Yue Opera performers at MHC

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke College

Chinese Yue Opera stars Qi Tao (L) and Jun’An Wang (R) performed scenes at Mount Holyoke last week.

BY RENN ELKINS ’20 AND HEALY MILLER ’19

Mount Holyoke’s Rooke Theatre hosted a performance of Chinese Yue Opera scenes featuring award-winning actors Jun’an Wang and Qi Tao on Friday, Oct. 26. Wang and Tao flew in from China specially for this event and performed three scenes from the classic operas “Liu Yi Delivers a Letter for the Dragon King’s Daughter,” and “Searching for and Probing the Wife,” featuring full costume, makeup and choreography.

Natalie Portman: Behind the director’s chair

Natalie Portman: Behind the director’s chair

BY MIRANDA WHEELER ’19

General audiences may feel they know Natalie Portman from her years as a Hollywood star, but she is hardly done evolving. Portman is a prolific, critically acclaimed and award-winning actress, already an enduring A-list household name at 37 and showing no signs of slowing down. Instead she’s speeding up and expanding her repertoire to include a turn in the director’s chair.

Harassment allegations silence All India Bakchod

Harassment allegations silence All India Bakchod

BY SHLOKA GIDWANI ’22

The Indian YouTube channel All India Bakchod (AIB) recently faced controversy after a freelance comedian who worked with the channel, Utsav Chakraborty, was accused of sexual harassment. Writer and comedian Mahima Kukreja shared a Twitter thread on Oct. 4 accusing Chakraborty of sending her unsolicited pictures of his genitals. She also spoke on behalf of other women, some minors, who were either harassed by Chakraborty or felt unsafe in his presence.

Glaspell’s Trifles at Rooke Theatre

Glaspell’s Trifles at Rooke Theatre

BY MIRANDA WHEELER ’19

“Well, women are used to worrying over trifles,” said Mr. Hale, played by Kylie Levy ’21 in last week’s production of Susan Glaspell’s 1916 one-act play “Trifles,” directed by Brianna Sloane. With set design by technical director Shawn Hill, lighting design by Lara Dubin, costume design by Elizabeth Lowe ’19 and dramaturgy from Heidi Holder, the one-act play opened Rooke Theatre’s Fall 2018 season.

Student-led zine creates “[S]PACE” at reception

Student-led zine creates “[S]PACE” at reception

BY EMMA MARTIN ’20

This Sunday, Oct. 13, Sarah Cavar ’20 held a reception for the publication of their collaborative zine, “[S]PACE,” featuring student work from self-identified members of the disabled community. The event was meant to elicit new creation; Cavar shared prompts for those gathered to write and create with during the event.

Banksy or Bogus?

Banksy or Bogus?

BY SARAH CHAIT ’21

Well it looks like our good friend Banksy is back to his old tricks again after a prolonged media silence. This latest stint by the English artist occurred about two weeks ago at an evening auction in the historic Sotheby’s, when a piece by Banksy titled “Girl with Balloon” sunk into its frame and shredded itself the split second it was sold to an unnamed buyer for 1.04 million British pounds ($1.36 million). The stunned crowd was unsure if this was the work of the enigmatic Banksy himself, but it was later confirmed to be Banksy’s doing by the artist himself as well as Pest Control, a society for the authentication of street art.

“Big Mouth” season two charms with discomfort

“Big Mouth” season two charms with discomfort

BY GABBY RAYMOND ’20

Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, the stars of the Netflix series “Big Mouth,” took their audience on a cringeworthy 10-episode journey in their sophomore season. The show toggles between raunchy sing-along adult cartoon and the sexed class we all wish we had in high-school, though maybe not with P.E. teacher Coach Steve. There are moments you will not physically be able to look at the screen and others when you laugh so hard you cry — either way, the cesspool of middle school hormones is so relatable you’re going to have to buckle in for a binge watch.

“Searching” a triumph of experimental filmmaking

“Searching” a triumph of experimental filmmaking

BY ERIN CARBERRY ’19

Originally premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2018 before landing in box offices this August, “Searching” is a dramatic thriller that follows David Kim (John Cho, “Star Trek”) through his increasingly desperate search for his missing 16-year-old daughter Margot (Michelle La, “Mom”). Aiding him in his search are his lazy younger brother, Peter (Joseph Lee, “Miracle That We Met”), and Detective Rosemary Vick (Debra Messing, “Will & Grace”).

