The Waltonian

Every year comes and goes, and every year the Oscars Academy Award show never fails to produce drama to be talked about year-round or simply be a waste of 3-4 hours. According to Statista, the 2021 Oscars showed the lowest viewer numbers in the award show’s history with only 10.4 million people tuning in live. For context, the 2020 Oscars had 23.6 million viewers. Since the low point of 2021, the award show has been slowly climbing back up to its previous popularity, reaching 18.7 million viewers in 2023. As the movie industry has sparked more drama and popularity in these last 12 months, the 2024 Oscars might get even closer to reaching their old acclaim. To prepare Eastern University for this year’s Oscars, the Waltonian has compiled a list of the major nominees. We’ll also dive into a little bit of the controversies already present before the show has even taken place.

To begin, the nominees for Best Picture: “American Fiction,” “Anatomy of the Fall,” “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “Oppenheimer,” “Past Lives,” “Poor Things,” “The Zone of Interest.”

While most critics and fans seem to be leaning towards “Oppenheimer” taking this prestigious award, viewers shouldn’t be too surprised if any of these other films win. “American Fiction,” and “Poor Things” might be two dark horses in this race.

The nominees for Best Actress in a Leading Role: Annette Bening (“Nyad”), Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”), Emma Stone (“Poor Things”).

One of the biggest controversies taking over the internet surrounding the 2024 Oscars is that while “Barbie” has been nominated for Best Picture, the film’s lead actress, Margot Robbie, has not been nominated for Best Actress. This situation is made more awkward by the fact that Robbie’s co-star, Ryan Gosling, will be appearing in the following list of nominees. However, don’t let this controversy distract you from the other phenomenally talented women nominated for this award! All of them deserve to be on this list.

The nominees for Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”), Robert De Niro (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”), Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”), Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”).

Clearly just some lesser-known actors pitted against each other for this award. Sterling K. Brown? Rober De Niro? Anyone know these folks? In all seriousness: this is a crazy line-up of heavy hitters.

The nominees for Best Actor in a Lead Role: Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”), Colman Domingo (“Rustin”), Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”), Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”), Jeffery Wright (“American Fiction”).

While all of these men are extraordinarily talented, it seems highly likely that Cillian Murphy will be winning this award. That being said, all of these performances should be recognized as some of the best we’ve seen in years.

The nominees for Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Emily Blunt (“Oppenheimer”), Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”), America Ferrera (“Barbie”), Jodie Foster (“Nyad”), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers).

Once again, while there may be no wrong answers here, Emily Blunt and Danielle Brooks would probably be the favorites to win this award.

The nominees for Best Director: Justine Triet (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Martin Scorsese (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Christopher Nolan (“Oppenheimer”), Yorgos Lanthimos (“Poor Things”), Jonathan Glazer (“Zone of Interest”).

While it is strange that Greta Gerwig has not been nominated for Best Director for directing “Barbie” as it is nominated for Best Picture, and while I am all for pointing out the bias and stupidity of the Academy, it should be noted that only five of the directors of the nominees for Best Picture are featured here. Cord Jefferson (“American Fiction”), Alexander Payne (“The Holdovers”), Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”) and Celine Strong (“Past Lives”) are also missing from this list.

There are many other categories worth talking about that this article will not have space to give attention to. Best Original Score, Best Animated Feature Film, Best Costume Design and Best Visual Effects are all exciting categories. For the complete list of nominations, readers can go to the official website of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

As the editor of the Arts & Entertainment section for the Waltonian, a fan of movies and art and as a college student who enjoys procrastinating on his work, I highly recommend at least following the results of the 2024 Oscars Academy Award Show, even if you aren’t inclined to sit and watch 3-4 hours of celebrities sitting and chatting.

The 2024 Oscars Academy Award Show will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and will be live on ABC on Sunday, March 10 from 7-10 p.m.

Sources: Oscars.org, Statista

Stand-up comedians have been around for decades, some would even argue that the concept of stand-up comedy originates from court jesters, which would date stand-up comedy as centuries old. Across cultures, jesters served many roles reaching from simple entertainment to political critique and correction.

