Vol 87 Issue 11
February 24, 2014
The Definitive Source for Osgoode News
A l l is o n W i l l ia m s an d D o u g l as J u d s o n , b o th o f E m o , Onta r i o ,
p r esent the news in M o c k T r ia l’ s Mi d - wee k U p d ate ( p h o t o : L o uise Mi m na g h ) .
Mock Trial fails to disappoint, again
TRAVIS WEAGANT
Editor-in-Chief
On February 12 and 13, some of the most
committed Ozzies around put their talents
together and put on a spectacular revue of the
best legal humour in North York. This Editor
attended the Thursday night performance, which
is typically the rowdier event. The packed Moot
Court room did not disappoint. Business Manager and performer Brendan Monahan reported
before the show that there were no tickets left for
sale, and the atmosphere in the room was one of
a happy crowd.
The truth is that Mock Trial is not just a variety show; it’s one of the biggest Osgoode parties
of the year. Second only to the week-long Orientation Week extravaganza and rivalled only
by the Wendy Babcock Drag Show, Thursday
night at Mock Trial is a hazy night of heckling
and laughter. The festive mood often leads Obiter
staff to trek down to the fridge in the office at
intermission and return bearing gifts. Nonetheless, having volunteered to write this article, I
promised myself before the show that I would try
to remember the second act this year. Success was
mixed. This is what I know:
1. Musical direction was stellar.
There is always vocal talent lurking in Osgoode
Hall, and it came out to play at Mock Trial. Rosalind Ballanger, Joseph Cuyegkeng, Mitchell Rattner, and Hartlee Zucker obviously put in the
hours necessary to give the performances something extra. The mere presence of harmonies on
stage is a cut above in the world of law school variety shows. Rattner himself had an excellent turn
as a sort of lawyer-Tevye in the second act opener
“Tuition” (to the tune of “Tradition” from Fiddler
on the Roof). The song lends itself to an ensemble
performance, and the Singing Directors took full
advantage. My congratulations. Congratulations
are also due in particular to Busayo Ayodele, who
waltzed out at the end of Act One and effortlessly
(or at least it seemed that way) threw down several
strong choruses of “Grades Fall” (to the tune of
Adele’s James Bond theme “Skyfall”). Way to go.
2. So was choreography.
You all know of what I speak. Tantalizing and
mesmerizing, the Mance is a Mock Trial fixture
that earns its revered status time and time again.
I will not demean the performance by singling
out any of the fine gentleman entertainers – they
danced as one. For every second of Christina
Aguilera et al’s cover of Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade”, I sat, humbled, before these giants of glitter,
these superheroes in suspenders, these Mancers.
» continued on page 16
IN THIS IS SUE ...
Mock Trial recap
C OV E R , PAG E 16
Letters to the Editor
PAG E 3
Jurisfoodence
PAG E 11
Russian Olympians
PAG E 5