Haunted House put on by The Equinox Theatre
Photos by Evie Lapalme

            Yesterday, I went to see the play, and I was pleasantly surprised. While it did not fully follow the classic tale, its twist was hilarious and enjoyable. The play started out with Alice (Hannah Everett) and the rabbit (Tim MacDonald-Bain) meeting and taking a trip through the rabbit hole. The rabbit disappears and Alice finds herself in a room with a table and a door that she cannot fit into. After complications with the door, she finds herself swimming in her own tears of frustration. She encounters a mouse (Katelyn Kraynyk), a dodo (Rachel Ruecker), a lory (Delaney Griffiths), an eagle (Syrah Khan), a crab (Thea Wessler) and a duck (Shelby Satterthwaite). Unfortunately, she frightens them with tales of her cat back home. Alice briefly meets the rabbit again, and then runs into a sassy caterpillar (Courtenay Lord). The caterpillar falls asleep, and their conversation is interrupted by a frog footman (Kate Assenheimer), who knocks on the Duchess’s door. She is greeted by a fish footman (Alexa Griffiths). Alice tries to enter, but the fish footman will not permit her. Alice goes in anyways, and runs into the Duchess (Alysen Bourhill), a very angry cook (Emma White) and a Cheshire cat (Rachel Garrett). She soon departs, only to run into the Cheshire cat again, who helps her find the Mad Hatter’s tea party. After, she has adventures with the Mad Hatter (Ingrid Bakke), the March Hare (Mackenzie Dobb) and a dormouse (Taylor Sherwin). Then three playing cards (Elissa Morgan, Kate Yahn, Jenna Thompson), trying to paint white roses red for the Queen of Hearts, a croquet game with the Queen of Hearts (Libby Dane) and the Duchess, a story with a gryphon (Michelle Doucet) and the mock turtle (Will Shelling). Then, the Knave of Hearts (Hailea Caldwell) is on trial and the King of Hearts (Cameron Thomson), the Mad Hatter and the March Hare are not help to the case. After Alice tries to save the Knave of Hearts, the Queen wants her beheaded, so she runs off and finds herself on a chessboard. She has a brief conversation with the Red Queen (Sophie Merritt), and then ends up meeting Tweedledum (Trevor Bee) and Tweedledee  (Liam McKinnon). Following this, she meets the White Queen (Sasha Ballon) and then Humpty Dumpty (Stephen Miller). The White Knight (Sam Hughes) appears, alongside his horse (Trevor Bee, Liam McKinnon) for a scene where I could literally not stop laughing. Back at the chessboard, Alice finds a crown, and then becomes queen, and holds a celebration with all the people and animals that she just met. However, she drifts away and wakes up underneath a tree, realizing she had fallen asleep.  Just like every year, the play was very well done. Great job SDSS!

Tera Meschino

"Split Second", our school's very own art show, opened at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn on Friday, April 25th. It showcases 40 students' artwork, including pieces by Ming Liu, Willow Swanson, Jenn Alton, Sasha Ballon and Matthew Hill.

All students participating are in Grades 10-12.

There are mostly drawings, paintings and photography on display; all relating with the theme of time.

The different pieces - which include a Lord of the Rings inspired drawing, numerous paintings and photographs taken at SDSS - will interest everyone.

Don't miss out - the show runs until Tuesday, May 20th!

-Camryn Smith

The long-anticipated return of the One-Act Festival finally happened! For those of you who aren't in the know, the One-Act Festival  has multiple one-act plays (short plays; 2-30 minutes) that are completely student led in every aspect of the show (production, acting, direction, etc.). This year's festival was on January 16th and 17th and had 4 plays each night - 4 of which were written by South Delta Secondary's own Cameron Thomson and Sophia Merritt! Although it's never been the highest attended of the Equinox Theatre's events, the turnout was higher than expected and the event was a huge success! Congratulations to everyone involved!

January 16th's line up was:

-The Office One by Sophia Merritt 
Directed by Sasha Ballon 
Cast: Trevor Bee, Josh Gibson, Hailea Caldwell and Kate Yahn.

-Park Bench on a Train by Richard Ian Cox 
Directed by Courtenay Lord 
Cast: Taylor Sherwin and Elizabeth Dane 

-The Troubled Times of Abby White and Evie Greyan by Cameron Thomson 
Directed by Cameron Thomson and Courtenay Lord 
Cast: Leigh Bourque, Elissa Morgan, Sophia Merritt, Stephen Miller and William Shelling 

AND

-The Camp One by Sophia Merritt 
Directed by Rachel Garrett 
Cast: Mackenzie Dobb, Kate Assenheimer, Delaney Griffiths, Hannah Everett, Rachel Ruecker, Liam McKinnon, Timothy MacDonald-Bain, Trevor Bee, Anna Sarafis, Taylor Sherwin, Cameron Thomson and Michelle Doucet 

January 17th's line up was:

-Death Takes the Train by D.M. Larson 
Directed by Mackenzie Dobb 
Cast: Rachel Ruecker, Stephen Miller, Thea Wessler, Timothy MacDonald-Bain and Hailea Caldwell 

-Super Hero Support Group (unknown authorship)
Directed by Michelle Doucet 
Cast: Elizabeth Dane, Sasha Ballon, Cameron Thomson, Shelby Satterthwaite, Mackenzie Dobb, Anna Sarafis and Ingrid Bakke.