Today, stand-up comedians continue to carry on that fluctuating tradition. Some comedians are known for their political opinions and activism, while others are known for their family-friendly humor. However, despite the history of stand-up comedy and the immense ranks of incredibly famous comedians, stand-up comedy seems to be becoming less entertaining and less politically acceptable in our current age of media. This change is partially due to a select few comedians failing in their role to entertain or critique, but it is primarily due to how we are consuming stand-up comedy.

In 2013, Netflix added their first stand-up comedy specials to their streaming service, Aziz Ansari’s “Buried Alive.” This changed everything. As Netflix and other streaming services recognized the immense popularity of stand-up comedy, more and more specials and comedy shows were being uploaded to the world. Popularity grew as comedians like John Mulaney, Jim Gaffigan, Amy Schumer and other famous figures were added to the digital ranks.

At first, this seems like an amazing idea. More people are able to experience famous comedians without having to shell out money for a live show, and lesser-known comedians are able to expand their career to more audiences. That being said, this digital age of stand-up comedy has ruined comedy in the long run. Stand-up comedy is an art form that is meant to be experienced in person with a limited audience. When the show is then added to the beasts that are streaming services, the experience is different for individuals, and the audience grows to an indefinite size.

When you go to a live stand-up comedy show, whether it be a famous figure or lesser-known comedian, the experience is unique. You go in not knowing exactly what to expect, you sit down and enjoy a couple hours of someone who has spent weeks preparing this performance especially for you. You’re caught off-guard, you let yourself be vulnerable and laugh with those around you and when the show is done, you leave having had a shared experience of vulnerability, genuine laughter and a break from the rest of the world.

Two things changed when comedy became a streamed experience rather than a live, raw experience: (1) we as a society consume such a high level of stand-up comedy that it loses its power, its vulnerability, its shock and its joy. Our standards have shot up so high that the second a person starts speaking into a microphone we are comparing them to other comedians.

(2) Comedians lose the protection of their tradition that stems from a limited audience. Comedians, like jesters, have a role they can fill to use their comedy and their humor to critique society, government and all things we are too afraid to talk about. This traditional role of humor is protected by a limited audience, where some folks will often still critique the comedian, but audiences are in the raw moment enjoying the experience. When a show is uploaded to Netflix, or even worse, when a little segment of the comedian’s words is put up on Tik Tok, the entire world takes the words out of the context of the show out of the context of the raw, live experience, and prepares to throw stones at the one poking holes in the things we don’t like to talk about.

Now, no part of this argument is meant to defend comedians who clearly have no taste, a lack of creativity or poor judgment. Comedians are not safe from the consequences of their words and actions, and they should be held accountable when necessary. Look no further than Jo Koy or Matt Rife for recent examples. Look no further than Bill Crosby for former examples.

However, we as the audience need to be able to recognize that comedians do play a special role in our society. They are entertainers and distractors, but they are also able to seriously critique and push back against parts of our society that other people aren’t able to do. And we and the audience need to be better. Go watch your favorite comedy special on Netflix again if you want, and by all means sit down and watch that controversial bit from a show that comes up on your Tik Tok “for you” page, but I strongly encourage you to take a step back and experience stand-up comedy how it is meant to be experienced: in person, with a vulnerable mindset, surrounded by strangers who are looking for a laugh and insight into the faults of society.

And if you are deciding to continue to consume the digital age of comedy, take a second and a deep breath before you start to critique and hate comedians when they don’t meet your comedy standards or when they say something you disagree with. We can and should throw metaphorical tomatoes at comedians when they make poor decisions, but we also need to recognize when we as the audience are the problem.

While the Oscars might be more well-known, the Emmys Award Show continues to be a popular occasion to pay attention to. While the Emmys this year reached its smallest audience yet, the award show still had about 4.3 million viewers on live television. If you don’t know, while the Oscars are an award show for current films, the Emmys are an awards show for current television shows. As interest in movies is still generally going down, tv shows remain one of the most popular forms of entertainment in our world.

This year, the three most awarded television shows at the Emmys were “The Bear,” “Succession” and “Beef.” Both “The Bear” and “Succession” won 6 different major awards, and “Beef” won 5 major awards.

“The Bear,” a comedy-drama that follows a young talented chef who returns home to Chicago to run a family sandwich shop, debuted in 2022. In 2023, season two of “The Bear” was received just as warmly as the first season, if not warmer. “The Bear” has been sweeping some of the biggest awards for television along with the hearts of people across the country.

