By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
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ROCKINGHAM — Stealing a baby is only funny in the town where the Super Silly Superheroes reign.
And there, it’s downright hilarious.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Tyler Berry, center, developed a super power that earned him the moniker, “Fearless Farter.”
Thankful this year’s Young People’s Theatre performance that was staged Friday night at Cole Plaza wasn’t a drama, 14 area youth took part in the Richmond Community Theatre‘s annual outreach to kids in an original play, “Super Silly Superheroes.” The play was, in part, written by the kids themselves during a two-week camp that began July 21 and culminated with a 0.4-mile parade from Harrington Square to Cole Plaza. Under gray skies and a near-constant light rain, they managed a 30-minute performance in front of more than 100 fans. The summer program is funded in part by a grant from the Rockingham Rotary Club.
This year, the kids had an absolute blast. What was funny was hysterical. What was even remotely serious was turned into an original, ad-libbed comedy that put the audience in stitches. Shelly Walker, RCT director, gathered the kids behind the curtain moments before the play began with quiet but confident words of wisdom.
“If you are having a good time, the audience is going to be having a good time,” Walker said. “Do we have everybody?”
A quick count. Yes, everyone was present and accounted for.
“Speak loudly,” Walker said. “Use outside voices. Be happy.”
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Static Shocker, right, played by Michael DeMay, “connects” with Hothead, played by Keanu Frye, in a royal rumble between superhero gangs.
Her advice was a bulls-eye.
The play was set in a small town where crime is rampant. The news vendor gets robbed. A mother’s baby is stolen. A girl can’t even walk down the street without having her gum stolen. Yes, the town had gone to ruins.
One by one, however, a band of 14 children, each of whom had only been absolutely ordinary, suddenly discovered they had superpowers strong enough to overcome any obstacle put before them by would-be criminals. First they protected themselves. Then the newly minted superheroes protected friends and strangers alike.
There was Fierce Farter, who — well, you can guess what is super power was — overwhelmed the bad guys. There was Static Shocker, who could send a jolt of electricity at a moment’s notice. Minty Menace could freeze a bad guy where he stood, and Hothead had a way about him that could cool off the hottest of enemy.
Over time, the superheroes become confident. Crime was down, then practically nonexistent. Then the superheroes become a little too confident, and the band of superheroes split into two groups, the Super Crew and the Super Pact. After a royal rumble — which included a dance-off — the superheroes decided it was far less painful to work together for the command good than to work against each other.
The cast included: Tyler Berry (Fearless Farter); Bella Gillenwater (Luscious Locks); Michael Demay (Static Shocker); Julie Hammond (Minty Menace); Laila Ingram (Gooey Girl); Katya Buckner (Quick Quake); Kasey Knight (Dancing Diva); Faith Baxley (Beat Box); Corina Cox (Baby Bling Bling); Evan Tillis (Say ‘n’ Spray); Lilly Berry (Speedy Speaker); Alyssa Hughes (Butterfeet); Jenna McRae (Clumsy Clown); and Keanu Frye (Hothead).
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Super Silly Superheroes lead the parade from Harrington Square to Cole Plaza Friday night in downtown Rockingham.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Minty Menace, played by Julie Hammond, reaches the midway point of the Super Silly Superheroes Parade near The Pee Dee Post office on East Washington Street at Lawrence Street in Rockingham.
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