You know the weird words, so stand up and give them your all: “Thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightening, me! Galileo, Galileo, Galileo, figaro …”
Thanks to the movie of the same name, the rock ‘n’ roll masterpiece “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Freddie Mercury and Queen is back in the limelight these days, amazing listeners with its soaringly operatic soundscape and its utterly ambiguous storyline. “Bohemian Rhapsody” seems to suggest some grand tale of confession (to the singer’s Mama), trial and condemnation (to prison? to Hell? oh Mama Mia!) but the actual action is a trail of breadcrumbs — followed by a rockin’ climax that reverts to “Oh baby” cliches.
What’s it all mean? Tonight, you can watch young thespians in La Center High School’s acting and advanced acting classes throw themselves into the story, whatever it may be, and many other stories embedded inside songs you thought you already knew. It’s guaranteed to get you giggling at over-the-top physical acting — as well as looking at your favorite tunes in a whole new way.
“Every year, we hold an intense, double-bracket elimination lip sync battle championship in our acting classes,” said theater teacher and director Sara Rideout. The performances this year are so terrific, she said, Rideout and her students decided to offer them up in a fundraising Lip Sync Showcase.
If You Go
What:Lip Sync Showcase (semifinals) and fundraiser for La Center High School Theater.
When: 7 to 9 tonight.
Where: La Center High School, 725 N.E. Highland Ave., La Center.
Cost: Free, but People’s Choice winner will be determined by money donated.
Three finalists:To be chosen by judges; will advance to final round Feb. 13.
“Each round has a different theme, and everybody goes head to head with the same song,” she said. “We have a panel of judges made up of different staff members.” At the evening’s end, those judges will select three winners for the championship round, which is set for Feb. 13 (during intermission of a performance of five student-directed plays based on tales by Mark Twain). The audience will be the judge for that final round.
Tonight’s performance is free to attend, but don’t neglect to bring your wallet; a People’s Choice award will be decided by audience donation. The event is a benefit for La Center High School Theater.
The whole thing may sound like one big hoot — and it is — but sometimes the subject matter gets serious indeed. Rideout said one of her students has developed a tale about somebody touched by the 1970 massacre of Vietnam War protesters at Kent State University that was immortalized in the furious song “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. It’s not the stuff of giggles, Rideout said; it’s serious storytelling.
“I think it offers a unique take on acting,” said Sam Elkoshairi, who was last year’s lip sync champion and will go for the title again this year. Because Rideout herself selects and edits the songs, he said, “It’s always a challenge. You don’t know what the song will be until a week before. Then you’ve got to pour everything into it. You’ve got to think about, what will wow the judges?
“It’s a fun experience, and everyone in the class takes it seriously,” he said.