At this year’s Emmys, “The Bear” won Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Jeremy Allen White), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Ayo Edebiri), Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Christopher Storer) and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Christopher Storer).

Both seasons of “The Bear” can be watched on Hulu, and season 3 should be released around summer of 2024. Catch up on this emotional and humorous comedy-drama that’s rocking the world right now!

“Succession,” a comedy-drama that follows a family full of their own agendas in the midst of their patriarch stepping down as the world’s largest media conglomerates, debuted in 2018. The show has officially come to an end with the fourth and final season having debuted in 2023. Across its four seasons, “Succession” has won 19 major awards at the Emmys. “Succession” quickly had many viewers obsessed with its dialogue and dramatic story.

At this year’s Emmys, “Succession” won Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Kieran Culkin), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Sarah Snook), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Matthew Macfadyen), Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Mark Mylod) and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (Jessie Armstrong).

All four seasons of “Succession” can be watched on MAX. While the show has come to an end, it is still very worth watching through and discovering why it created such a tidal wave in the television community.

“Beef,” a comedy-drama mini-series that follows two strangers who are involved in a road-rage incident, debuted in 2023 and won 5 awards at the 75th annual Emmys this year. The director, Lee Sung Jin, is currently contracted with both Netflix and Marvel.

At this year’s Emmys, “Beef” won Outstanding Limited Series or Anthology, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology (Steven Yeun), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Anthology (Ali Wong), Outstanding Directing for Limited Series or Anthology (Lee Sung Jin) and Outstanding Writing for Limited Series or Anthology (Lee Sung Jin).

In addition to the Primetime Emmy Awards, there were also several other awards given out at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards show. Some standout winners include Nick Offerman (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series) from “The Last of Us,” Maya Rudolph (Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance) from “Big Mouth” and Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series (“The White Lotus”).

While awards shows are not often the most exciting events to watch, and while they often take a very long time to get through, it can be fun to check afterward to see who won. Many fans of “The Bear,” “Succession” and “Beef” will be happy to see that their shows did phenomenal. Fans of more niche shows like “The Last of Us” and “House of the Dragon” should know that their shows did get recognized for some of their performances and technical talent. There are even awards given to talk shows, reality shows and commercials. So keep up with your favorite pieces of media outside the realm of film, and follow along next award season to see how your favorites do!

By: Brian Lines

As we look back on the movies of 2022, the 2023 Oscars results have a little bit of surprise mixed with a pinch of met expectations. With over 50 films being nominated for various awards at the prestigious ceremony, only 13 different movies walked away with awards. So let’s dive right in to looking at the surprises of this year!

The first and hardest to predict surprises of every year are the films that didn’t attain even a single award. These include “The Banshees of Inisherin” who came in with the second most nominations (nine), “Tár” a divisive yet widely popular film and “Elvis.” All three of these films came into the Oscars nominated as Best film and multiple other categories yet walked away with nothing.

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of this year’s Oscars came before the ceremony even began, with the nominations. Many movie fans were surprised to see “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Top Gun: Maverick” listed as nominations for Best Picture.

In contrast to the style and themes of the other nominations, these two films were some of the biggest blockbuster films of the year and both leaned into nostalgia and visuals perhaps more than their storytelling. Both films walked away with one award each, “Avatar” with Best Visual Effects and “Top Gun” with Best Sound.

Now let’s take a look at some of the expectations that were met by the end of the night. “Everything Everywhere all at Once” came into the ceremony with the most nominations (11) and walked away with seven wins, including five of the six biggest awards: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Director(s). The chaotic but popular film was not nominated for Best Actor as it starred the wonderfully talented Michelle Yeoh, who became famous from a 1990s series of Hong Kong action films in which she performed her own stunts. Michelle Yeoh is an accomplished actress and martial artist who certainly deserved her award.

Perhaps the most emotional moment of the night was Ke Huy Quan’s acceptance of the Best Supporting Actor award. Quan starred as a child in the second “Indiana Jones” film and “The Goonies,” but has had a struggling acting career since. And yet the performance that Quan gave in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” was one matching a top-class, A-list actor. The pure joy that Quan displayed at the ceremony was enough to make anyone smile.

“All Quiet on the Western Front” came away with the second most awards (four) including Best International Feature Film. The WWI film, all in German, was perhaps the most well crafted film present, winning Best Production Design and Best Cinematography.

