Prom Photos: Primping And Posing

At The Pleasance

By Dottie Evans

For the girls it was all about sequins, flowery chiffon shawls, wrist corsages, and long backless dresses with spaghetti straps. And don’t forget the four-inch, spike-heeled sandals not at all suitable at all for walking on soft grass or gravelly garden paths.

For the boys it was extreme gel-spiked hair, rented tuxedos, pastel ruffled dress shirts, top hats, and the occasional spats and cane for effect.

For friends and relations of Newtown High School promgoers on Friday night, May 21, it was an hour-long photo session and hugfest as everyone gathered at Newtown’s unofficial Central Park next to the Ram Pasture known as The Pleasance.

They came together in that beautiful in-town public garden between 6 and 7 pm, and the older generation commented on how great the kids looked, how quickly they had grown up, and how glad they were the spring evening was warm and balmy so nobody had on heavy coats hiding their formal finery.

“Last year we nearly froze. It was windy and very cold. The girls had to wear ski parkas over their dresses,” one father recalled.

After strolling around the garden and posing by the giant-sized rooster or next to the sparkling fountain, the partygoers climbed into their cars or limousines and headed down Route 34 to Seymour’s Villa Bianca Restaurant for a night of dinner and dancing.

The parents went home to wait for their return and, hopefully, to hear all about it.

By 7:30 pm, everyone had gone. The Pleasance was back to its usual empty, quiet, and lovely state. The resident robins resumed their late evening lawn patrols, a few male cardinals sang from high places, and the brilliant purple Siberian iris –– like Newtown’s youth –– enjoyed its season of glory.