The play tells the story of the Mirabal sisters, Patria (Kyra Little), Minerva (Hannah Fuhlhage), Maria Teresa (Victoria Smith) and Dedé (Sandra Adams and Caroline Seitz). The former three were murdered by members of the Dominican Secret Police in 1960 for their rebellion against the dictator, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo (Terrace Wyatt, Jr.). Dedé, who was not in the car with them on the day they were killed, survived. The show covers the lives of the sisters from 1938 to 1960, from the perspective of the survivor, Dedé, in 1994 as she recounts the story to an American writer (Kati Watts) who has come to visit the museum dedicated to the Mirabals.

The part of the narrative dealing with the present-day Dedé is much more fleshed out in the play than it is in the novel. The frame story, dealing with issues of authority and the role of storytelling in social justice, is the most productive section of the show. The power of writing to tell a lasting story after those who lived through it are gone is the show’s overarching message, and Seitz as the older Dedé really drives it home.

The earlier-set portions of the play have some powerful moments, as well. The sisters play off each other well. The opposition between the fiercely revolutionary Minerva and her more reluctant sisters is a strong portion of the play. In one of the play’s more dramatic scenes, Patria, Dedé and Minerva attend a party thrown by Trujillo, where the dictator attempts to violate Minerva. It’s well-done, and the emotion really comes through.

The play’s weakest point is in its use of the Spanish language. The program makes clear the reasons for culturally non-specific casting, and I appreciated what they were trying to do. However, the actors could have done with more practice in their pronunciation of Spanish words. It’s possible that this is just my issue as a Spanish major who knows how these words are supposed to be pronounced, but I think it would have lent to the authenticity of the piece.

Even though the play wasn’t particularly true to the novel in important ways, I didn’t mind the differences. Sometimes, it’s best to think of the movie (or play, as it may be) and the book as separate entities. This is useful here. Each medium has its strong points independent of the other. Overall, the show was a great tribute to the sisters and their history.   

Jewell Theatre Company’s production of “In the Time of the Butterflies” will run March 13 at 7 p.m. and March 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Peters Theatre. English and Spanish copies of Julia Alvarez’s novel will be sold in the box office before the performance.

Photo courtesy of PopSugar.

The show’s much-anticipated second season picks up a year after the events of the first. On the surface, the town of Hawkins, Ind. seems to be back to normal. Behind the scenes, however, the main characters are dealing with everything that has happened. Will (Noah Schnapp) is still haunted by his time in the Upside-Down, Mike (Finn Wolfhard) is searching for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Nancy (Natalia Dyer) is working to forgive herself for Barbara’s (Shannon Purser) death and navigate her relationships with Steve (Joe Keery) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton). They have to put all of these problems aside when a new danger appears, threatening Will and the town’s existence.

One of the show’s best assets has always been the acting, especially of the younger characters. The four central boys Will, Mike, Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), as well as Eleven, are joined by a few new faces this time around. Sadie Sink is great as tomboyish Max, who gets caught in a love triangle between Dustin and Lucas. Priah Ferguson steals the show in her few scenes as Lucas’s younger sister, Erica. The teenagers are equally great in their roles, showing a grit that few young adults have. Nancy’s transformation from princess to warrior was great to watch last season, and the show continues that arc quite nicely. The adults are typically great, too. Possible exceptions are Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Sheriff Hopper (David Harbour). Otherwise, they are really the supporting cast.   

In a lot of ways, “Stranger Things” lives up to expectations. Beyond the great ‘80s references, most of which are often lost on this generation, the show provides commentary on PTSD, journalistic integrity and freedom of information in a way that’s subtle enough not to detract from the main plot. The highlights of the season were learning more about Eleven’s past and the final episode, which is pure fan service. But as a fan, I didn’t mind.

The downsides were few and far between. The increased violence may cause the show to lose appeal for some viewers (I’m personally not a fan of slasher, but it didn’t go too far into that realm), and at about 50 minutes per episode, it is kind of a time commitment. Overall, though, season two didn’t disappoint, and I would definitely watch a third. I would also recommend “Beyond Stranger Things,” which gives great insight into the minds of the cast and producers as well as discussions of important scenes. Don’t watch until after you’ve finished the season. This companion series is full of spoilers.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Cover photo courtesy of engadget.

