Interregnum VIII: Performing Art Competition

I'm covered in Lysol, I'm missing the good old days of story-time and bubble baths, and I have a new-found crush on Josh Encinias.  I've just been to the Performing Art competition. The House of Ronald Reagan chose to show tradition and innovation by turning the city room into a blacklight party.  Luke Anderson's voice rang over the crowd with, "Oh, oh sometimes, I get a good feeling," as Reagan boys ran around spraying Lysol and tossing candy and glow-sticks.

A choir from the House of Clara Barton serenaded the crowd with their re-worded version of "Because" by the Beatles.  Then, Itale Watie chimed in the Beatles harmony with a rendition of "Come Together."  As Watie sang, Carly Calhoun and Eliza Ohman brought the two songs together with a tap dancing beat.

The House of Sojourner Truth sang a mixture of oldies, including The Beach Boys' "God only Knows," and Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" alongside ancient Latin hymns like "Dona Nobis Pacem."

Sarah Hutchinson invited the crowd to listen to three fairies from the House of Corrie Ten Boom. The three fairies combined different classic poetic lyrics concluding with, "This is the way the world ends/This is the way the world ends/Not with a bang but with a whimper."

For the House of Winston Churchill, Grant DeArmitt channeled Frankenstein and created a monster: Brandon Trotter.  Then, DeArmit laid down some "smooth blues" by changing the Beach Boys' single, "Babara Ann" into "Frankenstein."

Next, Joanne Vo claimed that only four chords are necessary to compose a hit song.  She then said the House of Margaret Thatcher could prove it.  With Catherine Ratcliffe on the piano, the house sang parts of "Earth Angel," "Brown Eyed Girl," and with cell phones in the air, "Let it Be."  To finish, they used "Don't Stop Believing," "Viva La Vida" and "Paparazzi" to further their argument.  And in true girlie Thatcher style, each singer had lipstick on her face by the end of their revue.

The next two Houses tapped into childhood nostalgia.  The House of Dietrich Bonhoeffer chose to begin with "Rubber Ducky."  But when Forest Erwin changed the piano tune, they had to call Josh Encinias for help.   Cue the swooning.  A mosh pit of girls formed for Encinias' rap of "Supernatural," and the crowd went wild.

Avery Briggs calmed the girls as she began to read a bedtime staple: The Giving Tree.  The House of Queen Elizabeth I joined her with Corinne DuBois' classic bagpipe opening.   Fronting a tree made out of three people, House President Charlotte Mayfield said, "Come boy, climb up my trunk swing from my branches eat my apples and be happy" to Heather Cate, as the little boy.  Heather garnered huge laughs when she whipped out an iPhone, responding, "I've got my own apple now."

The House of C.S. Lewis recorded a hymn with lyrics from John 14:17-18 with 4 voices.  Since every voice came from one modern speaker, they unified tradition and innovation.

The House of Susan B. Anthony ended the competition with a skit about elementary school elections to prove that nothing ever changes in politics.  Simply stated by a little girl, "Vote for me and all your wildest dreams will come true."

Well, the judges are voting.  The Houses are waiting.  Soon, the politics of the House system will factor in the winner of Performing Art, and one House's wildest dreams will come true.

Update: Barton won first, Queen Elizabeth I won second, and Churchill won third. Read "House of Barton Wins Interregnum, House Cup"  for the first, second and third winners of every competition.