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Wednesday, December 06, 2023 — Houston, TX

Arts and Entertainment

A&E 2/28/23 11:13pm

Review: ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ is a brainless disappointment

By Hamza Saeed

Before beginning this review, I want to acknowledge that I am aware of the controversy surrounding this game. I want to make my position on the trans community explicitly clear. Transgender people have a right to exist and a right to live their life free of harassment from individuals that seek to demean and degrade them. I believe I speak for everyone at the Thresher when I say that I condemn the statements that J.K. Rowling has made. Simply put, you cannot say that you support and love trans women and then tweet out “Merry TERFmas”. 

A&E 2/28/23 11:12pm

Review: Run to ‘Moulin Rouge,’ a sparkling, red-hot spectacular

By Sara Davidson

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” hit the Hobby Center this week, and it is worth a watch. The show is a jukebox musical featuring many popular and recognizable songs, and is based on the 2001 movie by the same name. I went into the show not knowing what to expect and left wishing that the show could go on for longer. Long story short, I loved it. 

A&E 2/28/23 11:07pm

Bull ride and barrel race at the Rodeo

By Hadley Medlock

Everyone say “yee-haw” because it’s that time of year again — the weather is finally back in the 80’s, midterm assignments have every Rice student in tears and the annual Houston Rodeo has come to town. Running from Feb. 28 to March 19 at NRG Park and attracting around two million visitors each year, even if you haven’t yet been to the Houston Rodeo you’ve probably heard about it. While this might not be your first rodeo, it may be your first in Houston, so here’s the Thresher’s guide to navigating the Houston Rodeo this year. 

A&E 2/28/23 11:02pm

This year’s Mavis C. Pitman exhibition provides space to play and reflect

By Hugo Gerbich-Pais

Grounded in a playful exploration of the self, childhood and narratives that are traditionally forgotten; this year’s Mavis C. Pitman Exhibition opens on Friday, March 3 and runs until March 31 on the second floor of the Moody Center for the Arts. The Mavis C. Pitman Fellowship is awarded to a select group of senior VADA students, who each earn $1500 to create a piece of art. This year’s winners were Lily Weeks, Katie Kirkpatrick, and duo Jeff Xia and Peyton Chiang. 

A&E 2/21/23 11:03pm

Review: ‘Blood and Honey’ is a sticky mess

By Hamza Saeed

I am not an advocate of government censorship, but this movie should be criminalized. It should be a punishable offense to have been involved in the making of this movie. It shouldn’t even qualify as a movie, as it has none of the necessary elements. There is no plot, no motives, no characters, no beginning and no end. Let’s discuss this fever dream of an experience.

A&E 2/21/23 11:02pm

Review: ‘This is Why’ announces a new era for Paramore

By Emelia Gauch

Almost six years after their last album, Paramore has returned with “This is Why,” which moves away from anything the band has ever done before. The album lands in a post-punk space while not limiting itself by the genre. “This is Why” mixes present-day anxiety and post-2020 malaise, making a new sound to define Paramore’s new era.

A&E 2/21/23 10:51pm

‘Secret menu’ drinks you haven’t tried

By Artie Throop

Have you been suffering from a drink slump? Have you gotten in line and spent the whole line trying to figure out what you want? Have you asked your friends what they get, trying to find inspiration, only to hear Nutty Bee and Milky Way over and over? If so, here’s a list of drinks you might not have tried to free you from that slump.

A&E 2/21/23 10:50pm

‘Dump month’ is back: Throwaway films to waste your time

By Basma Bedawi

January has historically been known as a “dump month” in the film industry, where movies that will likely have lesser box office or critical success than other works slated for the year are “dumped” into theaters. However, with the rise of streaming and the fall of movie theater culture, many argue that dump month is no more. To determine whether this month in the film industry is as consistently disappointing as ever, I reviewed four movies released in January. 

A&E 2/21/23 10:37pm

Soul Night highlights Black culture and community

By Shreya Challa

Rice Black Student Association’s Soul Week culminates in Soul Night on Feb. 25 at the Rice Memorial Center’s Grand Hall. Soul Night is a cultural showcase dedicated to Black talent and art, and this year’s theme is The Blackprint, celebrating Black people’s impact on global culture and history. The show starts at 7 p.m. and is preceded by dinner at 6 p.m. Rice and Houston community members can pre-order tickets for $10 or buy tickets at the door for $15.

