Jackson Vail was crowned Mr. Medomak 2016 after a fierce competition for the coveted title on Thursday, April 7. From left: Vail, Claire Lupien, and Jacob Siegal. (Eleanor Cade Busby photo)
Jackson Vail sings “Let it Go” from “Frozen” with backup from the Snowflakes during the Mr. Medomak pageant. (Eleanor Cade Busby photo)
Contestants were judged in several categories, including evening wear (pajamas), a celebrity impersonation, their ideal superhero, and the talent competition. The judges for the evening were Arla Casselman, Steve Gleason, Linda Pease, and Audrey Ennamorati.
Justice Barrows was master of ceremonies, tossing off one-liners and entertaining the audience as she led the contestants through their trials.
Nick DePatsy led off the competition with his Donald Trump impression, to be matched laugh-for-laugh by Jackson Vail as Taylor Swift.
Superheroes included “Mix-Tape Man” (Jacob Siegel) who wore CDs as glasses, “Bath Man” (Duncan Macleod) complete with shower shoes, and “Your Man” (Ethan Swan), whose “hero” was a blatant attempt to win over the emcee.
The talent competition was a no-holds-barred display of the senior boys’ impressive skills. Kyle Blum played chess – with himself. Nick DePatsy, with duct tape over his mouth, used puppets to lip-sync “Endless Love” to cheers from the audience. Ben Stevenson tried his hand at stand-up comedy. Ethan Swan used his younger brother as a ventriloquist’s dummy. Jackson Vail brought back-up flakes for his “Frozen” tribute.
Sheldon Lavway danced with great energy. Duncan Macleod brought a table and hot plate to the stage, where he scrambled eggs and ate them. Jacob Siegel actually performed, singing a song from “Hamilton.”
The evening was a good-natured poke at pageants, politics, and current events, all skewered with enthusiasm. The packed audience got a lively show, mercifully brief, and the contestants’ grins made it clear that they had a blast. When the votes were tallied, Jackson Vail was crowned Mr. Medomak 2016.
Cassi Smeltzer came to the show “to see if anyone can hold a candle to my brother,” she said. “Aaron (Smeltzer) was Mr. Medomak 2015.” At the end of the show, she had her answer. “No, but it was really fun.”
This annual event is just plain fun for the whole family. It’s worth putting on the calendar for next year for some belly laughs.
