Annie: The Musical, Performed by Duchesne High School

Duchesne High School's Drama department has completed 2 performances of Annie: The Musical on Friday evening, and Saturday evening. I attended the Saturday evening performance and enjoyed it very much. Annie is a spunky, redheaded orphan growing up under the critical eye of Miss Hannigan in a New York City orphanage. Despite her difficult situation, Annie is brave and resilient, as well as supportive to her fellow orphans. One thing she really believes is that her parents will one day come for her.

She was left on the step of Miss Hannigan's orphanage as a baby with a note that her parents would come back for her someday. She was also left with a broken locket, with a promise that when her parents returned, they would bring the other piece with them, to prove that they are her parents. But Annie is 11 years old, and her parents still have not shown up yet. And Miss Hannigan is mean! But then one day, Grace, the secretary of wealthy Mr. Warbucks shows up at the orphanage and says that Mr. Warbucks would like an orphan to stay at his house for two weeks. And Grace picks Annie to stay. But what happens when Miss Hannigan, her brother Rooster, and Rooster's girlfriend hatch a plan to trick Mr. Warbucks out of some of his money? Come to the play on Monday the 21st or Tuesday the 22nd at 7:30 pm (preshow starts at 7 pm) to find out! Tickets at the door are $7.00 for kids 11 and under, and $9.00 for everyone 12 and older.

Swiss Family Robinson- Movie Review

Swiss Family Robinson, first released in 1960 by Disney, is a fun classic movie about a family, a mom, dad, and three boys ranging from their early twenties, to pre-teen. After being abandoned by the crew of the ship they were sailing on, the family barely make it to an island where they bring as much ashore as they can, including the animals. There is an exciting scene where the dad and older sons have tied all the animals that can swim in a line behind the raft their on, and are trying to get them to shore when sharks start to circle. They're able to fight off the sharks without anything bad happening, and continue to make the best of things on the island. Some conflict enters in when the older boys, on a trip to explore around the island, rescue someone from some pirates, and realize later that they've rescued a young woman! They thought at first from the way she was dressed, that she was a boy. And then the two brothers start to compete for her attention. But then their problems only worsen when the same pirates that captured the young woman come after the family as well! Will the six of them be able to fight off a whole boatload of pirates? Watch the movie and find out!

Encanto- Movie Review

Encanto is a delightful story about a family where each member has marvelous powers. Except for Mirabel. The grandmother, Alma, subtly looks down on her granddaughter because of this, but Mirabel has an amazingly bright outlook on life despite the inner struggle she has with not having a power of her own. At least until she starts to realize, and helps her family members start to realize that their worth is not defined by what they can do, but simply by their being themselves. Will Abuela start to see her children and grandchildren as worthwhile people with or without magical powers? Watch the exciting movie to find out! Encanto was directed by Jared Bush and Bryon Howard, and was first released in 2021.

Jumanji- Movie Review

Jumanji, starring Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst, and Bradley Pierce, is an exciting, family friendly movie about a dangerous board came that two children and adults are forced to play to the end to make the bad things that come out of it, go away! But will they be able to get to the end of the game before the dangerous animals, plants, and a human hunting hunter get them? Watch the exciting movie to find out! Jumanji was first produced in 1995.