Lakeport >> The 2015 Mr. Lake County competition began with a parental advisory. Tim Barnes of Lake County Theatre Company (LCTC) announced to the crowd that what they were about to witness was for eyes 18 and over. And the contestants didn’t fail to deliver. There were countless sexual innuendos, a good deal of cursing and, yes, skimpy bathing suits. The audience ate up every minute of it.
The MCs for the second annual Mr. Lake County pageant, held at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport, were Tim Barnes and sheriff Brian Martin, reigning Mr. Lake County until approximately 10:30 Saturday night, when his crown (or tool-belt, technically speaking) was handed off to the newest Mr. Lake County, Larry Richardson.
The event was a benefit for the LCTC building fund. The theatre company currently does not have a permanent home for rehearsals, storage and performances, but with enough fundraising, they hope to purchase a building in the future. In addition to ticket sales, money was also raised over the course of the evening through silent and live auctions, food and drink sales and the interview portion of the evening, where audience members could pay $2 to script a question for the contestants.
The competition had a high level of audience participation, as everyone received voting cards to choose their favorite in four categories: talent, swimsuit, formal wear and interview. The contestant who garnered the most votes in each category took home a framed certificate for that portion. The scorecards were then tallied up and an overall winner was chosen.
Dance routines by female members of the LCTC and musical numbers interspersed the event to showcase the diversity of the theatre company.
The night began with a dance number for all the constants, choreographed by Sarah Dutra. The talent competition quickly followed featuring everything from dancing to lip syncing to piano playing. In the end, it was 18-year-old William McAuley’s stand-up comedy that took home top prize. The recently legal contestant performed a routine centered around his youth, covering topics from voting to strip clubs. He had the audience rolling with laughter.
The swimsuit competition came next. The audience shouted and whistled as men sauntered across the stage, some wearing board shorts and t-shirts while others stripped down to towels and loincloths. Daniel Suenram, who took to the stage in a pair daisy dukes and nothing else, was the audience favorite. He won the swimsuit portion.
The contestants donned their best for the formal wear category. Stark white three pieces, velvet blazers and a tuxedo complete with a martini (shaken, not stirred), made their way across the stage. Ed Borg’s tux was a hit and he took home the formal wear category.
Last up was the interview portion of the evening. Contestants had to pick audience questions from a glass jar and face whatever was scrawled across the paper. “How do you go about buying a new bra?” and “Why are you running for Mr. Lake County?” were just two of the twelve questions pulled. While all contestants elicited laughter with their responses, which consistently concluded with “world peace,” it was Cameron Beighle who caused an uproar of laughter that filled the room. He received the question, “What would you love to do to last year’s Mr. Lake County?” Everyone, contestants, audience and 2014 Mr. Lake County himself Brian Martin, burst out laughing. Beighle kept his cool, stating that he had purchased last year’s Mr. Lake County calendar, for which Martin posed as Mr. February. “I would be lying if I said I ever went past February,” Beighle finished. The other contestants didn’t stand a chance.
At the end of night, when all auction items were sold and audience votes counted, Barnes and Martin announced the winners. Before the category and overall winners were revealed, they awarded Mr. Congeniality. The award was voted on by all 12 contestants for the man who was always a joy to be around. Rod Rehe won took home the title.
When it came time to announce Mr. Lake County, the room buzzed with anticipation. The title and honor went to Richardson, a first time contestant and long time LCTC performer, whose wife volunteered him for the competition. He danced, sang and charmed his way into the audience’s hearts and will continue his reign until next year.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
