used famous characters and morals to create the stories that we know and love today. Although these tales were originally dark and mysterious, as time has gone on, they have become tales of adventure, true love, and most surprisingly happiness. They were molded by writers through the ages to make them more appealing to each new generation. These once ominous fables are now what many authors look to for guidance when writing stories. They have produced many great stories that wouldn’t have been possible without them. Although these tales have started as simple and eerie, they have evolved into so much more as time has gone on. They created a base for literature and we use all aspects of them in our own stories today.

Works Cited Page

“Briar Rose” By Anne Sexton

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/anne-sexton/briar-rose-sleeping-beauty/

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell By Chris Colfer

http://www.thelandofstories.com/

“Once Upon a Time” Created by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz

http://abc.go.com/shows/once-upon-a-time

Thornton Wilder Reviews, Part 2

The Skin of Our Teeth Review

            In the history of the world, humanity has endured many disasters, natural and manmade, but we always find a way to pull through and get back on our feet. In the play The Skin of Our Teeth, by Thornton Wilder, we experience the struggles of the Antrobus Family as they deal with life threatening situations and the simple disasters of family. Wilder’s use of this theme as well as unexpected plot choices makes The Skin of Our Teeth a play that you can’t take your eyes off of.

            The first act is set in Excelsior, New Jersey during the ice age. Wilder’s choice to take a true time in history and bring it back in the future so that people of our time could experience it was brilliant. The creative quality of the idea was truly fantastic. The maid who works for the Antrobus’ is named Sabina. She opens the act by worrying about if Mr. Antrobus will come home or if he has died out in the freezing cold. Sabina says, “The fact is I don’t know what’ll become of us. Here it is the middle of August and the coldest day of the year” (Wilder 71). The family is faced with a deadly fate and is struggling to get through it, but it’s not just the ice age that is bothering this family. Mrs. Antrobus and Sabina have a strong tension from the start. Sabina says, “But it was I who encouraged Mr. Antrobus to make the alphabet. I’m sorry to say it, Mrs. Antrobus, but you’re not a beautiful woman, and you can never know what a man could do if he tried” (75). This statement shows the tension between these two but also touches on another notion. Sabina speaks of the alphabet and Mr. Antrobus inventing things. This part of the play symbolizes moving forward in life and making advancements. I liked this because it shows that even through the toughest of times, people will always find a way to look on the bright side. Two other characters I enjoyed was the two children, Henry and Gladys. Mrs. Antrobus says, “Henry! HENRY. Put down that stone...Gladys! Put down you dress!” (79). Henry and Gladys are very rambunctious in the first act and they remind me of how hard children, including myself, are to deal with. Even though the odds are stacked against them, the Antrobus family does make it through the ice age but there is still another disaster awaiting them.

            The second act takes place on a boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mr. Antrobus has just been elected president and they are at a convention for the Ancient and Honorable Order of Mammals, Subdivision Humans. Mr. and Mrs. Antrobus both give speeches and their own watchwords for the new year to come. Mr. Antrobus says, “The watchword of the closing year was: Work. I give you the watchword for the future: Enjoy Yourselves” (96). Mrs. Antrobus has a bit of a different view by saying, “My husband says that the watchword for the year is Enjoy Yourselves. I think that’s very open to misunderstanding. My watchword for the year is: Save the Family. It’s held together for over five thousand years: Save it!” (97-98). I enjoyed this because both of them have somewhat conflicting views which made me want to know more about their relationship. The tension between the two was definitely increased by this. A new character that is introduced in this act is the Fortune Teller. She plays a big role in this section of the plot. She says, “Everybody’s future is in their face. Nothing easier. But who can tell your past, --eh? Nobody!” (100). My interpretation of this statement is that everything from your past is over and can’t be changed but your future can be full of possibilities. I also believe that Wilder is trying to tell us that you must take into account what has happened in the past to make your future brighter. This connects to the theme of dealing with the problems you are faced with and then doing it all over again when more come. Looking back to Sabina, she has just won a beauty pageant that Mr. Antrobus was the judge for. Her goal in this pageant: to take him away from his wife. Sabina herself can achieve this easily, but the actress who plays her does not wish to do so. Sabina says, “Ladies and gentlemen. I’m not going to play this particular scene tonight. It’s just a short scene and we’re going to skip it” (108). In many parts of the play, Wilder chooses to make the characters come out of the action and act in their own person. I liked this choice because it let the actors directly interact with the audience. In this particular situation, I believe that Sabina’s statement shows how things can be difficult to do but that doesn’t mean that they can be ignored. The actress doesn’t want to play the scene but that would mean that the entire production would suffer. They do skip the scene and move onto the next where we learn that there is a storm warning that foretells the end of the world. A huge flood is coming but Mrs. Antrobus cannot seem to find mischievous Henry. When he is finally found, the family hops on a ship that also carries two of a kind of each animal, just as Noah’s Ark did. This allusion helped me to understand why the convention was held and the seriousness of the flood. Sabina, pleading for forgiveness, is also let on with the family. The act ends with the family making it out alive and arriving at a new world they must build up to be their own.

