Come one, come all: The 2018 Variety Show was well thought out, well rehearsed and well executed

BY ALEXANDRA SANSONE

When David Lee vaulted off his trademark bicycle and into the Variety Show host car, the crowd erupted into laughter, and there started what was nothing short of an engaging evening.

The Variety Show is an annual event at CCHS. Hosted by the senior class, it features a group of students who showcase their talents along with several hosts who direct and piece together the acts.

The transitions, having little to do with the acts themselves, left the audience laughing.

This year’s team included seniors Kiara Bencosme, Alex Brower, Ayana Fitzgerald, Lee and Jason Molina. The hosts made excellent use of the presentation screens in the auditorium to aid in the transitions between acts. Skits filmed well in advance only added to the show; by utilizing another medium with which to engage the audience, it was easy to remain immersed in the show. There was no room for boredom.

Posing as ‘freaks’ at the circus, the CCHS color guard was sure to shock the audience. They achieved this not only by performing so close to spectators but by appearing almost majestic under the eerie blue hue of the stage lights. Though the spell they cast was broken a few times by the dropping of sabres and rifles, their ability to work together as a single entity was admirable.

As for the other talented acts, freshman Julia Moore– though a last-minute addition– performed beautifully, striking a chord with the audience as she played the piano and sang “idontwannabeyouanymore” by Billie Eilish. Her haunting voice was accompanied by accent screens and a light fog permeating throughout the auditorium.

Freshman Kelly Montalvan’s dance number was refreshing amidst the numerous musical acts. Initially dancing in sync with a projected shadow behind her, she eventually separated from it and captivated the crowd with her strong movements on the fully lit stage. She moved with grace, emotion being shown through her fluid movements.

Shortly following Montalvan was freshman Kathleen Surin who wowed the crowd with her powerful voice, eliciting cheers and shouts from the crowd. Though she remained in one place on stage, she managed to rock the crowd with her strong vocals and shy smile.

The transitions, having little to do with the acts themselves, left the audience laughing. Delivered with an impish grin, Molina amusedly explained a scripted voter count error with “it is Broward”– calling attention to the recent miscount of ballots in the county during the midterm elections.

Throughout the show, it was clear that Lee was the crowd favorite. With charisma and appearances in his dapper suit promoting a campaign for president, he interacted with the audience in a way that felt as if he were befriending them all at once.

The show closed with the multiple acts appearing on the stage together to sing Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.” The lyrics were altered slightly to align with the content of the show and the students at CCHS.

Though it could stand to include a wider variety of performances rather than one musical act after another, the show was an overall success.

Photo by Genna Nordling