Stunt Night, 2009: Seniors Win (Page 2 of 3)

    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.

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