            The third act takes place during a time of war. This play was written during World War II so this setting for the third act makes sense. The act opens with Sabina entering in a uniform yelling to inform the Antrobus’ that the war is over. Soon thereafter, the stage manager, an actual character in the play named Mr. Fitzpatrick, comes on to inform the audience that many of the actors for the final scene have taken ill and that there must be a short rehearsal. I believe this signifies having to make quick changes at short notice because sometimes when faced with a demanding situation, you must act quickly to find your way out. Once the conflict has been resolved, we are led back to the Antrobus home. Mrs. Antrobus and Gladys emerge, Gladys with a baby in hand. Sabina says, “Goodness! Are there any babies left in the world! Can it see? And can it cry and everything?” as Gladys responds with, “Yes, he can. He notices everything very well” (124). I really enjoyed this part because I feel that it suggests the thought of being born into the world and learning more as you grow up. Sabina, referring to Mrs. Antrobus, says, “You’re going to study history and algebra…and philosophy” (126). This notion touches upon the fact that we are all learning each day to try to improve or world. Another part of this act deals with the fact that Henry was opposite Mr. Antrobus during the war. This family tension creates a huge plot twist in the story which I loved. Throughout the acts, we see that Henry is a dynamic character. He is one of my favorites because I see a bit of myself in Henry seeing as he is a child who is still trying to figure out where he belongs. As we come to the end of the act, what I feel is one of Wilder’s best choices emerges. Sabina comes in back in her maid’s outfit from act one and reopens the play with the same monologue as the beginning. She informs us that Wilder has yet to finish writing it. I really enjoyed this part because it left it very open ended and tied into a reoccurring theme in the play that the past is set in stone but in the future, nobody can know what will happen.

            In conclusion, The Skin of Our Teeth is one of the best plays I have ever read. I really enjoyed how Wilder took you halfway between reality and fiction. All of the characters were very well developed and their interactions with each other enhance the world of the play. The theme of constant and cyclic struggle is something that everyone can relate to which makes it a good read for all. The Skin of Our Teeth is a play that makes you think about the struggles that plague the world but as shown in the play, we will all endure and keep moving forward.

Thornton Wilder Reviews, Part 1

Our Town Review

            Our Town by Thornton Wilder is a play that comments on life and its importance. As I first began to read it, I thought that it was a bit boring and was really just going through a day in the life of these people. Going a bit further in the text, I began to realize the real meaning of it and its purpose as a piece of writing. Many of its aspects, including its set and plot, helped to create the perfect tone for the story that was to come.

            Act I has to do with the life and times of the people living in the community of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. The Stage Manager who gives some backstory of the various people in the town explains it at the start. We meet two families, the Gibbs’s and the Webb’s, who respectively have two children: George and Rebecca as well as Emily and Wally. As the children are sent off to school, the two mothers enjoy gossiping and talking of their dreams to see the world. There are also many brief appearances by characters such as Professor Willard and Mr. Webb describing the town. The Stage Manager also explains a bit more after being asked questions by various characters strategically placed in the audience. We then travel into the relationship between George and Emily as they talk to each other and become closer. Both of their stories of growing up are emphasized by their conversations with their parents. As we begin Act II, we learn that George and Emily, three years later, have fallen in love and are going to be married. There is an encounter between George and Mr. Webb where they discuss marriage and the responsibilities that come with it. We then travel back in time to see an encounter between Emily and George where their feelings were made clear to each other. We then travel back to the wedding as they both get extremely nervous and their parents calm them down. The two end up going through with the marriage and they are both content. Act III begins with Emily’s funeral as she has just died in childbirth. Some of the people who have already died, including Mrs. Gibbs, welcome her into death. Most of the people who have died are quite indifferent to the goings on of earth while Emily is very inclined to travel back and revisit her life. After being advised not to, she still asks the Stage Manager to have her travel back to her twelfth birthday. As she observes it, she realizes nobody is noticing anything and she believes that everything is going too fast. She begins to appreciate the life she had and feels sorry that the people that were living it don’t feel the same way. Once she has traveled back to the cemetery, George who is devastated by her death visits her. Emily sees now that the living don’t understand the importance of life and that to be fully content, you must truly live it instead of just being in it. The play ends with the stars coming out and everyone in Grover’s Corners going to sleep.