“The Whale” was the final of the only three films that got more than one award, coming away with two Oscars. Famous 1990s and early 2000s actor Brendan Fraser made a great comeback in his career winning the Best Actor award after starring in “The Whale.” Fraser has become a widely popular figure due to his genuine kindness and his emotional response to all the love the internet and masses have shown him recently as he has made his way back into the spotlight.

“RRR,” “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” “Navalny,” “An Irish Goodbye,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Women Talking,” “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Elephant Whisperers” and “Top Gun: Maverick” all walked away with one award each.

By: Brian Lines

Every four years, in the summer, the world’s largest sporting event takes place. The FIFA World Cup was last played in Russia in 2018, where France made their mark by defeating Croatia in the cup final.

Four years have passed since the spectacle that was the 2018 World Cup, but summer of 2022 came and went without the international soccer tournament happening. This is because the 2022 World Cup is going to be a little different than the rest.

In 2010, FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) named Qatar as the World Cup host country for 2022. Because of Qatar’s climate, the tournament has been slated to start in November, rather than June.

This will be the first time the World Cup has ever been played in the Northern Hemisphere winter months. Before diving into the biggest stories circulating the 2022 World Cup, let’s start with the controversies.

Since 2010, when FIFA awarded Qatar with the 2022 host position for the World Cup, investigations have been launched into potential vote-buying on the part of the nation. World Cup host bids are sifted through and selected by 24 FIFA executives. According to The Washington Post, two of the 24 executives were caught before the 2010 host election offering their votes for cash. However, FIFA maintains that the selection of Qatar fits their goal of expanding soccer into new regions of the world.

According to BBC, after their selection, Qatar began work on seven brand new soccer stadiums, a new airport, a new public transportation system, new roads and around 100 new hotels. Additionally, Qatar has essentially constructed a whole new city around the stadium set to host the cup final. According to Qatar’s government, around 30,000 foreign workers have been hired just for the stadium construction.

Multiple human rights organizations have been protesting Qatar’s treatment of the laborers they have brought over their borders. In a 2021 report from Human Rights Watch, the workers have been suffering from illegal wage deductions, months of unpaid wages and long hours of work. According to BBC, the worker treatment in Qatar is arguably forced labor.

In 2021, The Guardian reported that 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since the nation won their World Cup bid. The Qatar government claims that there have only been 37 deaths, and that only three of them were work-related. No matter what the numbers truly are, it is clear that it has been a human rights mess to have the 2022 World Cup hosted in Qatar.

However, the preparation for the World Cup is only half of the controversy surrounding the tournament. With the temporary change of the timing of the cup, the tournament will be played right in the middle of most leagues’ seasons. The English Premier League will have played 16 weeks before the World Cup, and will play 22 more weeks after the cup.

As most players participating in the World Cup are going to be jumping into the international tournament right in the middle of their regular club seasons, the risk of injuries has skyrocketed. What might have typically been a small, two/three-week recovery, is now an injury that takes players out of the largest soccer stage in the world. The English national team have already lost two key defensive players to injury: Reece James and Ben Chilwell. Tottenham FC’s Son Heung-min is potentially out of the World Cup due to a fractured eye socket, putting South Korea’s hopes down at the potential loss of their captain. It is safe to say that this World Cup will be an unpredictable tournament due to the loss of key players for some teams.

Now let’s move on to some of the big stories that will be found in the tournament itself. The 2022 World Cup is one of the most important and emotional World Cups in recent years as it will be the final World Cup for some very, very big names.

In an ESPN interview, Lionel Messi (35) said, “Surely, this will be my final World Cup.” Cristiano Ronaldo (37) told beIN sports, “I expect Qatar could be my final World Cup.” Neymar Jr. (29) has said, “I think it’s my last World Cup.”

These three players are some of the most well-known soccer players in history, and none of them have won a World Cup with their respective teams: Argentina, Portugal and Brazil. Will one of these giants secure the trophy in their last World Cup?

Sadly this will probably be the last World Cup for many other big names as well. These players include: Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Luis Suárez (Uruguay), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay), Luka Modrić (Croatia), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Thomas Müller (Germany), Dani Alves (Brazil), Thiago Silva (Brazil), Eden Hazard (Belgium), Hugo Lloris (France), Olivier Giroud (France), Sergio Busquets (Spain) and Pepe (Portugal).

