Improbable Players' Moving Performance
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The WALRUS The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things: Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. - Lewis Carroll Vol. LXIX ,No. 1 St. Sebastian’s School October 2015 Sebs Gathers for All-School Read Assembly some of her father’s personal items to see how much technology has By Matt Aisenberg ‘16 and found old memorabilia from his evolved since then. rowing days. She did a lot of research Judy also addressed her HEAD WRITER for the book, including finding Joe’s personal experiences with her father rowing teammates and talking to and what he was like around her. You This past summer the St. them, going the extra mile to make could tell how much she respected Sebastian’s community had the great sure she got every detail, and recall- her father by the way she was speak- pleasure to read and learn about one ing things she experienced with her ing about him. She told us stories of the greatest American stories in father. She knew that the story of Joe about Joe and what he was like as our history. The Boys in the Boat, by and his teammates needed to be told a father, how interactive he was, Daniel James Brown, features main to the world. People who hear the tale and how he always wanted to spend character Joe Rantz and his incred- have to be inspired and understand quality time with his children. The ible life story, along with eight other that anything is possible and that, no bond of family was very important to Americans and their tremendous matter where you start off in life, you Joe. Judy also told one story about a journey ending with gold at the 1936 can still accomplish greatness like time during the winter when Joe took Berlin Olympics. Joe Rantz did. Judy and her siblings sledding. She Earlier this year we had One of the many intrigu- described how the roads were cov- the honor of hearing Joe Rantz’s ing aspects of Judy’s presentation ered in snow and how they had a sled Judy Rantz and her husband with Mr. Burke following the daughter Judy Willman speak about was the visual depictions. When she that all of them could fit on at once. all-school read assembly. They are achieving swing. the book and her father. Judy went started talking about the rowing and She described her dad’s excitement over the story in detail. She specifi- the men on the team, she showed to take them to the top of the steep cally addressed her father’s horrific pictures of all the men on the team road and take them down the hill. He Improbable Players’ childhood. I think this part touched and provided details on each of their was a fun guy and wanted to have a lot of us and made us rethink stories before college. Something that good times with his kids, which he what we consider “problems” in life stuck out when she was talking about did. He loved his family very much because we are so lucky to have lov- Moving Performance the other men on the team was that and would do everything he could mother’s disease. It had seemed to ing families and attend such a good none of them had any prior rowing for them. When Judy was a little girl By Jack Kerwin ‘17 school. Judy told us how she really her that this addiction had taken over experience before college, which she had a horse and Joe made her a In late September, the St. wanted people to see everything her her mother and ultimately taken her makes what they accomplished even cart that attached to the horse and she Sebastian’s community was privi- mother from her. The girl often times father overcame. She explained how more exceptional. could sit on it to help train the horse. she needed people to be able to read leged to welcome the Improbable tried to express her feelings about Judy even had video from She talked about how Joe didn’t want Players to our school for a powerful how she believed that her mother had the book and be able to truly picture the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Seeing his kid’s lives to be anything like his performance. The Improbable Play- a drinking issue, but whenever she what happened. She wanted it to be this footage was amazing. We got to was and they weren’t because of how ers are an acting group, comprised of attempted to speak of it, she would an inspiration for people and to even see for our own eyes the whole race good of a father he was. actors who are currently in long-term instantly be shunned by her father give people courage. and how intense it was. Judy also We learned a lot more recovery from various addictions. She selected Daniel James read a passage from the book that about Joe from Judy speaking to us. and brother, as well as be told to stop The mission of these actors is to set Brown to be the author because she goes on during the race from the per- Her comments were heartfelt and giving her mother such a hard time. thought he would do the best job at spective of some of the Washington delivered fully and clearly. She gave the stage for prevention by educating It got to a point where she decided printing her father’s story. And even fans and media. The voices brought us a more complete image of Joe and the public about the dangers of addic- to speak to her guidance counselor though she was not considered the to life the footage and what they were what an image it was. It was great tion and to help others recognize situ- at school about this issue. The coun- author, she played a huge role in the saying in the book was so accurate after reading the story to hear more ations in their own lives and seek the selor shortly told her that her mother making of the book. She shared with for what was actually happening in about it and learn things that were not necessary help. was an alcoholic and when she went us how she got the inspiration for the the race. It was also fascinating just in the book. The performance began by home to explain this to her father, she book when she was looking through diving into the personal lives of the was further reprimanded for speak- various actors. As each of the four ac- ing about this issue to other people. tors introduced themselves, they told The purpose of this skit was to show their emotional stories about their how it is easy for somebody to be battles with addiction. From cocaine delusional about a family member or addiction, to constant drinking, the loved ones addiction. The Improb- Improbable Players had seemed to able Player’s showed us that battling have been in situations that would be with addiction is an extremely com- tough for most students to imagine. mon thing and that it is important to The heartfelt reflections of their lives recognize situations similar to these. led the audience to connect to each of The Improbable Player’s the actors on a deeper level and vali- touched upon many circumstances date each actor’s claims and opinions that although may seem distant, are on the dangers of drugs and alcohol. very pertinent to our lives. The ac- The Improbable Players played a big tors talked and theatrically displayed emphasis on what we typically per- the dangers of even going near these ceive an alcoholic or drug addict to be substances. Oftentimes people will like. Dressing up in trench coats, ski use excuses such as “I only drink Owen “Barack” Finnegan, with his massive ears, addresses the most important issues masks, fingerless gloves, and heavy on weekends” or “I only drink when facing St. Sebastian’s School today as a bastion of moral education and leadership. boots, the actors stomped around the I’m with my friends.” Using exag- stage speaking in distorted voices gerations and irony, the stupidity of Meet Supreme Leader Owen Finnegan and even causing laughter within these excuses was made obvious. It My question is, who doesn’t ter program. We really need an icon, the crowd. Following this, they re- became clear that it is much easier By Peter Murphy ‘18 want some pretty good inside jokes like Trevor Yandow, to look up to in moved their costumes, and revealed to completely stay away from these to the crowd what a drug addict and I was honored to speak with most Sebs students understand at a wonder and fascination. substances than to try them, like alcoholic really look like. This tactic the most important student in our Republican debate? It is a given that Next, Brian Craven asked them, and then have to resist such ex- dramatically revealed the harsh truth school President Owen Finnegan, we should support our Presidents un- him what his thoughts on Smart Cars treme temptations. about how common it is for people with Trevor Yandow in a close sec- official campaign for president. He were: “I think anybody who owns a Through personal accounts to have these battles with addiction. ond, and had the rare chance to inter- obviously would improve our inter- smart car is making a terrible financial of their lives as well as their perfor- It was made clear that many people view him.