Page 16 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 17, 2023 SCARY GOOD! Malden High’s Junior Varieties 2023 show rocks the house ‘Nightmare on Salem Street’ delivers a night full of superb acts, including NEDLAM vs. ‘Freddy’ showdown By Steve Freker W ho knew it would take Malden High School’s one and only NEDLAM to do what – count ’em – nine feature films and one television series could not: Cancel Freddy Krueger. The winner (and still champion) MHS mascot’s knockout of the iconic slasher film icon, right there on the Jenkins Auditorium stage during the Class of 2023’s Junior Varieties show, was just one highlight of a night full of superb acts. This year’s show, with the theme title “Nightmare on Salem Street,” was a takeoff on the classic “...on Elm Street” franchise and did not disappoint, drawing rave reviews from many following the two performances, one each last Friday and Saturday evenings. From the spot-on “Freddy” role played in full Krueger-like costume by Malden High junior Rodrigo Oliveira to a delightfully diverse compilation of acts, ranging from individual vocal and instrumental expressions to several fantastic, authentic costumed dance ensembles, the show impressed from start to finish. There was even a four-piece rock band, “Betta Fish,” which performed a splendid cover of “R U Mine?” by the Arctic Monkeys, as well as a “boom-bastic” drum battle that actually had two full drum sets facing each other, snare-to-snare, and the two rival drummers hammering away at each other. The several dance ensembles and another showstopping performance by the heralded A.O. Step Team added so much to the night’s show. The show’s quartet “hosts,” playing the roles made famous way back Shaded Box somewhere near this story H The A.O. Step Team delighted with a spirited performance at Junior Varieties. ere are all the performers and crew who worked together so well to make the show a major success Act One —Kimberlee Smith (“Dandelions” by Ruth B) —The Orbits: Kiana Tse, Nashakyn Rubert, Elina Vo Hung, Zi, Josh Angulo, Christina Robinson and Sorin Mamouzette, (dancing to “Paint the Town” by Loona) —Matthew Pareliticci Castano performed “Doctor Gradus” by Debussy on piano —Habesha Dance Group: A duet by Angelina Feng (left) and Alyssa Littlejohn – the “Flower Duet.” in 1988, when the original “Nightmare on Elm Street” was in the theatres, were tremendous, including Sarah Boucher, Kauan Da Silva, Damien Josephat and Marianne Rivadeneira. Listed as a supporting host, Brian Vences nearly stole the show with his on-point, costumed impersonations of – among others – Coach Dan Jurkowski and Chris Mastrangelo, the Principal. In one hilarious sequence, Vences was shuffling across the stage apparently rushing away from the scary Freddy Kruger, when real, in-person Chris Mastrangelo walked out from behind the curtain and across the stage, slowing down to give Kimberlee Smith sang “Dandelions” by Ruth B. Meklit “Meki” Abel, Sammrawitt “Sammy” Mengesha, Addisu Tsige, Haset Tesfau, Micheal Robinson, Yaw Bodia-Achempong, Yeluel Mekonnen, Kisten Karanja (danced to “Benetselay” by David Nega) —Alyssa Littlejohn and Angelina Feng (two pianists performed “Flower Duet: Sous le dome epais (Act 1, No. 2) from Lakme/Leo Delibes — Michelle Dang (vocalist) and Ethan Chen (pianist) performed “Take Me to Church” by Hozier —Kayla Ortiz sang “I Run to You” by Whitney Houston —Nat & Alex (Natalie Tarantino and Alex Rodriques); Alex sang “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri while Natalie performed an interpretive dance *** Act Two —A.O. Step Team: KrishaHERE’S FREDDY! Freddy Krueger, played by Rodrigo Oliveira, in a “Nightmare on Salem Street” for Junior Varieties 2023. ny Marius, Clarah Ambroise, Erikah Macharia, Bertha Jean Louis, Victoria Gammon, Giselle Dessert, Tyler Edmond, Sarah Boucher, Lindsay, Bordenave, Saniah Charles, Taisha Balan, Olivia Ivy, Ashley Benfield, Rihanna Champagne, Soleil Mathurin, Christina Anasthal, Samara Perez, Samantha Bien-Aime, Taliyah Lauture, Laura Onyejiaka, Abigaelle Leconte, Jaziarra Antoine (performed with “Runnin’” by 21 Savage) —Sarah Machado sang NEDLAM VS. FREDDY! NEDLAM, the Malden High School mascot, saved the day at Junior Varieties 2023 at the Jenkins Auditorium when he won a battle and knocked out the villain Freddy Krueger, as the show’s hosts – Sarah Boucher, Marianne Rivadeneira, Damien Josephat and Kauan Da Silva – looked on in disbelief. NEDLAM was played by Brian Vences and Freddy by Rodrigo Oliveira. (Advocate Photos/Henry Huang) Sarah Machado sang “Japanese Denim” while accompanying herself on the ukelele. “Japanese Denim” by Daniel Caesar —Alyssa and Erica Littlejohn performed a Classical Piano Duet: “Sonata for Piano Four-Hands in D Major K.381 (Movement 1)” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart —Beetlejuice: James Song, Jason Song, Stephanie Wong and Michael Kenney Sanchez performed a skit and sang “Say my Name” from “Beetlejuice: The Musical” —Saia Hussain performed a Pakistani Dance — Finn Sedan and Joao Bererta, the Berkeley Boys, performed a drum-off battle —Angelina Feng performed an homage to the Chinese Opera “Devastation and Redemption” —Afro-Caribbean Dance Group: Erickah Macharia, Giselle Dessert, Victoria “Tori” Gammon, Taisha Balan, Saniah Charles, Soleil Mathurin, Olivia Ivy, Kennedy Clark and Sarah Boucher —Betta Fish rock ensemble: Jennifer Slawson (Vocals), Sean Retotal (Bass Guitar), Slade Harding (Lead Guitar) and Beverly Tong (Drums) performed “R U Mine?” by Arctic Monkeys **** Stage Crew, Lighting, Costumes and Script Writers Hosts: Sarah Boucher, Kauan Da Silva, Damien Josephat, Marianne Rivadeneira. Supporting Hosts: Rodrigo Oliveira, Brian Vences. Sound: Xander Hassan, Beatriz Santos, Nyema JeanJacques. Stage Lights: Kayla Morello. Spotlights: Tenyah Bazley, Christina Charles, Benjamin Perez, Racha Oumark, Ana Luiza Antunes. Stage Manager: Abigail Morrison. Francis Doza. Backstage Coordinator: Backstage: Daniel O’Toole, Marge Rosas, Jelani Tah. Set/Costume Design: Frankie Carvalho, Benjamin Perez, Marge Rosas. Script Writers: Tyler Edmond, Jackson Gordon, Ericah Macharia, Abigail Morrison, Beatriz Santos. *** CLASS of 2024 OFFICERS President: Meklit “Meki” Abel. Vice President: Makeila Scott. Secretary: Abdullah Khan. Treasurer: Larissa Retamero Granja. Social Media Coordinators: Shuyi Chen and Keira Lin. Junior Varieties Coordinators: Tyler Edmond and Ericah Macharia.
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