The United States has made it back into the tournament after missing out in 2018. The U.S. has only qualified for the cup nine times and usually don’t get out of the group stage or round of 16. The best the U.S. has ever done in the World Cup was the very first time they qualified; in 1930 the U.S. finished third in the World Cup.

Could this be the year the U.S. makes their mark in the world of soccer? They have a good team this year, with multiple players playing for big European clubs. How far can captain Christian Pulisic lead the team? The U.S. starts in Group B with England, Wales and Iran.

There are only four African teams in the 2022 World Cup out of the 32 teams present: Senegal, Morocco, Cameroon and Ghana. No African team has ever finished in the top four places in the World Cup. This year there’s a good chance.

While Morocco, Cameroon and Ghana have all struggled to get international wins, Senegal is another story. At the 2022 Confederation of African Football (CAF) awards, Senegal was named the team of the year, and they won both coach of the year (Aliou Cissé) and player of the year (Sadio Mané). Senegal is a very good team right now, and stands a chance of making it further than any African team in history.

Meanwhile, two European teams look to solidify their place on the top of the world. France won in 2018, shocking the world with a deadly mix of experience and youth. Kylian Mbappé made his name as one of the best up-and-coming players at the age of only 19. After four years of playing in Paris at one of the best clubs in the world, he and the French national team will be looking to get another big win, especially after not even making it to the final of the 2020 European cup.

Belgium is a bit of a different talking point. In the last four years, Belgium has been rated by FIFA as the international team of the year. That being said, Belgium has never made it to the final of the World Cup, but did come very close in 2018, losing out to Croatia in the semi-final and taking third place. With players like Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Youri Tielemans and many more, Belgium should have more wins than they do. Could this be the year they finally reflect their rating?

So who will win this year? I’ll give you a few options. Firstly, France remains a very deadly team and will be pushing for a win after not even making it to the final of the UEFA Euros. Then there is Brazil, who has one of the most well-rounded teams in the world and will be pushing to win the World Cup, as they haven’t won since 2002 despite having won more than any other nation.

But then there is Argentina; Argentina beat Brazil in the 2021 Copa America (the South American tournament) and they have a very solid team led by the one and only Lionel Messi. Argentina made it to the World Cup final in 2014 and lost to Germany… they will be seeking a win for Messi’s last World Cup.

While (in my opinion) France, Brazil and Argentina have the best odds of winning, anything can happen in the World Cup, especially one as emotional and controversial as the 2022 World Cup is shaped out to be. The group stage of the World Cup begins at 11 a.m. on Nov. 20.

Sources: BBC, The Washington Post

By: Brian Lines

Students usually use our Warner Memorial Library for three functions: a quiet space to get work done or get away from people, study rooms as a social environment and sometimes they check out a book or two. I’m going to provide you with something new in the library to do whenever you’re not getting work done or spending time with friends.

There are around 30 different pieces of art publicly available in the Warner Memorial Library, and the range of variety is quite astonishing. Easily, the majority of pieces of art in the library are by George H. Rothacker, and most of them detail seasonal scenes of our campus.

“Untitled” by Leger. Source: Brian Lines & Simon Kwilinski/The Waltonian

The 13 paintings of our campus by Rothacker are found around the walls of the first floor of the library, along with two additional works by Rothacker. The final, 16th piece by Rothacker featured in our library is on the top floor and is titled “Disappointment.” It features what looks like seven school-aged children outside of a classroom in Cuba.

One of the additional pieces on the first floor is titled “Hemingway Slept Here” and it details a scene of what it would look like if Ernest Hemingway were sitting in his old home in Cuba as it is today, filled with his paintings and books and such.

While Rothacker fills most of the wall space in our library, he is not the only artist featured. Warner Library has a variety of prints of famous paintings and works of art. One of my favorites is a print of “The Last Judgment” on the top floor. “The Last Judgment” is an engraving by Charles Mottram of a painting by John Martin; essentially, we have a print of an engraving of a painting. “The Last Judgment” features a very dramatic (almost Tolkien-esque) depiction of what seems to be the Biblical end of times.