            This play truly captures the essence of life and all that it inhabits. The main themes that are presented in the text are life, love, and death.  These themes are conveyed in this quote in the text: “This is the way we were: in our growing up and in our marrying and in our living and in our dying” (Wilder 32). These three themes are some of the most common ones among writing. I really liked how Wilder was able to compact them all into one piece of work to create something unique. If any of the acts inside the play had stood on their own, I don’t think they would have been as powerful. Act I really portrays community. I liked how realistic it was. There were definitely times where I saw myself as the children, sleeping late and not wanting to get up for school. From the gossiping mothers to the growing up of George and Emily, there is something all of us can relate to. Act II was mostly about love. Personally, I think this might have been my favorite act because the way Wilder goes from it being their wedding day to them being in high school telling each other about their feelings. Having this occur really helped me to view the entirety of their love for one another. Act III pertains to death, although I didn’t find it to be what I had imagined. I thought that the entire act would be gloomy and sad but to my surprise, it was more inspiring than anything else. Having there be some sort of afterlife I thought was really awesome. Seeing Emily’s reaction when she went back made me realize how much of our lives is just go do this and then that without really taking the time to enjoy anything. Like she said, “It goes so fast. We don’t have time to look at one another” (Wilder 100). This occurrence is horrible but it happens almost every day. It inspired me to enjoy and notice life while I still have it. Another theme that occurs in the play is time or the artificiality of theater. While most of the events that occur in the play could actually happen, there are many things that show that this piece of writing is indeed a play. One of these things is the Stage manager himself. He acts as a narrator in the story and directly interacts with the audience. He also affects time and can bring us wherever he wants. We could go into the past or flash forward to the future. This another factor that makes up this theme.

            I felt that the choices made pertaining to set and staging were really quite clever. Not having much of a set at all and minimal props really gives you more room to enjoy the actual content of the play. What I mean by this is that there are less distractions or mishaps that could occur while the play is being performed. Though without a set, this could be a potential problem for the staging, but I think that Wilder did a really nice job having the characters pantomime things in order for the message to get across. Such an instance where this occurs is when Howie Newsome would carry milk to each home. There really was no rack of milk cartons but he pretended to be carrying something and the sound of clinking bottles was heard. Even without a fancy set or props, the message and understanding of the play was not disturbed.

            In the writing, Thornton Wilder has an excellent cast of main characters such as the Stage Manager, George, and Emily, but also includes an array of minor character such as Professor Willard and Simon Stimson. In my personal opinion, I thought that the Stage Manager was one of the best characters. I liked how Wilder made him describe everything in detail and how he actually became some of the characters in the story himself. It was a really interesting use of his character. George and Emily’s character development was spectacular. We got to see what they were like as children and also as a married couple. It really helps the reader to truly understand them. The minor characters really help with the telling of the story. Such characters as Professor Willard are put in for further information about the town as well as for humor because he is speaking about topics nobody would really care about. Also, characters like Simon Stimson are more connected with the story and they help the reader understand more about the town and the main message of the entire work.

             Thornton Wilder, the playwright, was the son of a newspaper owner and a poet. Just based on this play which was one of his earliest, you can tell that Wilder is a fantastic writer. Being the son of a poet, this might have sparked some of his interest in writing and I believe that his father might have been a model for the character Mr. Webb for he owns a newspaper as well. The way Wilder forms his dialogue is really incredible because it makes me feel like I am right there in the room having a conversation with these characters. It fells that natural. Also, using the Stage Manager’s lines, he really paints a picture of the setting of the entire play. His writing style is really intimate and you can really relate to it and understand it. I is simple enough to understand but also unique enough to be one of a kind. Also, with his involvement in both of the world wars, it is very obvious why he would choose such a theme as life to be in one of his plays. Being in a war, you never know when you are safe so you have to live in the moment. That is what is touched upon at the end of the play when Emily realizes how precious life is. The way he writes, which is very conversational but also has a formal touch to it, is really terrific.

            Overall, I thought that Our Town was one of the best pieces of work I have ever read. I could really connect to it and it inspired me in writing as well as life itself. All of the content of the play was phenomenal and Thornton Wilder is now one of my role model as a young writer. The play was a huge success when it first came out and it’s not hard to see why. I encourage all people to read this play because it has something to teach everyone.

