Arts Review: Les Misérables by Maria Bordonaro

On November 18 and November 19, the Abington Heights Theatre Club put on a stunning performance of Les Misérables: School Edition. Such a shame that on only these dates the audience could catch the show, as the performance was so wonderful and enjoyable, countless other dates would have been deserved. If you did happen to see the show on Friday or Saturday night, I’m sure we could all agree that it was immaculate. Every single person involved, crew, cast, band, directors and producers were insanely talented.

Being that this was a school performance of the critically acclaimed musical, it was not the full length, however, the plot flowed just as well. Another interesting point for those unfamiliar with Les Mis, not one word is spoken...even dialogue is sung! The amazing cast completely pulled this off. Raw emotion was poured into each scene and every role, large or small, was filled with an actor and singer that truly became their character and made the performance all the more enjoyable.

Firstly, bravo to ensemble. Without the ensemble, plays and musicals would be nothing compared to the liveliness of a full cast. Secondly, the production crew is a phenomenal group that really pulled it all together in such a short amount of time.

Regarding the actual musical, the classic and iconic song, “I Dreamed a Dream” was fabulously sung by Alyssa Lazar. Listening to her sing spread goosebumps up and down my limbs. Furthermore, Cosette by Kyler Epstein was a breakout, stunning performance. “Master of the House” was a favorite of mine. The innkeepers and ensemble make the song humorous and very, very memorable. Also, seeing the little children get involved was amazing and in plainest words: very cute. “Cafe Song” and “Epilogue” stole my heart, conjuring up the memories of all the songs performed by the talented cast. Reflecting on the ruins and those who have past only to look forward to the light. A beautiful and meaningful story told by the Abington Heights Theatre Club. Beautiful and meaningful, indeed.

Interview: Getting to Know Mr. Lemoncelli by Victoria Munley

As we near our midpoint in the school year, filled with long nights of studying and midterms, it feels as if just yesterday, I was sitting in the auditorium of the school on a Thursday summer afternoon, listening to Mrs. Theony introduce our new assistant vice principal, Mr. Lemoncelli, to the members of the Transition Team. It had not even been a month into summer vacation, and his excitement to be involved in the upcoming school year was apparent.

Throughout the summer, I spent much of my time in the school, completing various projects for several clubs, and nearly every time I was there, Mr. Lemoncelli would greet me with a “Hi, Tori, how are you doing today?” which was then followed by a simple, “If you ever need anything, my door’s always open!” It was this welcoming and genuine attitude that made me look forward to coming to the school during the summer and throughout the school year, knowing that I was sure to be exposed to positive energy and a welcoming smile.

This past week, I took the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Lemoncelli and talk with him regarding his life prior to Abington and now.

As a former faculty member of Pocono Mountain School District and Bishop Hafey, Mr. Lemoncelli’s passion for teaching and working with others has always been evident in his work.

“I originally wanted to be a cardiologist, but science and math were never really my thing,” he laughs. Instead, he chose to focus moreso on social studies and history, which was influenced greatly by his teachers throughout high school and college.

After twenty years at Pocono Mountain, Mr. Lemoncelli felt a desire for change and took the opportunity to apply for the position at Abington.

“The interview process was rigorous, and I remember walking out that day and thinking, ‘Man, I hope I get this job,’” he recalls. “I was so impressed with Abington’s student body and strong community.”

When I asked him about his transition into the school district, he had one adjective to describe it: “flawless.”

“I had a lot of questions, but I also had a lot of people who helped me,” he says. Through his summer involvement in the Transition Team and the assistance of his fellow faculty members, he immediately felt welcome into the Abington Heights community.

Since starting at Abington, Mr. Lemoncelli has adjusted quite well. His role as an influential instructional leader remains the same since his move, yet Mr. Lemoncelli notes that there is something different about Abington Heights that makes it so special to him.

“Every school has its issues, but there are also a lot of really great things going on here,” he notes.

When asked if he has any advice for seniors as their final year of high school slowly draws to a close, he answered with a simple message: “Take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way.”

We concluded our time together by conversing about his inspirations, hobbies, as well as his love for Star Wars and the New York Yankees. Though our conversation was rather brief, I found that there was more to Mr. Lemoncelli than his job as an administrative leader: a caring, enthusiastic individual whose passion lies in helping and watching others succeed.

Holiday: On Christmas by Maria Bordonaro

Is the internet ruining Christmas? With the ease of a simple click, any speculation or uncertainty one may have can be answered. Why is it that at younger and younger ages, children stop believing in Santa Claus? The innocence and amazement that once ran through children’s faces has been slowly dwindling as Internet access is available to younger demographics Take, for example, a friend of mine’s sister. When I was her age, I believed in Santa, as well as my friends. Imagining Saint Nick coming down the chimney and placing presents for all children made me excited for Christmas. It allowed children to see past the commercialism and stress, the draining bank accounts and frustrated parents. However, after my friend’s little sister heard a child in school refuting his existence, she immediately turned to the Internet to ask the question, “Is Santa real?” You can imagine what the results were. Yes, it is saddening to realize that Christmas won’t be as magical; but for many of us, the transition between believing in Santa Claus and not believing was not painful. However, the most concerning part extends the effects of Santa. Children have been exposed to more than they should at certain ages. Usually these instances leave temporary scarring, and no permanent psyche damage, like the time I saw a certain YouTube video in which the creator made two of my favorite cartoon characters engage in bloody battle. Not something you’d wish to see when looking for some funny videos when you’re six years old, but something I could get over nonetheless. On the other hand, many younger children find themselves on vulgar sites, sites promoting extreme political stances, and material just not suited for those who are not mature.

In this day and age, I find it extremely unfair that a solution to this problem would be restricting Internet access to younger children (12 and down). The internet provides valuable information and life lessons that even some of the best parents can not give to their children. I also do not think that parental locks on certain websites help either. Just because your child cannot access a certain site at home does not mean they won’t go over a friend’s house and access those restricted sites. What I personally believe is, well,  nothing can be done. It is an unusual stance on the subject, but from personal experience, I find it the most plausible. If the parents and child have strong communicative skills and trust, any concerning material a child finds should be not hidden from parents. Parents should also place trust in their skills and their child. When I was growing up, not once did it cross my mind that it was a good idea to continue on an Internet page I found shady, or even look it up in the first place.

Concerning my friend’s sister, it wasn’t her fault or her parents. Simply, I believe, it was her time to realize that Santa was not real. But for many children, this is not the case. Exposure to the crude and disgusting, suggestive and mature corrupts and sometimes leads to real life violence in children. So, the real question isn’t if the Internet is ruining Christmas, but is the Internet ruining innocence?