Back down on the first floor, we can see four more pieces donated by Earl and Judi Reeder. These four pieces are prints of paintings by Andrew Wyeth. “Soaring,” a painting of three large vulture-like birds, is joined by a painting of a white fence on a snowy hillside (I was unable to find a title). Meanwhile “Liberty Launch,” a painting of a small boat in front of a house is joined by “Alvaro and Christina,” a painting of the interior of a house featuring a dirty blue door.

While there are many more pieces of art found in the Warner Library, allow me to end this article with In-Ho Oh. In-Ho Oh was a 26-year-old graduate student from Korea who was studying at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1950s. According to NBC News, “On April 28, 1958, he was walking from a mailbox back to his home when he was beaten to death by a group of 11 black youth.” The death of In-Ho Oh sparked political urgency in the city of Philadelphia to combat crime, but the parents of the victim had a different mindset. Framed in the Warner Library is a copy of the letter the parents of In-Ho Oh sent to the mayor of Philadelphia. In the letter, the parents plead with the mayor to give the assailants the “most generous treatment possible.” They also sent a petition to start a fund for the children for their “religious, educational, vocational and social guidance.” They described their sorrow for the death of their son as “being turned into Christian purpose.” Unfortunately, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, one of the assailants was sentenced to death, three to life sentences and the rest to prison terms.

Along with the copy of the letter from In Ho Oh’s parents, the Warner Library features a fan from Korea and a painting by Ki Chang Kim of a large mountain. This collection on In-Ho Oh can be found on the first floor of the library.

So next time you’re in the library, not wanting to do work or be around people, I highly recommend walking around the floors admiring the art. Maybe you’ll find a favorite piece, or learn a new story.

Sources: NBC News, The Inquirer

By: Brian Lines

Eastern University’s theater department recently put on “The Illusion,” a play by Tony Kushner that was adapted from Pierre Corneille’s 1634 play “L’Illusion Comique” in 1994. The show is full of romantic drama, passionate rivalries, magic and a look into a complex father-son relationship.

Freshman Amari Dickerson portrayed the unorthodox hero in Eastern’s production of “The Illusion.” Dickerson excellently shifted with the character between a passionate lover to a submissive servant to an ambitious conqueror full of swagger. Dickerson’s well-rounded performance was not alone.

The power of a smaller cast was displayed in full force with Eastern University’s production of “The Illusion.” There weren’t a mess of characters on stage to keep track of, and the performers were able to show off their abilities with a mix of stock and complex characters.

Senior Caitlyn Casey gave a chilling performance of Elicia, the maid. Dancing between a clever servant in search of intrigue and an impoverished woman seeking wealth and love, Casey displayed a fantastic and eye-catching performance in every scene.

Sophomore Richie Izzo gave the show a level of physical comedy that was carefully balanced with a more intimidating character by the end of the show. Izzo, essentially playing the rival to Dickerson’s character across the show, had the audience laughing away in one scene and silenced at the killing of Dickerson’s character in another. Additionally, Izzo also composed the dramatic score for the show, which certainly added to the tone throughout.

Across the three major scenes in the show, the transition to the final third displayed darker and perhaps more realistic characters and themes. This transition is highlighted by Megan Odland’s performance as Melibea, the love interest to Dickerson’s character.

While Odland plays a rather stock and Shakespearean lady with little to no agency in the first two scenes, her acting truly came forth in the final third. Having been married to Dickerson’s Calisto for some time and realizing that he has been having an affair, Odland’s Melibea confronts Calisto, creating the most relationally tense scene in the show. This scene is reminiscent of Henrik Ibsen’s final act in “A Doll’s House.”

Seth Miller steps into the show in the second scene with the rather unexpectedly entertaining and surprising Matamore. Matamore, resembling the Commedia dell’arte stock character of Il Capitano, is a braggart soldier who is really a coward who wants the attention and adoration of those around him. Miller joins Izzo in providing the majority of the comedy in the show.

“The Illusion” is a tricky play because it works more like a play within a play; most of the action takes place in performance being displayed in a cave by two mysterious characters for the old man, Pridamant. Rachel Macolino’s performance as the aging, regretful father of Calisto can’t be overlooked. While Macolino spends most of the play watching the action, it is almost like the action is coming from within Pridamant’s head and memories. Macolino captured the complexity of a father full of pride but also regret and fear.