Red carpet activism: political fashions at the 70th Emmy Awards

BY TESS TUITOEK ’21

The use of award shows as political platforms for celebrities has been a part of Hollywood for a long time. With the advent of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, stars and activists have used the red carpet as a platform to speak up about sexual assault, wearing all black in solidarity with the Time’s Up movement at the 75th Golden Globes.

“Ocean’s 8” delights crowd at Film Society screening

“Ocean’s 8” delights crowd at Film Society screening

BY SABA FIAZUDDIN ’21

The Mount Holyoke Film Society held their first event of the semester on Friday, a screening of the feature film, “Ocean’s 8.” The film stars Sandra Bullock (“Miss Congeniality”) as Debbie Ocean, the sister of the original franchise’s iconic character Danny Ocean (played by George Clooney, “Up In the Air”).

“A Simple Favor”: Plot twists leave audiences dizzy

“A Simple Favor”: Plot twists leave audiences dizzy

BY ERIN CARBERRY ’19

Based on the debut thriller novel of the same name by Darcey Bell, “A Simple Favor” follows widow and single mom Stephanie (Anna Kendrick, “Up in the Air”) as she befriends the enigmatic Emily (Blake Lively, “The Age of Adaline”). When Emily disappears, Stephanie becomes obsessed with finding her friend and is quickly drawn into the tangled web of Emily’s secrets. As the story unfolds and more stones are overturned, the audience discovers that no one — not even wholesome, mommy-vlogger Stephanie — is as innocent as they seem. But how far can a story like this go before it becomes too far-fetched to follow?

Film review: “Mamma Mia 2! Here We Go Again”

Film review: “Mamma Mia 2! Here We Go Again”

BY MIRANDA WHEELER ’19

“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” serves as a playful reminder that art does not have to imitate life — it just needs to celebrate it. With the first film’s takeaway point being an ode to laughing one’s way through messy-wonderful accidents, the second takes a similar tone: loving company (and maybe a good party) as a remedy for grief. The film is a bubbly, feel-good tribute to the (spoiler alert) now-late Donna (Meryl Streep, “The Devil Wears Prada.”)

Get Involved!: Arts Orgs on Campus

BY EMMA MARTIN ’20

Missed the Involvement Fair this Sunday? Looking to get in touch with your creative side this semester? Here’s what a few of the Mount Holyoke arts organizations are up to on campus!

Summer 2018: Vacation Vocations

Every summer, Mount Holyoke students go off into the real world for internships and experiences that will shape them for the rest of their lives. Some of our MoHos venture into more artistic endeavors. Arts & Entertainment talked to some of these students about their summers and the work they did in their respective fields.

“Lost in Space” joins expanding crew of impressive Netflix t.v. series

“Lost in Space” joins expanding crew of impressive Netflix t.v. series

BY ERIN CARBERRY ’19

Released on April 13, Netflix’s “Lost in Space” is a reimagining of the 1960s sci-fi classic television show of the same name. When the project was first announced, audiences had their reservations: some feared another gritty sci-fi reboot while others had flashbacks to the series’ last attempt at a reboot, the universally panned 1998 film. Overall, hesitant audiences have nothing to fear: the series has heart, wit and cleverness in equal measure.

A film worth fighting for: Disney struggles with remake of “Mulan”

A film worth fighting for: Disney struggles with remake of “Mulan”

BY EMMA RUBIN '20

“Dishonor on your whole family! Dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow!” The famous line comes from Disney’s 1998 animated film, “Mulan.” With Disney’s recent fetish for remaking films, it’s not surprising that the company decided to give “Mulan” the live-action treatment.

Schumer’s “I Feel Pretty” Struggles to Empower Women

Schumer’s “I Feel Pretty” Struggles to Empower Women

BY JAHIYA CLARK ’20

Society has conditioned women to believe that they must look “pretty” to be happy, but how valuable is  feeling “pretty?” In Amy Schumer’s new comedy “I Feel Pretty,” the running joke for most of the film is that the main character, Renee Bennett (played by Schumer, “Trainwreck”) thinks she is conventionally pretty. The joke is that it’s only in her head.

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