A Random Haiku Poem

shattered CD-
dad taps his fingers
to the lost beat

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

The Land of Stories is an amazing young adult series about fairy tales written by author, and Glee star, Chris Colfer. The three stories follow Connor and Bailey as they are sucked into their storybook and meet all of the fairy tale characters you know. Turns out, they might even have one in the family. The first book centers on them finding a way to get out of this new world and get back home. The second book is all about Sleeping Beauty and how the evil Enchantress has returned. The third book is about a massive war between the fairy tale world and he real one. Each story has something to offer that anyone who loves fable or myths will enjoy. Chris also has a teen book called Struck by Lightning. It centers on Carson who is a high school writer who can't wait to get out of his terrible small town and make it as a writer. Both books and series are spectacular and I encourage all to read them!

To learn more about The Land of Stories, go here: http://www.thelandofstories.com/

Inspiration for Xeno

While looking at the title of this post you might be wondering who the heck is Xeno? well, I am happy to answer that question. Xeno is the main character in a new science fiction story that I have just begun to create. Xeno is a newly created robot in a war ridden land that has a minor glitch: it has feelings and refuses to fight. Now, Xeno didn't just pop out of nowhere. Xeno's character was inspired by two pretty famous Disney robots: Baymax from Big Hero 6 and Eve from WALL-E. I used Baymax as inspiration by taking his lovable personality and making it my own. Eve comes in when I began to think of the actual look of Xeno. I did want it to have a sleek body just like Eve's and I wanted it to be the newest technology. In terms of the story, Xeno is a new type of robot that is supposed to have improved fighting skills and make a major change in the war. Unfortunately, this doesn't work out because they gave Xeno too much new technology and gave him the power of emotion. I haven't completely figured out how the story will play out but I am super excited to see where it goes. I promise that when it is finished, it will be available to see right on this very page! I hope you will enjoy it!

Thanksgiving Break: a Poem

The dinner table is like a blank piece of paper

until a 23ft pile of food is set.

The creak of the wooden table

wafting the scent of freshly cooked meat.

My stomach growling at me

making my fingernails dig into the table,

waiting for the so familiar taste of Mom’s pumpkin pie.

The plates in front of us tasted like chocolate,

while Julia Child in the kitchen, creating delicacies from France.

I guess the dinner table isn’t like a blank piece of paper at all.

There wasn’t a library nearby so we didn’t learn much.

But for real, we had nothing to do.

The vibrant rain of yesterday kept us trapped inside.

We were as energetic as sloths.

I would sink into the walls of my house,

until it was only my hands that could be seen.

Alex can’t get out.

When he does, hopefully things won’t be the same

and friendly raccoons will play with him out in the sun.

Bon appetit I heard my mother calling.

But for now the walls will laugh at him.

The plain white tablecloth would stay empty those nights.

After: All I Know of Freedom by Carol Emshwiller

After is a series of nineteen stories of apocalypse and dystopia that I have just began to read. One of my favorite stories that I have read so far is All I Know of Freedom. This story is of a girl who escapes her new parents and goes to frolic freely through the world. She doesn't know how to read but she knows what the word school means and knows that she will be able to learn there. She finds a school and enters and finds a friend named Eppie. She tells her that there is a ship leaving earth soon with a bunch of girls and boys so that they can reproduce once they get to a new planet. They say that the world will be ending soon and they have to leave. The girl had found a dog who had become her best friend named Mr. O' Brien after the only man she had ever met. Eppie says that she will have to get rid of him but she doesn't want to. She goes and tries to find someone who will keep him on earth and meets a woman that thinks that the people who are leaving are crazy. She offers to house the girl and the dog if she takes care of her farm with her. She decides last minute to go back to her and leave her new friends behind. I really liked this story because the girl had made her own decision and stood by what mattered to her. It inspired me.

RBTL's New Season

If you live in the Rochester area, I am sure that you are familiar with the Auditorium theater. The new 2015-2016 season was just announced and I am super excited for what is to come! Hits such as Newsies and Matilda will be coming our way as we experience a season full of great songs and unstoppable fun! I hope to see you there!

For more information, visit this link: http://www.rbtl.org/subscribers.aspx

A Poem for Young Actors

Because today I will sit in the wings,

nervous and anxious for what is to come

biting my nails and running my fingers through my hair—

waiting is like a burden

a burden that just keeps pushing you down

until you have nothing to give when it is over—

and because yesterday I sat on my bed

racing my eyes back and forth across the page,

trying to retain the countless words

all clumped together into a monstrous mass

staring me down,

willing me to fail;

me attempting to bold it in my brain

with the help of a yellow tool

soaking the page

and because in a few minutes,

when I walk out onto the stage

and the spotlight is shining in my face

and I see all of their expecting faces,

I know something will click

and in that moment, a wave of confidence will wash over me

and nobody’s opinion matters anymore.