Fall Variety Show in review
By Brittany Butler
Senior Features Writer
A nervous performer walks across the stage, approaches the microphone and breathes a little too heavily, sending a crackling noise over the speakers. The audience waits patiently as he stands staring across the auditorium. Just as everybody is beginning to feel uncomfortable, he nonchalantly pulls out a stick of butter and takes a bite. For the next two minutes, quiet groans sound throughout the nearly full auditorium as Judah Robinson eats a whole stick of butter.
On Oct. 12, Asbury’s annual Fall Variety Show once again impressed campus with the amazing amount of talent displayed by students. Around half of the performers gave brilliant vocal and instrumental performances while the other half entertained us with slightly more peculiar acts such as hula-dancing, golf-ball bouncing, butter-eating, magic-making and dancing in red tights.
Among the amazing vocal performers were Jake Theriault, Sonneline Woolls, Lucy Allen, Shannon Baker, Alli Acuff, Daniel Carlson, Matt Winters, Jacob Stinson and Sarah Grace Bloyd.
Woolls sang a self-composed song called “Down to Earth” with a unique, earthy vocal range and stunning dynamics. Carlson managed to make a much-sung song, “Hallelujah,” fresh and powerful with his understated stage presence, melodic guitar and easygoing yet controlled voice. Stinson and Bloyd sang Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” as a duet, their individually strong voices combining beautifully. Theriault had spectacular pitch and dynamic throughout his performance of an acoustic version of “Madness” by Muse.
The audience experienced a slightly tongue-in-cheek “Tribute to ‘Murica” with Julienne Moore, Hannah Schell and Hannah Dornon’s four-handed piano and piccolo performance. Audrey Carmen also demonstrated her instrumental adeptness with her piano performance of Jon Schmidt’s “All of Me.”
Other acts added variety with originality and daring. During his act “Magic,” Bryce Shockley pulled volunteer Kelsey Boyle out of the audience and proceeded to alternately slam her hand and then his on brown paper bags that Boyle herself had previously scrambled, one of which contained a knife with the blade pointing up. His at-ease stage presence didn’t convince a wincing Boyle, but the trick was pulled off successfully as Shockley opened the last bag to reveal the sharp blade.
“Golf-tricks with Gibbons” demonstrated Daniel Gibbons’ unique talent of balancing a bouncing golf ball just about anywhere, while Firehouse paraded their “manly” talent of remaining, well, manly, while dancing in cherry-red tights to “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.”
According to Hannah Mobley, one of the four judges of auditions, more than 40 students tried out for the show. The tough competition certainly paid off. From performers with advanced gag-reflexes to future Broadway stars, the evening provided quality entertainment for all.