The Ghouls Are Out

October 30, 2007

Two members of the Dramat board practicing their Halloween skit

Today is Halloween at Exeter. Weird and wonderful costumes are all over campus. There are fashionistas: one girl sports a 4-foot Croc (yes, a plastic shoe with holes on the top) on her back, another dons a floor-length ballgown made of pages from The Exonian, and a boy wears a topcoat made of duct tape. And sports fans: a Green Bay Packers enthusiast with cheesehead hat, and numerous Red Sox followers wearing wide grins. Pirates, Peter Pan, ghouls, devils, jockeys – they're all here.

On this classic fall day, everyone came together to view the judging of best Halloween-inspired skit. Eight student groups performed from the balcony of Jeremiah Smith Hall to the assembled crowd on the quad. Judges awarded points – from 1 (not good) to 10 (superlative).

First prize went to the six board members of Dramat (a student drama club), for their energetic and creative interpretation of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Second prize was awarded to Naomi and Katie, seniors, for their interpretation of "We're All In This Together" from High School Musical, performed with a chorus of dancing girls. Third place went to the human Croc, played by Libby, an upper. Other skits included a take-off of "Gimme More" (of Brittany Spears fame) by girls from Wheelwright Hall, and a solo interpretation of Phantom of the Opera.

Perhaps the most topical performance was "I'm Shipping Up to Boston," in which Jonathan Papelbon of the Red Sox took time out from his own busy schedule to accept congratulations for winning the World Series. The faux Papelbon, played by Tim, a senior, did a mock Irish jig and was roundly doused with fizzy water by teammates.

The judges – Ming Fontaine, modern languages instructor; Jeff Ibbotson, math instructor; George Mangan, English instructor; Jan Trueman of student activities; and Dean Russell Weatherspoon – enjoyed their role immensely. In delivering her score for the Red Sox skit, Trueman said, with visible relief: "ESPN has no idea what they just missed!"

Interested in learning more?

Find out about student clubs at Exeter…

Read about last year's Halloween festivities…