Bandana or banana? Skit helps contestant win Mr. Bellaire 2016
A comedy skit morphing into a magic trick helped Ben Williams win the title of Mr. Bellaire 2016.
The sleight-of-hand performance also won the talent category at the fifth annual contest for senior boys at Bellaire High School.
“You think it’s a joke the whole time,” said Williams, as each time the woman’s voice on a CD player instructed him to fold a bandana, Williams haplessly attempted to fold a banana instead.
The messier things got, the more the audience laughed.
Then came a surprise. Although appearing to fumble the illusion, Williams pushed the mashed-up banana into a folded handkerchief, butwhen he opened the handkerchief, the banana was gone.
The vanishing banana trick “produced a gasp of awe” throughout the audience, said Andy Blitzer, who chaired the Jan. 27 event, which raised more than $10,000 for various senior year activities, including the alcohol-free prom and after-prom.
Contestants also were judged in swimwear, formal wear and onstage question-and-answer.
At 5’10 and 145 pounds, Williams accessorized his swim trunks with cowboy boots and a Hawaiian shirt.
The 17-year-old son of Scott and Karin Williams of Braes Heights said that, following graduation, he plans to attend the University of Texas and major in applied statistics.
The first runner-up was Colin Kurtz, who scored highest in swimsuit.
Judges for the event were Gil Cuero, Taylor Kilpatrick, Lowell Levo, Arin Marx, Duy Nguyen and
J.J. Smith, a Bellaire dress shop owner who said, “I laughed until my sides hurt.”
Radio personality Sam Malone emceed the contest.
Each contestant modeled a tuxedo of his choice on loan from Al’s Formal Wear, with Williams exchanging the black tux he wore in talent for a white tux in the formal wear category.
His escort was his girlfriend, Emma Cohn.
The 25 contestants and their escorts voted Deven Narayan as Mr. Congeni- ality and Erin Lai as Miss Congeniality.
Students and other attendees voted Jonathon Mills as winner of “best eyes” and Brandon Acuff “best smile.”
“Students had to commit to almost three months of rehearsals and planning, giving up Sunday evenings with practice between rehearsals,” said Blitzer. “Many of the participants had after-school jobs and sports commitments, not to mention keeping up their grades, so it is commendable they made time to commit to this as well.”
Blitzer added, “What I love about Mr. Bellaire is how it exemplifies the diverse nature of Bellaire High School.
“Participants from many different cultures and backgrounds come representing many different sports, extracurricular activities and interests. It takes a lot of courage to get up in front of your peers. The fact that these young men and women are willing to put themselves out there to be judged to raise money for their senior class shows an immense amount of school leadership. ”