By Audrey Wade, senior
For a night of procrastination, laughter and entertainment, I went to Falcon King 2010, the first of what I hope becomes an annual event.
Falcon King 2010 is the Green Residence Hall male beauty pageant.
Green Hall produced 13 freshmen from separate suites who showed up Tuesday night in Casado Campus Center Atrium to strut their stuff. They participated in a group dance, a catwalk and the talent portion of the evening before the list was narrowed to the top five.
All of their talents showed range. Song choices went from light and funny raps to worship songs to a love song about Mario Kart. One talent demonstration by Dillon Wolfe showed the crowd how to lasso a chair and a girl.
Dancing varied in the same way. A trio with masks resembling the Jabbawockeez, a California-based dance crew, were the first dance team to take the stage. Another hip-hop number followed them as well as the Evolution of Dance, Napoleon Dynamite and what can only be described as a short man dance.
Taylor Stevens, one of the contestants, stood behind a screen and with the help of a friend created the arms and legs of a man who, while rather short and flexible, was also able to defy gravity.
Based off their performances in the dance, catwalk and talent, judges chose the top five of the night: Taylor Stevens, Romaine Green, Troy Smith, Blake Barber and Evan Gilbert.
The top five took the stage to answer interview questions. Each received two questions.
“Do you think Axe Body Spray is sufficient enough to replace deodorant?” was the question posed to Green, who said that it wasn’t. Smith was asked, “What are a couple things you would do to pursue a girl?” He quickly asked judge Dennis Obermeyer for his wife’s phone number. Obermeyer’s wife is Carole Obermeyer, the Friends University vice president of student affairs who also was a judge Tuesday night.
Humor permeated the night along with slightly serious answers and displays of talent. Most performances had a light twist, such as Smith who chose to do the catwalk in a cat-suit or Stevens’ display of talent as the short man.
Following the quick interviews and a tally of the scores, Taylor Stevens was crowned Falcon King.
The contest, not necessarily concentrating on beauty, drew a surprisingly large crowd of lower and upperclassmen. The audience gave immense support, even for the not-so-spectacular performances, and laughter, though not constant, was a friend of many.
Overall, I must say two thumbs up to the men for being vulnerable and gutsy enough to get on stage and strut. I probably won’t be there next year to find out which newcomer becomes Falcon King (partially because I am a senior), but I am thankful for the procrastination and the laughter.