Newspaper Article (Howl Review)

"Team Jacob" ? "Team Edward" ? "Team I hate Twilight all together" ? Well if you've been looking for a vacation from Robert Pattison's pasty skin, you've finally found your spot. Our local theatre is currently hosting the musical Howl, a blessed oasis from the Taylor/Taylor hookup. Be prepared to howl when you're in the audience, be prepared to let your inner beast out.
Thom Southwood's musical is a welcome break from the sometimes cookie cutter vampire/werewolf tales that seem to plague us everywhere we turn. A love story with out the lovey-dovey, and a comedy without the cheese. You'll be transported into this well-rehearsed story by two fabulous hosts, Wolfgang (John Bidner) and Lychanstein (Joel Southwood) who will have you laughing as these two pinstriped suits try to bring "sexy back".
The cast is well balanced, with ages ranging from child to senior. And I must applaud this production for their amazing use of the stage. They use their sets amazingly well. For you theatre buffs out there, their levels are superb. You won't just see actors on the stage, but up on boxes, jumping accross benches and climbing stairs so high you'll have to crain your neck.
Most often in community or school theatre you run the phrase "nice try" through your head as the players on stage reach for new notes, ones quite beyond their ability. The hours of vocal training this cast has done is evident, and you'll be blown away with their ability. I was impressed note after note by Ophelia (Tessa Hanson) and EMCS' own Matt Geiger held his own as Howl. One of the things that brings this musical out of the pool of community theatre gigs is its tunage. Thom Southwood has strayed from the typical choir and big hair music often found in musicals, there's no show tunes here. All the songs are written for the play, and include beats relative to hip-hop.
Whether you end up rooting for Lone Wolf or Bane, bad or good, your decision will be complete as the actors transform completely into their parts. Through the make up and the costumes you won't be able to see the faces of your friends, but only werewolves and the innocent. Next year, I'm going to the Stage West Players for my Hallowe'en costume.
The doomed undercurrent of community theatre still runs under the floorboards of the stage, and the call for volunteers is a reminder of the small theatre company you're dealing with but by the end you will forget. Mrs.Maclellan would be proud, they reached their "senior level ending"

By Emily Percival-Paterson

what a fucking jerk.
my uncle called today and ratted me out for drinking, he somehow saw some incriminating photos on facebook. He talked to my mom, told her all about it.
What a fucking hypocrite.
when he comes out here next month, if he expects any conversation from me ... well he can just fuck right off.

I feel so betrayed, my uncle and I had always been partners in crime, we'd always play pranks and do things that my parents wouldn't have let me do. So much for that.