RUN FOR YOUR LIFE: Senior Allen Kim escapes from his attackers after being held hostage. Shortly after, Senior Grant Campbell gets up close and personal with the auidence while reading a piece of poetry.

Atticus Ludwig
Staff Reporter

The drama dance room is bustling, cast members get their costumes and props ready for the first scene, stage crew gets their lights ready. Senior Andrew Slavin asks his fellow cast members, “Does anyone have an awkward way for me to die on stage?”

This is Paradox.

Paradox is a club that has met once a week since the beginning of the year up until winter break. After winter break they met two to three times a week. The group consists of South students that enjoy acting and writing scripts. All of the scenes are written by the students and are divided up amongst the cast.

“We always have more than we can use,” English Teacher and Paradox Sponsor Scott Glass said. The students write all of their material and have almost total freedom, when it comes to the show itself.

Glass said, students are “able to really express themselves, in ways that students can’t in other activities.”

Glass said that he gives “only suggestions” on certain ideas that might not work in the show.

Kelsey Oppegard said, “It’s like SNL,” as she hid in the closet before the opening scene.

Paradox is a series of comedy skits, with the exceptions of two songs, “Deathopotamus,” and “The Matthew McConaughey Songs,” which explore the dangers of hippos and why everyone loves Matthew McConaughey (except for Fool’s Gold), respectively.

Slavin commented on his feelings toward Paradox saying, “[Paradox is] The greatest thing that has happened, dot dot dot. Ever.” He then proceeded to narrate a public service announcement on Bigfoot racism.
A Bigfoot named Tim was the topic of the evening and enjoyed several on-stage appearances.

Stage Crew member Rachel Sirianni explained, “Paradox is like one large skit. A large skit that includes, slow motion fight scenes, dance sequences, and that finishes itself up with Post-Apocalyptic Cooking.”
The performance was held March 12 and 13; many former Paradox members came back to cheer on the cast. Paradox sponsor Paul Burkhart explains that each year the Paradox cast does something a little different.

The show ended when a crash was heard from an “atomic bomb” that went off. Cast members ran for their lives (in place) as began their well-disguised and witty curtain call in which every cast member met his/her untimely demise.

As the audience exited, some even tried to rouse their ‘dead’ friends and family on stage to the delight of sponsors John Cowlin and Glass.
If you didn’t get a chance to catch it, keep your eyes peeled for next year’s show. Who knows, if you pay close enough attention, you might just see Bigfoot!