-Red Card by Alan Robinson 
Directed by Thea Wessler 
Cast: Emma White, Jenna Thompson and Alexa Griffiths 

AND

-The Library One by Sophia Merritt 
Directed by Sophia Merritt 
Cast: Katelyn Kraynyk, Connor Dickson, Hannah Everett and Liam McKinnon

Attend local theatre, SDSS.

Elizabeth Dane

With the collaboration of South Delta Secondary's Pre-AP English 10, Pre-AP English 11 and Drawing & Painting classes and the South Delta Artists' Guild came a stunning show of art and writing themed A Capella.

The struggle, as Mrs. Reimer, teacher of Pre-AP English 11, stated, for writers was to manipulate the theme into something original, whether focusing on the voice aspect or musical aspect of a capella. Then, in November, art students and artists alike began their responses to the pieces using different mediums, primarily paint, watercolour and oil pastels. Both these parts came together to present the A Capella exhibit, which held its gala opening Saturday, January 11th from 1 pm - 3 pm. Awards were announced at 2 pm with three for writers and two for artists.

The award for Creative Use of Symbolism and Imagery went to Will Shelling in Pre-AP English 11 for his short story Haunting Beauty, one of his three submissions. It tells the story of a cathedral that represents a woman. Next, Anna Sarafis from Pre-AP English 10 was called up to accept an award for Creative Use of Voice for her not-so-short story The House of Aludra which deals with the discrimination against women in the Middle East in terms of education. The judges, Mrs. Reimer, Mr. Westinghouse, Ms. Koot and other English teachers, mentioned her subject choice was very original. Lastly, Shaun Coburn from Pre-AP English 11 was called up to accept an award for his Creative Way of Developing Theme in his poem Southlands.

Next, the art awards were called up starting off with Matthew Hill, another Grade 11 student, for his response to Liam Mckinnon's Acapella. His piece, titled Race Car, won an award for Creative Colour. Then Jessica Hasker, also in Grade 11 received an award for Creative Subject for her piece The Beginning of a Rebel in response to the prose by Maya Bridger Denz from Pre-AP English 10.

The awards concluded with a draw for five gift cards. Jenah Smith in Grade 10, Keenan McConkey in Grade 11, Whitney Davis in Grade 11, Katie Williams in Grade 11 and Shaun Coburn, also in Grade 11, each received their prize for participation. The art and writing exhibit closes Sunday, January 19th at Gallery 1710, previously known as the Tsawwassen Longhouse Gallery. I would definitely suggest you check it out, especially the winners' pieces!

Aamenah Meghjee

The Devil's Advocate held a Photo of the Week contest about a month before Winter Break, allowing winning students to feature their photos on their column located on the Home page. Students were able to submit one photo for each of the four categories; Nature, Animals, Downtown Vancouver and Food. Submissions were taken in until Friday the 15th of November by email. Approximately 30 photos were submitted, majority for the Nature and Animals category, while almost 15 people participated, two already on the newspaper! Winning for the Nature category Monday, November 25th was Miranda Schulz in Grade 12 with her photo of Grouse Mountain. Then, the following week, Jaden Bach in Grade 11 won for his photo, titled "Underwater Paradise", in the Animals category. Kathinka Gundermann in Grade 11 won for her photo of Downtown Vancouver Monday, December 9th and finally, the last week before Winter Break, Polina Khlebnikova, also in Grade 11, won for her photo in the Food category. All winners were awarded a Starbucks gift card which they picked up from Ms. Oliver's room, Room 176. Their photos, along with those of the other participants, were also featured on a bulletin board in the Main Hall outside Mrs. Jobke's room, Room 104. All in all, I think it was safe to say the school newspaper had a difficult time voting for the winners' of each category; all the photos were so beautiful! Participants' photos are still open for viewing on the Devil's Advocate's Facebook page.

Aamenah Meghjee

No I am not lying, One Acts are finally back!  The one year break has been probably one of the hardest years.  If you do not know what One Acts are then you are missing out! One Acts is a blessed short play festival hosted, directed and acted by SDSS students!  On Wednesday morning while you all were having a beautiful collaboration day, theatre kids were assembled in the theatre for auditions.  By the end of the day the 7 plays were casted and on Thursday morning the cast list was posted!  One Acts is already underway and rehearsals are starting TODAY after school!  The festival will be on January 16th and 17th.  Stay tuned for more details on plays, rehearsals and tickets!

-Michelle Doucet-

Thursday, organizations from all over Delta also came out to participate in the Family Fright Fest by providing free booths for activities such as face painting and a bouncy castle. The McKee Seniors' Recreation Centre, as it does every year, opened its doors to young children for a night of trick or treating, story telling and creepy crafts as well. Another new addition, the Delta School District Dance Academy, participated by dancing as haunted fairytale characters around the forest in front of the house on both nights. Unlike last year, where all proceeds went to the Equinox Theatre for drama expenses, donations for entry were given to the BC Children's Hospital. It's safe to say that more than a hundred people visited the performance each night, making it a success once again.

Aamenah Meghjee
Video filmed and edited by Kama Sood and Tristan West

Us in the Theatre department have been waiting for this since Beauty & the Beast's closing night - this year's play has been announced! You've probably already seen the pictures above but there's always a need for a drumroll... Ba dum ba dum da dum ba dum ba da tSSSSSSS!!! (worst drumroll ever but...) ALICE IN WONDERLAND! And now the questions arises - which version will we be sticking to this year? Or perhaps a combination of elements from different versions? More like the book or more like the movie? Original or modern? We'll find out soon! Auditions are in the weeks to come and the cast list will be up shortly after... Expect more updates soon from this writer, one of your resident Theatre geeks.

RG