70 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • FEBRUARY 21, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com Send us your announcements & pictures to: The Queens Courier c/o making a buzz: 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 • [email protected] subject: making a buzz View More Neighborhood News queenscourier.com s people making a buzz COMPILED BY TONIA N. CIMINO INSTALLATION State Senator Joseph Addabbo recently swore in president Paul Kerzner and the Board of the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association at the group’s February meeting. MEDAL OF HONOR On February 11, President Barack Obama presented Army Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha with a Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest medal for valor in combat for his brave actions in Afghanistan. “Romesha will be the fourth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan,” explained Army spokesperson Gail Moore. “The staff sergeant helped repel an enemy attack of some 300 fighters who outnumbered the defenders of Combat Outpost Keating in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan,” Moore said. “Romesha braved intense enemy fire to mobilize a five-man team, according to sources who were there. He reportedly took out an enemy machine-gun team and while engaging a second, the generator he was using for cover was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, inflicting him with shrapnel wounds, yet he continued to fight.” HONORS & AWARDS Attorney Bruce Baron was feted by the New York State Court Officers Association at its annual awards dinner at Russo’s On the Bay. Baron received the 2012 Presidents Award for his exemplary service to the members of the New York State Court Officers Association (NYSCOA). Christ the King Math Team continues to rank first in New York State after five out of six math contests, which are held by the New York State Mathematics League. The New York State Mathematics League is comprised of teams from over 200 high schools, including specialized schools such as the Bronx High School of Science, Brooklyn Technical High School and Stuyvesant. Last year, the CTK Math Team was the top parochial school in the state and placed third overall. Individually to date, several Christ the King students are at the top of the list of over 4,000 participants statewide. Christ the King Math Team members pictured are: Back row: Chyna Grant-Willaims, Kristian Kyc, John DeRosa, Matthew Schneider, Paul Prawdzik, James Slagg, Stephen Lebak, Adrian Horczak, Domnik Makocki, Jonathan Jaimangal. Bottom row: Anthony Drago, Cazar Paz, Nick Lume, Antonio DiMaggio, Wojeichl Bedari, David Caiborne. THE COURIER/Photos by Mike DiBartolomeo NYSCOA President’s Award recipient Bruce Baron and NYSCOA President Dennis Quirk NYSCOA Presidents award recipient Joseph Cannella and NYSCOA President Dennis Quirk WINNERS ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ in L.I.C. Although the mere mention of Shakespeare often draws yawns from those who should know better, the current version of “Much Ado About Nothing” continues to attract enthusiastic audiences at The Secret Theatre in Long Island City. Director Richard Mazda has snared talented performers, musicians and designers for his resident troupe, The Queens Players. At Friday evening’s performance, they delivered a very unique interpretation A VIEW FROM THE CLIFF of the classic comedy. Mazda describes it as “echoes of the absurdist…with a style termed Trash Period.” This theatrical tactic utilizes “cardboard box dwellings and plastic bag wigs” with actors costumed BY CLIFF KASDEN in everyday disposable items (created by Beth Williams Garrett). The one-two theatrical punch is delivered with clever clown techniques (spearheaded by Alberto Bonilla). Tuneful riffs by musical director Jamey Grisham on his autoharp punctuate the evening. The comedy itself involves deceptions, mix-ups, romance and jealousy. Physical humor and double entendres are plentiful. How many modern TV and movie plots owe their inspiration to this and other Shakespearean creations? The troupe is a true ensemble with minor and major players complementing each other’s roles. The result is a delight to watch. Alberto Bonilla and Kate Siepert are outstanding as one of the amorous pairs. Connie Castanzo and John C. Nagy III play a more tumultuous twosome. All four are eminently believable as they succumb to ploys created by friend and foe. The villainous and virtuous rub elbows with just the right amount of sparks. Don John (Blaine Smith), with his curled lip and relentless scowl, is the worst of the bad guys. His henchmen include Andrew DeRado and Joseph Mitchell Parks. The good guys are led by Don Pedro (Cliff Miller), elder noblemen Leonato (Ralph Petrarca), his brother Antonio (Marc Castle) and Sexton (Joshuah Laird). Lovely ladies in waiting include Sabina Friedman-Seitz and Cari McHugh. The bumbling night watch is led by Blake Merriman and Alexander Stine. Personal favorites include C.L. Weatherstone as the Friar who emerges from the shadows after unabashedly biting his nails. He hatches a clever and complicated deception. Megan Greener, with slumped shoulders and an air of futility, wears her plastic bag costume and cap with the clearest absurdist intent. Bravo to one and all onstage and behind the scenes. For information on this and future productions surf to www.secrettheatre.com or call (718) 392- 0722. As always, save me a seat on the aisle. “Much Ado About Nothing” on stage at The Secret Theatre.
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