Mercy's Play Springs into Action

By Sydney Murray

          “Oh, well, I’m looking forward to everything. This play is very intriguing, and getting into character should be really fun. The Irish dialect will be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it, and I really cannot wait to see the African and Irish dancing. That will add a great dimension to the plot.” Stacey Kurzhals ’10 is enthusiastically awaiting the debut of Mercy’s spring play, Dancing at Lughnasa.

            Dancing at Lughnasa tells the story the Mundy family. It takes place in 1936 in the small town of Ballybeg in Donegal, Ireland. In the summer of 1936, the family is struggling to make ends meet. The story is a memory play in which the narrator tells the story of his childhood with his four aunts, his mom, and his uncle. He is looking back on the summer when he was seven years old. That summer was the last that he and his family were together and happy.

            Many of the seniors in the play have been  involved with theatre for many years. “I have been involved in theatre for about seven years,” says Maggie Kissinger ‘10. “I performed in my first musical when I was eleven for a dance studio and continued there up until high school. I have been involved in Mercy Theatre since freshmen year, either on crews, or in the shows. This is my fifth production that I am performing in.”

Katie Mootz ‘10 has been involved both on the stage, and off. “I have been involved since freshman year, mostly tech crew that year, though. I was always on crew for musicals. I was on running crew for three years, and then stage manager this year. I've been in Miracle Worker, Peter Pan, and now, Dancing at Lughnasa. And, of course, Freshman One Acts and Sophomore Show.”

            Some seniors seemed to be quite surprised to get a role. “I was very surprised to get a sister,” says Julia Kramer ‘10. “Auditions this year were very competitive and I saw a lot of really amazing actors in my audition and at call backs. My initial reaction was just being stunned. It took a second when I saw my name, for it to actually click, and then I may have blacked out a little because I don't remember much else.”

Kristen Gallagher ‘10 says, “I was dreaming, wishing, praying, dying to get a role. I wanted it really bad, so when I found out that I was cast, I was just thinking, ‘Oh my goodness , ooooooh my goodness.’ I had finally done it. I was just really happy.”

Many seniors in this year’s production are greatly looking forward to the play, but are also sad that it will be their last Mercy production. Nicole Woelfel ’10 says, “I’m sad, but hopefully it will be a great experience!”

Maria Ricke ’10, agrees. “It's depressing to think about that. I am going to miss everyone dearly. I will definitely be back to see the shows next year, though!”

 

Mundy Sisters (Stacey K. '10, Maggie K. '10, Holly R. '12, Kristen G. '10, and Julia K. '10) 

Mercy Mock Trial Takes the Stand

By Maggie Kissinger
Objection! Mock Trial defends high school blogger
Mother of Mercy’s Mock Trial team is preparing for another hopeful season, with five of last year’s Regional winner and State qualifying team returning this year including Captains Mallory Workman and Camille Chiappone, along with Ali Stevens, Mary Burger and Elizabeth Bley.
This year’s case is about a high school senior, Alex Leslie, expressing her strong opinion against her teacher and the class in her personal blog and whether the school has the right to suspend her or if that violates the First Amendment.
The team starts in November. “We start out by reading the case and understanding the legal issue and the varying viewpoints. Once all our roles are given, the real work starts. For me, that entails writing opening statements that lay out the case and explaining why the school board isn’t violating the constitutional rights,” explains Camille Chiappone.
The simulation also includes the opposing side. “I am representing Alex and have to prove that her 1st Amendment rights were violated,” Mallory Workman explains.
The work pays off. “Going to state last year was a great experience,” says Workman. Both captains are hopeful for an equally successful season this year. “We have a lot of new team members, so it is a learning experience for us all, but I know that we can do it!” says Workman.
“I don’t think a lot of people realize that we only have one night at districts to show what we’ve got. All our scrimmages and practices are for that one night, so to make it to state, and farther onto nationals, would be an awesome accomplishment,” says Camille.
With a serious task of arguing for and against legal rights, the team still has a lot of fun with the program. “Mock Trial is a fun intellectual game. Your brain is in full throttle during a trial,” says Camille.
The thrill of thinking on your feet, and especially yelling, “Objection!” are some of best parts of Mock Trial for the team. Mallory explains that “It’s such a rush but its so much fun!”

Procrastination

By Sydney Murray 

   “In general, anything causes me to procrastinate: chores, working out, cleaning my room,” says Karina Kurzhals ’10. Procrastination haunts everyone. It seems no matter how hard we try not to put work off, it never gets done early.
   “I procrastinate because I am like everyone else,” says Julie Murray ’10. “I don’t want to write papers, essays, study, do homework. It’s not something the average person finds joy in when they could be playing a sport, going out, being with family and friends.”
As a testimony to procrastination, I am currently writing this article at 5 p.m. the Sunday before Christmas Break is over. I can never just get straight through a project without wandering off to do something else.
Psychology Today says, “Procrastinators actively look for distractions, particularly ones that don’t take a lot of commitment on their part.”
   Camille Chiappone ’10 says, “Most of our work deals with or requires the use of a computer. Whenever I am on the computer I have my I-tunes on and I am on Facebook. So, naturally, I might start my homework, but I’ll have to take a ‘break’ and check Facebook.”
   Even more dreadful, as senior year rolls around, senioritis starts to kick in, or does it? Some speculate about whether there really is more procrastination during senior year.
   “Yes, I guess it’s possible,” says Karina Kurzhals. “But I think it seems like I’m procrastinating more because of the work load. I believe that senior year has by far been my busiest year homework-wise. A bigger work load, in addition to college applications, scholarships, etc. means more procrastination in general. So no, I don’t think [senioritis] is real; it just seems like you’re procrastinating more because you have more to do. If you looked at your work load freshmen year along with the amount you procrastinated, and then looked at your senior year work load and the amount you procrastinated, I’m hypothesizing that the correlation would be nearly identical.”
   Camille Chiappone agrees, saying, “I think it is more of a preconceived notion and state of mind. People might say they are suffering from “senioritis” but it is really just us being lazy. I’m not calling people lazy, I blame senioritis all the time, but I think it has become a fun little excuse we can all use. This year I haven’t really procrastinated more than any other, I just think we’re all tired of the same stuff for the past four years and we’re ready to change it up.”
   Procrastination can even come down to just day dreaming while reading a novel. It’s hard to avoid. As long as the work gets done on time, there’s really nothing wrong with procrastinating. Procrastination can be a hindrance, but it shouldn’t let anyone get too stressed because life wouldn’t be worth it if it was all about work.

Tips for Procrastinatiors  

Image Courtesy of http://www.exaclair.com