What does he mean by saying this?

What does "powerhouse" mean? Is it used commonly to people?

A "powerhouse" is a person or thing that has great power, strength, or energy. When the speaker says that Chadwick is a "powerhouse," it means that he has a powerful acting ability. You can also use this to describe non-human things, like countries or companies. Ex: Meryl Streep is an acting powerhouse. Ex: Germany is famous for being an industrial powerhouse. Ex: My father's company is a powerhouse in the manufacturing industry.

Can I use "and" instead of "but"? What's different between "but" and "and"?

The conjunctions "and" and "but" can be used to join two statements. "And" is used to show additional information and is used when the statements are similar. Ex: I called my mom yesterday and we talked for hours. "But" is used to connect statements that express opposite ideas. Ex: I also called my brother, but he wasn't at home. In this case since the "party" is dissimilar to giving "money" I think but is the better choice.

What does great aunt mean?

A great aunt or great uncle is the aunt or uncle of your father or mother. In other words, it is the sibling of your grandparent. Ex: My great aunt is close in age to my mother, so she feels more like an aunt to me. Ex: My grandparents both came from big families, so I have many great aunts and uncles.

What does "fast forward" mean here?

In this context, "fast forward" is a phrase used to imply that unimportant information in a story is being skipped over, and the story is continuing where the speaker wants it to continue. The phrase originates from pressing the "fast forward" button on a tape or VCR player to skip through a song or movie.

What does "reassuring" mean? Could you give some synonyms for this?

"Reassuring" is an adjective which means, intended to remove someone's doubts or fears. Some synonyms are "soothing," "comforting," and "encouraging." Ex: I gave her a reassuring smile. Ex: Tiger chuffs are meant to be encouraging.