Working the stage the entirety of the play alongside Macolino is Carly Mills’ Alcandre and Caroline Herring’s Amanuensis. Mills’ gave such an enthusiastic and passionate performance as Alcandre, the strange magician who provides the illusions throughout the show, it felt as if she was born for the role. Between the laughter and dramatic movement, Mills’s performance brought laughter and chills.

Meanwhile, Herring’s performance as Amanuensis, the rather unwilling servant of Alcandre, was stellar. Herring’s crawling across the stage and strange sounds echoed the eeriness and curiosity of her character perfectly.

One cannot write a review of this show without congratulating the technical work and leadership of the production. The simple yet powerful set design of rope and chain worked hand in hand with the mostly plain lighting throughout the whole show. This allowed the color and starkness of the period-accurate costumes to be as powerful as possible. The designers of this show, William Bryant, Lindsay Stevens and Bethany Miller, along with their crews should be very proud of themselves. Everyone who had a hand in this show should be very proud, they all deserve a place in this review.

Finally, Dr. Flower and Anna Davis: take a bow. The cohesiveness and quality of this production only goes to display the leadership behind it. “The Illusion” was a high quality, entertaining show that should give Eastern University hope for the future of its theater program.

By: Brian Lines

The Philadelphia Union, Philadelphia’s professional soccer team in Major League Soccer (MLS), have had a wonderfully successful 2022 season. The Union have ended in the top five in the Eastern Conference in the MLS the past four years, coming in sixth the year before.

The Union finished the regular season this year on the top of the Eastern Conference (out of 14 teams) and second in the entire league, behind only the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC).

Philadelphia had a 56% win rate in their 34 games of the season, with 19 wins, 10 draws and only five losses. They had the league’s highest goal difference with 46; the next highest was LAFC with 28. The Union had the most goals and assists in the MLS this season with 72 goals and 72 assists.

Two standout players for the Union in the regular season were goalkeeper Andre Blake and midfielder Dániel Gazdag. Blake had the most clean sheets in the league this season with 15 and was named MLS Goalie of the Year. Gazdag has the second most goals scored in the league with 22 goals, only one behind Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar.

Additionally, Philadelphia’s coach, Jim Curtin, has been named the MLS Coach of the Year, and Jakob Glesnes has been named Defender of the Year.

The Philadelphia Union had a bye week in the first round of the playoffs, then went on to beat FC Cincinnati 1-0 in round two (the Eastern Conference Semifinal).

While FC Cincinnati dominated the statistics of the game (holding more ball possession and having more shots than Philly), the Union kept pushing, and left-midfielder Leon Flach snuck in a goal in the 59th minute to secure the match. This was the first goal of the year for Flach, despite playing in every game of the season.

The Union have never won the MLS cup since joining the league in 2010 and have never even played in the final. The Union played in the Eastern Conference final on Sunday, Oct. 30th against New York City FC (NYCFC); this a repeat of last season’s Eastern Conference final in which NYCFC defeated the Union 2-1 to go on and win the final against Portland.

The 2022 MLS Cup Final will be played on Nov. 5. The winner of this year’s Eastern Conference final will play the winner of the Western Conference final, which will be either Austin FC or LAFC.

The Philadelphia Union have looked like a very good team for the last few seasons. I would draw the line of the upward-trending curve at the introduction of goalie Andre Blake in 2015. After a year or two of getting settled, Blake has been instrumental in the Union’s recent success.

Having a solid goalkeeper has allowed the Union flexibility when creating a strong defense and midfield. Now having such a strong defensive and controlling presence on the field, mix in the introduction of prolific goal-scoring players like Dániel Gazdag (joined in 2021) and Julián Carranza (joined this season) and you have a very dangerous team lineup. Additionally, the Union have secured a very talented coach in Jim Curtin.

In my opinion, the Philadelphia Union are currently the best soccer team in the MLS. The other good teams like LAFC, NYCFC, Seattle and LA Galaxy have been far too inconsistent to claim that title. Whether or not the Union wins the MLS cup this year, they have had an extraordinary season, and are likely to continue to do well for years to come.

Source: MLSsoccer.com

(Note: This article was sent to be published before the results of the Eastern Conference Final.)

