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It was not exactly a record-breaking year but the 2009 Simplot Games at Idaho State University's Holt Arena in Pocatello still showcases some of the nation's best high school talent.
This year's indoor meet did not produce a national record for the first time in 3 years. Jackie Coward of Tennessee clocked 8.18 to set the national 60-Meter Hurdle record in 2008, and Bianca Knight of Mississippi ran 22.97 to set the national 200-Meter record in 2007. These two records and two more from 2004-Elzie Coleman's 45.92 in the 400 Meter and Ashley Owens' 7.19 in the 60 Meter-still stand.
The Simplot Games and Idaho State's noisy, old banked-board track at Holt Arena still draws prep athletes from around the nation. The Arena, built in 1970 and seating 12,000, was the nation's first domed stadium on a collegiate campus, and the world's second indoor football stadium after the Houston Astrodome, pretty heady stuff for Pocatello, Idaho. The Simplot Games feature the biggest indoor track and field meet in the West, the largest indoor high school meet in the West, and would not happen without the sponsorship and support of the J. R. Simplot Company.
The Track Eastern Carolina team from New Bern in North Carolina led the way this year by setting the only two meet records by winning the Sprint Medley Relay in 3:26.28 and the 4x200 Relay in 1:27.60. In the Sprint Medley, Andrew Hendrix ran the opening 400 leg in 48.72, and following the two 200 legs by Fuqauwn Greene and Mike Sparks and a bobbled baton exchange, Anthony (not Andrew) Hendrix ran the 800 leg in 1:54.33 to break the 3:27.80 record previously held by Muir High School of Pasendena, CA.
In the 4x200 Relay, Fuqauwn Greene ran the opening leg in 21.72, followed by Mike Sparks (22.28), Arthur Hendrix (21.91) and Andrew Hendrix (21.69) as the Track Eastern Carolina team broke its own meet record of 1:27.96 set in the 2004 meet.
Perhaps the outstanding individual of the meet was Kyle Macintosh of ATS Elite in Littleton (CO). Macintosh won the 60 Hurdles in 7.90, won the 400 Meter in 48.06, and anchored the ATS Elite team that won the 4x400 in 3:20.98. Running for ATS Elite was Kevin Scheuerman, Kumar Pinkney and Nate Guthals; Macintosh ended a close race by running the 3rd leg in 49.04.
Other outstanding performances at the meet included:
Ashton Purvis of St. Elizabeth High School in Oakland (CA) recorded a sprint double by winning the 60 Meters in 7.47 and the 200 Meter in 23.99. Purvis, only a junior, won both events last year and has now positioned herself to become a 3-time sprint double champion.
Ciarra Brewer of James Logan in Union City (CA) went 41-6 (41 feet, 6 inches) in winning the Triple Jump, setting a national sophomore class record in the process.
Trinity Wilson of St. Mary's in Berkeley (CA) clocked 8.44 to win the 60-Meter Hurdles, setting a national freshman class record in the process.
Anna Jelmini of Shafter (CA) had progressively better throws before recording a 51-5 to win the Shot Put, the first female to top 50 feet this year.
Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley
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"Remember that rumor? It just came knocking on my front door." -Grace Dubose Dunbar
For nearly 20 years a proud tradition of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival has been its bold mission to foster and showcase the work of southern storytellers through its Southern Writers Project. The latest offering born of the Project is yet another gem, further heightening the program's profile and deservedly earning national acclaim.
Pearl Cleage's "The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years" is a witty, intriguing comedy decisively worthy of an international tour.
Set ten years in the shadow of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, it chronicles the Nacirema Society's feverish planning to mark its centennial, made more dramatic with the anticipated engagement of its primary member's granddaughter. But lurking behind the ivy-covered walls of gentility and immaculate reputations are a pair of secretive lovers and a shocking family secret, both of which threaten to engulf the event in scandal and to ruin good names. And yet, though it's the stuff great knuckle-biting dramas are built upon, we as the audience are laughing with total abandon throughout it all.