A&E 2/15/23 12:15am

“Bigger and better”: Africayé! the Musical is back

By Shreya Challa

Africayé, the Rice African Student Association’s annual cultural showcase, is being held at the Shepherd School of Music’s Stude Concert Hall for the first time in history on Feb. 18, with doors opening at 4 p.m. Celebration of African culture is at the core of Africayé, from the overarching storyline to the food, music and fashion show. This year’s theme is Africayé! The Musical, with the aim of spotlighting the art, dance and music that come from African culture.

A&E 2/15/23 12:07am

Review: ‘Magic Mike’ didn’t go full frontal — for the better

By Sara Davidson and Hamza Saeed

Walking into the theater in a three-piece suit and a beret, we were salivating. Sara was salivating thinking of the food we planned to grab afterwards. Hamza was salivating for some of that Magic Mike action. Neither of us had seen a Magic Mike movie before this one, hoping that the fresh perspective we could offer would lead to greater insights, or at least some surprises. What this actually led to was one hour and 52 minutes of laughter and Hamza attempting to dance along to scenes that had no business being danced to. 

A&E 2/15/23 12:06am

Review: Rushdie’s latest novel is a victorious return

By Hugo Gerbich-Pais

As epic as the genre of poetry it is imitating, Salman Rushdie’s “Victory City” is an exquisite novel. Reading like a rom-com, a heroic adventure tale and a political thriller at the same time,s it is a powerful return for Rushdie – the first book he has published since he was brutally attacked in August 2022 at an event in New York. “Victory City” is Rushdie’s thirteenth book, and was released 42 years after he published “Midnight’s Children,” which won the Booker Prize and was also named the “best novel of all winners” twice.

A&E 2/15/23 12:00am

Plate to Plate: Asian-style steak plates face off

By Sydney Park

One of my all-time favorite meals is a rice plate. The varying protein options, sides and sauces make for a highly customizable meal catered to many different preferences. Every restaurant has its own rendering on the traditional concept, creating unique flavor profiles from different seasonings and cooking styles. Naturally, I had to compare two Asian-style steak rice plates around Rice campus.

A&E 2/14/23 11:59pm

Moody Center unveils new Project Wall exhibit

By Eric Ma

The Moody Center for the Arts recently unveiled their newest Moody Project Wall exhibit, “Swarm Migration,” by Houston artist Bennie Flores Ansell. The new exhibit features a mural made of 3D-printed wishbones representing student and artist stories about migration. The opening reception for “Swarm Migration” will be Feb. 15 from 6 - 8 p.m. and feature the artist and other project collaborators.  

A&E 2/6/23 3:02am

Review: Noah Kahan’s 'Stick Season' hits home at sold-out Houston show

By Michelle Gachelin

Few artists can capture specific experiences with lyrics that still feel relatable. Noah Kahan accomplishes this in spades with his third album “Stick Season,” released last October after the titular track went viral on TikTok in 2020. “Stick Season” was inspired by Kahan’s tiny Vermont hometown, where he wrote the album during the pandemic. Kahan describes the landscape there as a “wasteland” once winter creeps in — the opposite of Houston’s evergreen city life, although our humid climate is rather sticky. Despite the album’s somewhat niche New England setting, its broader themes of isolation and homesickness are universal experiences, as evidenced by the crowd screaming along to every word throughout the show.

A&E 1/31/23 11:19pm

Review: ‘Honey’ is a bittersweet confession

By Emelia Gauch

Recorded in the woods of North Carolina, Samia’s second studio album “Honey” is a confident, self-aware and unique addition to Samia’s growing discography. Dark and dreamy, “Honey” is an honest reflection on heartbreak, angst and feeling lost. 

A&E 1/31/23 11:18pm

Review: ‘ROE’ grapples with history, humanity and heartbreak

By Riya Misra

“Roe” was born in 2015, 42 years after its namesake, when playwright Lisa Loomer was prompted to write a script for a project about a critical moment in American history. Since then, Loomer has adapted the script in rhythm with the ever-changing landscape surrounding reproduction rights in America. The most recent update, after the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, is an obituary for Roe v. Wade, and it premiered by Stages in Montrose.

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