A-P all-state duo uses real life friendship as basis for mime performance

Tristan Easton and Jake Gochenouer are always giving each other a hard time, and it turns out that their friendly hijinks have translated into an all-state mime routine for the Aplington-Parkersburg seniors.

Gochenouer had done solo mime for the last three years (and gotten straight ones at State), but Speech and Drama coach Bobbi Abbas, who’s had a lot of luck advancing groups to all-state in the past, saw a golden opportunity to pair him up with Easton.

“They do everything together… They like to fight, beat on each other and all that stuff, and it brought me back to one several years ago that made it (to all-state),” Abbas said. “I could totally see these guys, with how they are to each other, doing that, and they’re both so good with the facial expressions.”

Easton, the calm and collected yin to Gochenouer’s goofy and energetic yang, was quickly convinced to join in, and their silent shenanigans have been a huge hit with judges.

“I just go with the flow sometimes. I’m like ‘Fine, sure, whatever,’” Easton said.

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