Author: Stan Deatherage | Published: January 1st, 2010

    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.

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    This article provided courtesy of our sister site: Beaufort County Now

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