By: Brian Lines

Halloween is quite different for college students than for children. Most college students aren’t dressing up in costumes and going trick or treating. Many students however will still dress up and go to Halloween parties… any excuse to spend time out with friends.

That being said, college students don’t usually put as much effort into their costumes as they did as a kid, simply because they don’t really need to. All you need is a simple costume put together by what you have to fit into a Halloween party. But there is something exciting and satisfying about planning and putting together an intentional costume for more than just a party.

So, rather than ask Eastern students what their costumes are for Halloween this year, this writer decided to ask folks what their favorite Halloween costume was from their childhood and if they are dressing up this year, what they are doing. There were a variety of answers.

Frankie, a freshman here at Eastern University said that their favorite costume from their childhood was “Peas in a pod! I was matching with my baby brother.” Dressing up in pairs or with a group of friends is a great way to feel more comfortable about wearing a costume but also a great way to enjoy the night more with a creative combination of characters. Frankie said that this year they “went as one of the trick-or-treaters from ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ to a Halloween party.” The three tricky children from the Tim Burton movie are the source of most of the crisis in the film… this is a wonderful costume idea for three friends!

Ella, a sophomore at Eastern said that their “favorite Halloween costume as a kid was a cowgirl, complete with spurs, chaps and a lasso.” One of the easiest and yet still fun ways to pick a costume is to find a type of character, not necessarily a specific one. Instead of trying to be an exact replica of a character, try putting your own spin and style on a kind of stock character. This also makes it an easier costume to put together. Ella said that “this year I am planning to dress up as a football player with my friends.” Putting on athletic gear is a quick and fun way to create costumes with a team of friends!

In response to what their favorite costume from their childhood was, Cait said: “I’d say my favorite Halloween costume from childhood is probably when I was 6 years old. That year I went as Princess Aurora, or Sleeping Beauty. My dress was sewn specifically for me by my grandmother, my older sister and I made a crown out of heavy-duty cardstock, and my mom let me borrow her wedding jewelry to tie it all together. I truly felt like a princess that year!”

Then in reply to the second question about Halloween this year, Cait said: “I have a couple outfits I plan to wear this year for Halloween, but on the actual day of Halloween I plan to dress up as the 13th Doctor from the BBC show ‘Doctor Who.’ ” The unique styles worn by the different regenerations of the sci-fi hero are great costume ideas, and Jodie Whittaker’s costume for the 13th Doctor is a fairly simple yet still unique and fun idea!

This writer dressed up as Anakin Skywalker, from “Star Wars” for a Halloween party already, and plans to dress up as Steve Harrington from “Stranger Things” this Halloween. His favorite costume from his childhood was a hobbit from “The Hobbit.” For many, their childhood and current media interests are their inspirations for their Halloween costumes.

Whatever you do for Halloween this year, it’s always fun to look back at past Halloweens.

By: Brian Lines

According to AP News, it was on March 7, 1979 that the Islamic state in Iran first announced that all women must wear hijabs in public. Today, 43 years later, this is still the law. All women who are citizens of Iran and who are visiting the country must wear a hijab in public. While there have been protests surrounding this law since the day after it was passed, these protests have recently taken up a new vigor. Mass groups of women are reported in Iran stripping off their hijabs and waving them in the air, sometimes even lighting them on fire.

As Amanda Taub states in her New York Times article, “it has come to symbolize the gulf between the population’s demands and what the government is willing, or even able, to provide.” These “modesty laws” were the reason for the arrest of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, in September.

Amini died in an intensive care unit, having been transferred there by the police, three days after her original arrest where she acquired injuries. The government has released a statement claiming that Amini died of a heart attack, but a released video of Amini in the police station with bruises and blood on her face mixed with her father’s claims of her being abused by the police has sparked the newfound fire in these protests.

In fact, as Taub wrote in her article, this is one of the most significant movements in the Islamic Republic since 1979. The conversation surrounding women’s rights, which continues to be a forefront conversation all around the world, is taking the form of protests against the hijab laws and the morality police enforcing them in Iran.

Amir-Hussein Radjy, for AP News, quoted Susan Maybud, a woman who participated in the original protest in 1979 the day after the passing of these so-called “modesty laws.” Maybud is quoted saying “It wasn’t just about the hijab, because we knew what was next, taking away women’s rights.”

Sources: AP News, The New York Times