Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916

Friday, March 29, 2024 — Houston, TX

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The making of feature film a “Clinger”: A labor of love

(10/07/15 9:21am)

Not many of us can relate a personal experience to a visit from the undead. On the other hand, the haunting persistence of an obsessive first love, undead or otherwise, hits everyone close to home. This is the premise of “Clinger,” an upcoming film co-created by Rice alumna Gabi Chennisi Duncombe (Wiess ’12). As the title suggests, “Clinger” is about an overly attached boyfriend who dies in a tragic accident, only to return to the land of the living bent on killing his now-ex-girlfriend in the hopes of a posthumous reunion. The film made its debut earlier this year at Slamdance Festival. 


‘Much Ado’ brings a classic with a Western twist

(10/07/15 9:09am)

Modern adaptations of Shakespeare face many hurdles on the road to success. When directors try to update or adapt the play in some way, so as to make it more approachable, they risk doing more to harm the message of the play than to help it. Too much consideration for contemporary humor and fashion can cheapen or distract from a play’s intended effect. In the Rice Theatre Program’s production of “Much Ado About Nothing,” director Amelia Fischer skillfully navigated this pitfall by retaining the original script and simply shifting the setting to the more familiar 19th-century Texan countryside. The result is a thoroughly enjoyable version of the play that allows the audience to appreciate the literary aesthetic of each Shakespearean turn of phrase, while also breathing new emotional and comedic life into the script. 





The mystery behind the boba tea craze

(03/18/15 10:44am)

When Kung Fu Tea opened a new location in Montrose, the people rejoiced. It’s no question boba is beloved among Rice University students, but it hasn’t always been so easy to find. There are stellar options in the heart of Chinatown, but not everyone can just drive there for a late-night run. Teahouse is close, but exceedingly average in comparison. Until Kung Fu’s arrival, most students had to turn to boba sales that occur in the Rice Memorial Center to satisfy cravings.





Taking Hong Kong one dish at a time

(02/04/15 10:03am)

I visited Hong Kong this past winter break, a bustling hubbub of activity. I would step out into the streets and hear Cantonese chatter everywhere. I dodged red taxis that veered past and surrendered to the mercy of the hordes of people cramming the trains. Nevertheless, if there is anything that stuck with me most, it was the culinary experience — Hong Kong is a true haven of stellar cuisine. Even the McDonald’s boast sleek, sophisticated cafes with latte art and macarons. If you are looking to study abroad in Asia or you just catch a whiff of wanderlust, Hong Kong is a wonderful place to explore some of the finest and most unusual eats in the world. 


Wiess Tabletop Defies the Odds

(09/24/14 9:52am)

There’s no doubt Wiess Tabletop is an underdog in the Rice University theater world. With freshmen actors and student directors, Wiessmen have nowhere near the resources available to larger, more well-funded groups like The Rice Players or VADA. But perhaps the yearly tradition has left students with some secrets to the trade. With minimalist sets, general lighting and little to no tech, the opening comedy acts of the year had little to impress with other than the prowess of the individual actors. In spite of these limitations, the show satisfied, turning out consistent performances and a solid host of laughs. 


Why You Should Watch Boyhood, Even if You Missed it in Theatres

(09/17/14 10:02am)

Even in a time when new movies are produced faster than the public can devour them, it would be impossible for a film like Boyhood to pass by unnoticed. In 2002, director Richard Linklater audaciously began a project that would last the next 12 years, filming with the same cast and crew for a few weeks each summer. Linklater chose 6-year-old Ellar Coltrane to play his main character, Mason, with only a loose idea of his evolution in the film and no concept of how he would develop offscreen. Linklater’s daughter, Lorelei, plays Mason’s sister (Samantha), and Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette are their divorced parents (Mason Sr. and Olivia). In essence, the resulting story is of a boy growing up, but more than that, the film is a lens through which we can view our own complex lives.