Reprinted from wgi.org By Michael Reed -- Reclaiming their first title after their 10 year SW championship run ended in 2008, James Logan (CA) (Gold Medal- 97.25)
swept all captions and took the top prize with “Undercover.” Long known for their athletic equipment work, the kids from the left coast dazzled the spectators with sky-high aerials and a plethora of challenging rifle tricks. The guard started the show in shining white coats and hats like a 1940’s movie detective would wear. Thirty tall white poles were utilized, which the group hid behind as they blended in with the surroundings. In the latter portion of the show, 30 bright silks with large eyes appeared, reminding us that the private eyes were watching our every move.
Carmel (IN) (Silver Medal- 95.55) achieved their highest-ever World Class finish with the delightful “Life is Like a Box of Chocolates”. The young ladies were costumed as an assortment of treats, dressed in varying shades of brown with subtle hues of other colors. The show itself was a savory treat set to three contrasting sections of classical music on a candy box floor. Perhaps the tastiest morsel was a luscious feature on caramel flags in the middle movement which brought down the house. The playful conclusion of the program brought all the girls together in the same square, as if saving the last piece of chocolate for the audience, who rose to their feet in a sugar-high of joy.
Defending champions Avon (IN) (Bronze Medal- 94.65) depicted the desperate plight
of America’s homeless with “Lend a Hand.” The ensemble moved on a floor of cardboard signs like one would see held by a person in need. Eric Whitacre’s “Cloudburst” provided an eerie soundtrack which had moments of beauty and cacophonous dissonance, serving as a reminder that both generosity and selfishness are part of our shared human experience. As the heart wrenching production ended, the entire group displayed handwritten cardboard signs along the front sideline, with the most prominent one simply stating “Thank U for Sharing”.
Flanagan (FL) (4th- 92.10) presented “Atlas Shrugged”, with the title taken from the Ayn Rand novel about a society where the most productive minds refuse to let their and creativity be exploited by an increasingly controlling government. Costumed in pure gold, the members symbolically represented the mythical figure who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. This spectacular troupe has become known as the most daring risk takers in the class, and this year’s edition kept that tradition going with a barrage of acrobatic weapon tosses, culminating with a feature on gold flags that was shimmering in its brilliant execution.
Dressed for a funeral, Marian Catholic (IL) (5th- 91.70) dealt with overwhelming grief felt at the loss of a loved one with “Ashes to Ashes”. As a gravedigger filled the freshly dug grave with shovelfuls of dirt from a wheelbarrow, a sobbing widow was led around with a black umbrella as she tried to manage her sadness. As she collapsed at the graveside, unable to bear her loss, a close friend picked her up and consoled her, holding her as they slowly exited the floor. While the package had an undeniably somber theme, the capacity crowd nevertheless was moved by their portrayal, responding with a standing ovation.
Arcadia (CA) (6th- 91.50) provided a visual feast with the “The Sensory Garden”. The ensemble performed on a green floor with hints of gold. During the three sections of the dreamlike show, portions of the tarp were pulled to reveal colored areas which were then drawn upon by talented artists with thick black paint. A yellow area was accompanied by sounds of birds chirping, while a blue portion featured flowing water, and a majestic purple was unfurled to sounds of wind blowing across a mountain vista. Each area ultimately contained drawings depicting the exotic imagery of the serene soundtrack.
Trumbull (CT) (7th- 88.45) brought a sense of the horrors of wartime with “In Darkness”. With a floor with photos of a tank and a World War II Memorial in a green tint, to silks in varying hues of green, to the quasi-military outfits in green, the visual atmosphere was like watching the entire show through night-vision goggles. A disembodied female voice singing a version “Silent Night” with non-traditional lyrics added to the disquieting feel of the show. The production concluded with the unit looking up warily to the sounds of military helicopters flying overhead.
Warren Central (IN) (8th- 87.05) captured the sense of awe and mystery created by Hans Zimmer’s suspenseful film score to the “Da Vince Code” movie with “Bloodline.” In what has become one of their trademarks, the double-time rifle spins returned this year, as the ladies moved spun while moving around their partners doing flag work. Red and black were the dominant color choices of a show with an intense and somewhat sinister undertone, as they covered the black floor with a swirling sea of red fabric during an electrifying feature.
Miamisburg (OH) (9th- 86.85) presented an absolutely gorgeous production about the feminine wonders of the fairer gender with “This Woman’s World”. The soothing words of “What a Wonderful World” as sung by Eva Cassidy were heard throughout the show as a thematic staple. Sandwiched in between opening and closing forms of the universal female symbol, the women graced the floor with their charming movements and continually thrilled the audience with their highly complex equipment book and precise, finely honed technique.
Choctawhatchee (FL) (10th- 86.70) created an atmosphere of red-hot romance with the sultry “Besame Mucho”. The Latin-themed package was a textbook example of writing work to accentuate the music, as the members perfectly captured the numerous screaming trumpet riffs and jazzy rhythms of the piece. As the steamy program neared its ending, the ladies picked up hot pink and orange silks, ending with a sizzling feature before blowing a kiss to the audience, who were on their feet as the final notes blared from the arena sound system.
Center Grove (IN) (11th- 85.85) proved the old adage that quality is better than quantity with “More Than Enough.” With a simple black tarp that was less than a quarter of the size of those used by their competitors, and only one flag choice, the unit made their mark with strength of their performance. Scott Joplin’s moderate tempo “Bethena Waltz” gave the production a laid-back southern feel. The tiny area covered by their floor was expertly utilized in the design to feature soloists and small groups showcasing their equipment skills.
When viewing an abstract painting, it is common to step back and reflect on the mixture of color and texture, allowing its meaning to soak into the mind. With “The Expansion Project”, Seminole (FL) (12th- 84.70) presented an abstract work of art in movement that was best appreciated in a similar manner. Starting in a tight, confined space, the group “expanded” outward, filling the entire floor in shades of blue. Following an impressive display with 20 rifles flying in unison, the unit contracted into the same tight space as at the beginning.
It was great to see Lawrence Central (IN) (13th- 81.85) back after an absence of a few years. “Into the West” was set on a floor with a compass and featured a nautical theme. Opening with sounds of ocean waves, the group used silver oars and flags held aloft like the sails of a ship. Midway through the show, two long transparent white sheets gave an aura of sailing through a thick ocean fog. At the end, the group, which had began the program on the audience’s right (east), made it safely to land in the west.
Performed on a purplish/bluish/grayish watercolor floor, Chino (CA) (14th- 81.15) brought thunder and lightning with them during “The Storm”. As the program began, the dissonance of Michael Gordon’s “Weather” made it obvious something ominous was approaching. When the downpour hit, the unit graphically depicted the battering winds and furious rain. Weary but grateful for surviving the onslaught, the group collapsed in the center of the floor at the ending.
Depicting the final hours of Marie Antoinette’s life, Centerville (OH) (15th- 81.10) presented “Vive la Reine Tombée (Long Live the Fallen Queen)”. Chess pieces were a visual motif for the production, both on the floor and in the opening flags, which were rapidly spun and tossed in a hypnotic fashion to the delight of the audience. A letter written by the deposed ruler to her sister shortly before her death was the inspiration for the program’s narration.
