After an initial preamble and an exciting display from a children’s dance ensemble, it was time for the business end of the evening to commence.
This event combines a charitable angle with the culmination of many months of heats, which are staged in local social clubs. A nearby hospice benefits from the proceeds, the local newspaper benefits from getting in touch with its readers and the finalists benefit from both the prize money and the opportunity to perform in front of 800 people in this magnificent auditorium.
But there could only be one winner and it was up to a panel of judges, comprising celebrities, sponsors and agents to appraise the 2011 class of Hull showbusiness aspirants.
The Terry Bell Quartet provided the musical backing, while the acts were introduced by Hull Daily Mail columnist Dave Norman.
First up was singer Dan Furniss, who opened with a version of the Stevie Wonder ballad Lately, before cranking up the volume with a bit of AC/DC and Highway To Hell, which gave this engaging young man the opportunity for a bit of microphone stand posing. The voice sounded throaty and misused and the overall impression was that of an enthusiastic karaoke-style singer.
Willowy blonde singer Lillie Kerman is a drama student who seems to have knowledge of stage hot-spots and movement. Kerman looked ravishing in her tasteful yet glamorous yellow stage gown. All time greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Beyonce Knowles and perhaps most notably Eva Cassidy have all recorded versions of the moody ballad At Last. For Kerman to attempt this song in the same key as Cassidy was brave indeed. This young lady will need to develop a more individual style as presently she looks preoccupied with what she has evidently learned in her stage studies. All of which suggests that musical theatre - as opposed to cabaret - could be the next career target for Kerman.
The initial difficulty with mother and daughter duo Marie Marie was figuring out who had given birth to whom. The approach was matching long dresses and soprano harmonies, but the whole musical fireworks failed to ignite. Aside from certain image difficulties (which including a visible tattoo on mum) the daughter’s voice needed an uncomfortable vibrato issue ironing out. There are many things the duo need to work on, but the mother daughter angle is potentially their strong point.
I really liked solo saxophone player Sax Jax, who looked great in his harlequin-style suit. The quirky, fun approach included a version of Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther theme, in which the eponymous panther even wandered out on stage to strut his stuff. Some chat and some explanation of the variety of instruments used would have helped with the showmanship angle, which is all that is missing if Sax Jax is to emerge as a fully-rounded cabaret act.
After the interval, it was the turn of the under 16 competition winner to appear and 12-year-old Emily Drury really is a star in the making and a remarkable prospect.
Back with the competition and next up was 16-year-old singer Jessika Mae, who looked like a princess in her lovely gown. She also showed considerable poise and didn’t fall into the type of traps which many nervous young performers fall into when succumbing to stage fright. A version of Sally Bowles’ plea for love and fame from Cabaret, Maybe This Time, was very well sung and, although naturally there is lots for Mae to learn, she shows potential in abundance.
The winner on my score card was singer KT Starr. Opening impressively with As If We Never Said Goodbye from Sunset Boulevard, this remarkable singer made the most favourable of first impressions. Starr burst the initial top class bubble with some untidy, un-diva like chat, and I firmly believe she should think about adopting a more suitable stage name. Despite all of this, Starr is a real prospect in my view.
Singer/guitarist Martin Clappison gave us a good self-penned song and a version of the Tom Waits song Downtown Train. Clappison is a natural performer who reminded me of Badly Drawn Boy. He lacks charisma certainly, but he shows plenty of talent and a pinch of originality.
Closing the show out was a pencil-slim singer who goes by the name of Summer. This X Factor boot-camper looked lost on the big stage, yet between the songs she appeared terribly pleased with herself for some reason. The voice was all full throttle and lacked any discernable light and shade. In my view she has a massive amount to learn about cabaret and I couldn’t find too much to enthuse about.
During the judges count up, the audience were entertained by Hull-born entertainer Craig Harper, who kept everyone happy and chirpy out front, while the acts back stage waited and hoped.
In the end KT Starr emerged victorious, with Summer in the runner-up slot and Martin Clappison in third. It was a great night certainly for local charities, the local publication on the Humber and for some potential stars of the future on stage.
Hull City Hall, May 17
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