Weathersfield has talent, energy, and a supportive community

By JEFF EPSTEIN
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WEATHERSFIELD, Vt.  — In an energetic blast rivaling anything from Hollywood, some 25 students at the Weathersfield School took the stage Wednesday evening for a program of performances titled “Weathersfield’s Got Talent” in a nod to the similarly named TV show.

Over nearly two hours, kids sang, danced, bounced, talked and walked all over the stage in the school gymnasium: singly, in pairs, in groups, and eventually in a barely-managed mob of improvisational dance. Some turned in quiet, heartfelt musical performances. Other acts were just celebrations of life and music.

All the performers seemed to clearly enjoy their moment. So did their parents, family and friends in the audience, some of whom had nearly as much energy as the performers onstage. More than 100 people were in the audience.

The performers were a wide variety of ages, from third to eighth grade, said drama director Sean Roberts, who directed and produced the show, and served as its master of ceremonies. The students did have to audition to be in the show, but “it was quite easy,” he said. “A lot of the kids had their own stuff prepared.”

Roberts complimented them on taking responsibility for their work.

But there was little rehearsal, and during the show itself, the kids tested Roberts a little, rewriting the bill with an additional dance toward the end of the show, performed with panache and enthusiasm.

“Um, some of the kids came up to me backstage and said, ‘can we just do this little thing?’” he laughed.

One of the teachers even got in on the act, only after the kids were done. Sean Whalen, who happens to also be the chair of the school board, finished the show with an acoustic guitar, singing a gentle song called “The Dolphins,” and then closing the evening by leading a sing-along of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.”

“I think tonight was a perfect example of courage and passion and comfort in the school community, kids being able to be themselves,” enthused school principal JeanMarie Oakman said afterwards.

“It was great to see the community come out,” Roberts said, smiling and waving goodbye to his troupe and they took off with their families.