For a couple of hours, you made us forget time and place. You made us forget that some of those talented actors and actresses who mesmerized us with their performance on the stage were the same little kids who pretended to forget the need to clean their cafeteria spot after having breakfast or lunch! You made us forget that some of these boys – and less often some of these girls- claimed that the pencil that landed on the other side of the classroom at a speed of a few miles an hour, did that on its own or that it was an “innocent accident!” For a couple of hours, we forgot how many times we had to redirect some of them to focus on their homework. Yet, Mr. Baydoun managed to direct them marvelously in hairspray Jr. For a couple of hours, we forgot how many times we had to remind some of them of missing assignments throughout the school year. Yet, there was nothing missing in their energetic joy while performing their roles. It seemed to us that Mr. Baydoun’s stage reminders worked better than ours! We simply forgot that those were children between 11 and 14. For a couple of hours, their energy was right on the spot. They were focused and they loved it! And so, we loved it too. In fact, we loved it even more when Mr. Walters added his melodic and rhythmic input to this wonderful production.
You have transferred us to the 60s of the 20th century and made us believe that we were in Baltimore! Not that Baltimore was much different from Detroit, Chicago, or almost any other city or town in the USA; Segregation was well and alive! You reminded us of the days when racial differences stood in the way of justice and unity. And although we have moved a long way forward, a lot of work is still needed. Racial tensions are still there, albeit not as strong and not as obvious. Add to that religious divisions and fears that threaten local communities and national politics, and you realize that the job is far from over.
Stout kids played their role under the guidance of Mr. Baydoun and Mr. Walters – and they did it brilliantly! And so I say to each and every one of them: thank you. You made us feel proud to be Stoutians and Dearbornians! Let us carry that torch of unity and march forward.
Mohamad Sabra