According to the whitehouse.gov transcript of the speech, Trump cited “the draconian financial and economic burdens the agreement imposes on our country” as his rationale for leaving. These include the ceasing of coal production and the reduction of paper manufacturing and cement, iron and steel production. He claims these are restrictions imposed more harshly on the U.S. than other countries in the agreement.

Since this announcement, there have been many conflicting reports on whether Trump intends to go through with this withdrawal, though the latest reports say that he does. Furthermore, arguments have been ongoing as to whether leaving the Paris Climate Accord is really as wise a move for U.S. interests as Trump claims it to be. Those who say that it is do so on several grounds.

A major argument put forward by both the Washington Post and the Heritage Foundation for leaving the Accord has to do with the role of the Chinese in the agreement. Though opponents of leaving the agreement have argued that the U.S. will cede leadership on climate issues to China, Beijing has repeatedly falsified its data regarding coal consumption and pollution. The country’s poor air quality, which is unrelated to CO2 emissions, means that it is difficult to compare the positions of the U.S. and China, according to the articles.

Another argument has to do with the U.S. function as a world power. In order to maintain our status. as such, proponents of withdrawing from the agreement argue that it is important to show our willingness to protect our own interests.

Beyond international political concerns, Trump’s desire is to repeal Obama-era restrictions on CO2 emissions. He wants to repeal the Clean Power Plan, which was instated under President Obama. This is objectionable to environmental groups. If the U.S. is still a member of the Paris Climate Accord, then these groups will be able to sue on that basis.

Another domestic reason for withdrawal from the Accord is that Trump has already basically done so anyway by repealing these environmental restrictions. Though this is possible under the Paris Climate Accord, it will be more sustainable if we are no longer a part of the agreement so that future presidents cannot use it as a basis for reinstating them.

Arguments for withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord are related to the U.S. status as a world power and to Trump’s policies as already enacted.

Photo Courtesy of National Geographic.

I want to visit the Price Chopper down the street, where I got lost driving out of the parking lot even though I’ve been going there since I was four years old. I want to go to the public library where I spent my (antisocial) teenage years, and if I were ever home for more than two days, I would visit it. I want go with my mom to the Sonic down the street for Happy Hour—it doesn’t matter that Overland Park alone has at least four Sonics or that Liberty has one, too. I take pride in the schools—I truly believe they gave me a great education. I think there’s a lot to love about where I’ve lived all my life.

I know this isn’t a popular opinion. I’m supposed to want to escape from the soulless suburbs as fast as possible and move to an urban center full of unique stores and great nightlife. There are those who would say I should feel ashamed of where I come from or at least have some vague disdain for it.

There’s no doubt that a huge portion of JoCo is quintessential rich white—my subdivision once threw a fit about an orange house (in the HOA’s defense, it wasn’t a great shade, but still). Everyone I knew spoke only English until I was 15, and even then, most of the people I knew still did.

The “ghetto” school I attended was still 65 percent white. Last Friday, I left the car in the parking lot of our local CVS, lights on, running, unlocked (not on purpose), and it was still there when I came out. Yet I know that many of those so-called negatives are also the reasons my parents moved to the suburbs to raise their children.

As a member of my generation, I think I’ve felt in the past like it’s bad or wrong not to want to escape my birthplace. I don’t necessarily dream of living in Johnson County forever, and I’ll be fine with wherever life takes me, but I don’t feel an urge to get as far away as possible. There’s no use in hating where I come from. For better or for worse, it made me.

This is where the social message comes in. It doesn’t matter how boring you think your hometown is. There is still something to love about it, if only because it has special significance to you. To love where you come from is to love yourself. Your place of origin doesn’t lock you into one life or another, but it does matter. It does shape you, even if that’s just because you try so hard not to let it. It’s time to find things about the place where you grew up that you love, and to be okay with the fact that we love them, no matter how strange they may seem to others. That doesn’t mean you have to think your town is perfect, but appreciate it for what it is. Strip malls and all.