Stunt Night, 2009: Seniors Win | Eastern North Carolina Now

    The 46 year tradition of Stunt Night at Washington High School continued Saturday Night, November 21, 2009, and it was an entertaining, resounding success. For all of you that are unfamiliar with the evening; where young thespians, and accompanying production staffs, scramble for one week to concoct and produce a short play that expresses an issue - usually with some degree of alacrity and humor - this article is a primer into a that crazy week.

    The week begins with a rough script, from an idea that is often tossed around by the dramatic juggernauts within each class, and then is honed into final script from which these thespians can project their lines and their class’ message. Props, backdrops and costumes are planned, constructed and integrated into each class’ theatrical vignette, and then there are the rehearsals.

    The Sophomore Class' "A Space Odd-yssey:" Youngsters learning the ropes of Stunt Night.

    This is where the young actors, and their directors, hone their themes in script and verse. Music is selected, dance numbers choreographed, and a short week later, each class team is ready for the curtains to raise, and then it is time to go on with the show. Consider the brave spirits of these emboldened youngsters as they take the stage to do their best to entertain their audience and each other. Everyone see you in that spot light that night, and one does not want bomb. These kids are so sincerely intent in seeking their class’ optimum level, it exudes from their stage performance in over - the - top performances, and a slavish devotion to any comedy that can be wrung from that youthful exuberance, which actually may be the universal theme of the evening.

    The Freshmen Class doing "Red Takes a Ride:" Based on the fairy tale, "Little Red Riding Hood" ... I think: Above. One of the dance numbers by the Senior Class: Below.



    The scenery directors, and costume directors, with very limited recourses, produce eye popping backdrops, with minimalist props, and costumes, that actually work within the context of each class’ narrative. This lends perspective to the exuberant drama on the stage - they are the perfunctory dramatic tools that helps the audience suspend some small measure of disbelief.

    In the end a panel of five judges declare a winning class, but actually it is all of the student / drama participants, and the audience, who are the winners. They each have created memories that can never be robbed from their young spirits. These memories, and other lessons learned in these earnest performances, will help sustain the spirits of these youngsters as adulthood presents its many challenges.

    The Junior Class doing a musical number: Above. My apologies to the Junior Class, with this being the only pictures that I took that is worthy of publishing. For all you shutter bugs, I don't need to explain how difficult it is to make pictures when you are shooting at 1/10 of a second shutter speed. Any movement by the subject will be blurred.

    For this we should all be thankful for Stunt Night, its supporters, its faculty advisors, and the parents, who without their patient endurance within the creative context of this particularly taxing week, this production would not be possible. Personally, I have endured eight years where two of my three daughters were the Art / Scenery Directors for their respective classes. My son participated each year, but in a much less stressful position - he just did what he was told to do. We got off easy those years.

    This November night, the 46th edition has been etched into the annals of stunt night history. The John Bragaw Scholarship Fund is the prime beneficiary of the ticket sales, and in turn, six students will benefit from an approximate allocation of 6,000.00 in scholarship awards. Next year this theatric wheel will role again, but this year the seniors won the crown. Maybe next year someone else. I just have to wonder, will any of next year’s competitors feel compelled to put their leading man in a woman’s dress?

    Charlie Tingen (left) showing Destiny Tyson (right) how it is done ... in a woman's dress: Above. The stiff, plastic father of the 1950's as performed by Will Davis. Both Will and Charlie, neighborhood boys, grew up at my house ... and theirs: Below.



    This year’s winners, the Senior Class, cast precocious thespian, Charlie Tingen, in the role of a 1950’s mother, based on the Joan Allen role from the 1998 junior classic “Pleasantville.” It was very funny: Not so much the dress, but Charlie’s wild abandon that pulsed through his muse, his character - the black and white (as in early television) stoic mother of a family living in that same black and white world. Once color is introduced into this monochromatic social environment, change is inevitable.

    The monochromatic world of the 1950's / 1060's family: Above. It all changes once Janie Page (in color) sings to the monochromatic son of the 1950's / 1960's family, Jamie Landon: Below and further below: Janie gives Jamie a kiss on the cheek - leaving an indelible imprint, thereby breaking the spell of black and white.





    The Junior Class came in second, but this year’s competition was truly a one horse race. The Junior class had a compelling narrative: A family of pasty children, devoid of any real spirit, who are stuck in an existence of constant video games, are consequently sucked into the video game - Pac Man. The theme of these children being possessed by the Luigi Brothers, and other assorted characters, until they can unravel their predicament was compelling theme. It was funny and well presented, but they were missing the single ingredient that put them deep into second place: Charlie Tingen in a dress and makeup, and the boy out June Cleavered June Cleaver - quite a spectacle.

    Charlie Tingen, as the stoic mother, lays down the law to the modern and colorful grandmother played by Chelsea Baynor: Above. Charlie learning about "True Colors" from Chelsea's rendition of the Cindy Lauper melody: Below.




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