A truly unique quality of this play is that it offers the perspective of black high society and an arms-length approach to the struggle for civil rights. Invariably plays set during this period focus on the foot soldier activists on the front lines, sitting in at lunch counters and participating in protest marches. This captures the rarely presented viewpoint of black individuals who, although inexorably linked by race to those in the struggle for freedom, are generally removed from those in the trenches fighting the good fight. The event's organizers even dismissively refer to activities led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, only expressing concern that such things may disrupt the Nacirema Society's celebration. But this is assuredly not weighty subject matter in the play. It's merely a sliver of the setting and does not in any way hinder or make somber the comedic aspects of the story.
Though so much buzz has centered on the inclusion of Jasmine Guy in the cast - as reporter Janet Logan - the shining success of this play rests on a brilliant script, riddled with clever, unanticipated twists and turns, an ensemble of actors who execute as if they've been playing these roles for years, and solid direction by Susan Booth, which laudably keeps the action in line, moving at a rapid clip and takes great care to treat each little comedic nuance with kid gloves, realizing all of its potential.
Guy certainly doesn't disappoint though. She's stellar prodding the Society and its members in an attempt to tear back the veil on the group, seemingly posing simple, innocuous questions which nonetheless provoke uproariously humorous responses from Society members as their gasp-worthy secrets are brought to light and ordinarily demure personalities are pushed to the edge.
One of the most amusing and gratifying facets of this play is the interplay between matriarch Grace Dunbar - played by Trezana Beverley, and her granddaughter Gracie - played by Naima Russell. Beverly's uncanny ability to sprinkle the stage with grandiose arrogance and condescension, clinging desperately to the old ways of the Society, is absolutely hilarious. We find ourselves wrapped up, following her body language and nearly begging for the next funny line. Though we'd think such characteristics would prompt disgust from the audience, Beverly's delivery is so clever that we find her antics endearing though we would never prize such qualities in our personal lives from those we associate with.
Beverley's antics, coupled with the youthful, idealistic innocence provided by Russell, is worthy of its own spotlight. This clash between old ways and new ways and generational gaps provide a remarkably funny contrast. Russell's unbridled personification of youthful exuberance truly lights up the stage leading us to wonder which of the two stars will steal the show.
The ensemble also consists of Chinai Hardy, who is graceful and convincing as Marie Dunbar; Andrea Frye who charms and prompts countless laughs as the slightly flighty Catherine Green; Kevin Daniels as the dashing Bobby Green, undeterred by potentially disappointing his family in the name of love; Tonia Jackson as the cunning outsider seeking a piece of the Dunbar family pie; Karan Kendrick as Lillie Campbell, who weaves her way deftly through the romantic shades of the play with her secret lover and conspires with Gracie to help bring some sanity to it all. And though she may seem insignificant in the background of all the drama and surprises unfolding in this funny romp, don't ever take your eye off Jessie, played by Neda Spears. She may have the last laugh of all....
The pace in the first act cleverly ticks along, peaking our interest and leaving the audience craving a return from intermission. It's advisable not to blink in the second act as the action explodes in a whirlwind of laughs as the scheming, secrets and scandal begin to bounce around like a runaway pinball, surprises lurking behind each piece of the palatial set, a feast for the eyes designed by Peter Hicks. Eyes widen, coupled with hearty laughs and we often have to search carefully for a spot to catch our breath.
The conclusion is quite fulfilling. Though the plot rides primarily on humor, we are treated to a flurry of very poignant, personal moments as the play concludes. It's a testament to Cleage's ability to spin a somewhat complex yet easily digested tale.
The only gripe I can possibly muster is that due to the effectiveness of the comedic portions of the play, it is sometimes difficult to hear some of the lines due to the lingering applause.
I cannot recall a comedy in ASF history which has provoked such an outpouring of sincere, sustained applause and even cheering. The standing ovation - inarguably very well deserved - must have set a record for an ASF performance. It's even more satisfying to know that a production so well-received is home-grown, based in Montgomery, workshopped at ASF and debuted for the world in the Capital City. As the production moves to Atlanta and beyond, I feel confident it will land - and land with authority - on Broadway. The rest of the world most assuredly deserves to see this.
The world premiere of "The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of Their First 100 Years" by Pearl Cleage continues its run at ASF through October 10 and will then travel to Atlanta's Alliance Theatre to open Oct. 20. Tickets can be purchased online from the Alabama Shakespeare Festival for the remaining Montgomery dates, or by calling 1-800-4ASF.
Copyright Capital City Free Press
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