Washington student performs at All-State speech

Washington Junior Molly Klinzman has returned from Iowa’s All-State individual speech competition, the top level of performance for the activity.

Klinzman performed in storytelling this year, but has been recognized at state and All-State for improv, literary program and short film events in years past.

The trip is not an easy one to earn.

“In order to get to All-State, you have to put in a lot of time and effort, I think I practiced my speech every night for a little over a month,” she said. “You have to make it past districts, you have to receive a Division I rating from your judge at district, and then at state you have three judges, and you have to receive a division I rating from all of them. And then you also have to get an All-State nomination, which is a lot harder to come by.”

Klinzman’s performance was a retelling of the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche.

“Eros is the goddess of love, and she gets really lonely, but because she’s really beautiful, Aphrodite refuses to let any man marry her, but she goes and she falls in love with Eros,” Klinzman said. “It’s sort of about her journey of learning to overcome hurdles, but also learning to love somebody despite their flaws.”

Making it to All-State requires an understanding of the piece and a connection with the audience that goes above and beyond. To do that, Klinzman adapted the story with her own spin.

“The story has to be relatable to you so you can make it relatable to other people … I tell it like I’m gossiping with someone, because I do actually talk like that sometimes,” she said. “I am able to connect with my audience because it’s the way I talk to my friends, so if I’m talking to the audience like a friend, it’s much more comfortable for me, and it makes me able to articulate my feelings and convey the story better.”

Klinzman said the performance was a bittersweet experience. While it’s the highest level to strive for, it also represents the last stage of the year’s work.

“It’s kind of sad to say goodbye to a piece I love so much, it’s kind of like sending off a friend,” she said. “You know you’re performing in front of people who know their craft well, so you know yours has to be top tier … but all the people in the room love speech and are going to love whatever you do, so it’s kind of like a mixed emotion.”

If nothing else, it’s a chance to perform in front of a supportive community.

“There’s a lot of love in general, and everybody congratulates each other at the end,” Klinzman said. “Speech is a very niche thing … so when you’re in this room full of people that have mastered speech and have been doing speech for at least two years, you have people who understand what you do and appreciate what you do.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com