The Stage

Stars of the Future 2005

Published Friday 5 August 2005 at 10:20 by Mark Ritchie

A talent competition with the purpose of providing stage training for its teenage entrants, alongside the competition aspect, has to be an innovation in a cabaret scene that some reckon is rather overloaded with competitions.

Cabaret entertainer Stephanie King, who is the driving force behind this event, has stated that she simply wants to provide a platform for teenage performers, who are of course the next generation in the cabaret field.

Rehearsing them with a live band and coaching their overall performance prior to their big night is as refreshing as it is welcome in a world where backing tracks, which are often heartless and lacking in soul, seem to rule the roost, in clubland circles at any rate.

King has assembled a band comprising musical director Terry Bell, drummer Les Naylor, guitarist Gary Gillyett and bass player Richard Grant. This terrific outfit played a rousing overture to provide a warm welcome to the friends and supporters of the respective contestants at Crookes WMC.

Resplendent throughout the evening in a succession of glittering gowns, King is a formidable entertainer with her big songs and witty chat. The ad-lib moments reminded me of that other Sheffield clubland lady of yesteryear, the late, great Marti Caine. Opening in song by proclaiming that she was Born To Sing Forever, this slick cabaret vocalist and her band certainly hit the ground running.

First contestant Luke Primmer gave a creditable account of himself with a well delivered version of I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues, before taking a stab at the Garth Brooks song If Tomorrow Never Comes, the lyric of which sounded rather incongruous given his age. This trendy looking guy sported an outlandish haircut, but it did not form too much of a distraction from his pitch perfect and rather distinctive singing voice.

Hull-based singer and dancer Kirsty Sutton certainly took the eye. A rousing and well delivered version of Don’t Rain On My Parade and a creditable attempt at the Eva Cassidy arrangement of the old Etta James classic At Last revealed huge promise and a showbusiness future that is definitely assured for this strikingly attractive performing arts student.

Song and dance girl Laura Whittingham was one of two wildcard entrants as, although they were unsuccessful in the heats, these two further additions to the grand final were the choice of the competition organisers. Whittingham gave us the little heard song Roxy, from Bugsy Malone, and came across as an engaging and highly accomplished hoofer. One of the younger looking competitors on the night, this twinkle-toed competitor was certainly scoring heavily in both the winsome charm and technical dance departments.

Completing the first half in a show that was packed full of youthful promise was Sheffield singer Erica Wilkinson. Appearing on home turf, this stunner belted out a version of Shania Twain’s Don’t Be Stupid and the children in the audience were all bouncing around, seemingly wrapped up in the power and personality of this glamorous local girl. There were a huge number of youngsters in the audience, presumably friends and relatives of those onstage. At one point I was attempting to review a show while up to my armpits in pop bottles and crisp packets.

However, ploughing on into the second half, we were greeted with the incredible sight and sound of the second of the wildcard entrants, a 16-year-old Elvis Presley impersonator by the name of Aidy Wells. Perhaps this is Elvis - The Puberty Years but this young man has his impersonation off to a tee. Resplendent in shades and rhinestone suit, young Wells also revealed a witty side during his post set interview, as he continued the Memphis drawl when he and King chatted. All this was made all the more amusing when it was revealed that this young man hails from Castleford in West Yorkshire. I would venture to suggest that Wells may be able to plough a furrow as a comedy impressionist.

Yet another introduction and yet another stage gown for King. Next up was Joe Simpson, a very young looking singer from Hull, who gave us a version of the old Jackson 5 hit One More Chance, before swinging it with a convincing rendition of Bobby Darin’s Mack The Knife. This well dressed young charmer can only have benefited from his inclusion in this competition and the opportunity to work with this outstanding live band.

It was then time to meet another young exponent of song and dance in the shape of Courtney Turner. All That Jazz from Chicago and the theme tune from the musical Fame were sung and danced in a frenzy of colour and sheer effort. Yet another aspiring addition to the world of musical theatre here surely.

My overall hope when listening to the youngest competitor here, Lee Lambert, was that this young voice is being cared for by a bone fide and qualified voice teacher. It is remarkable that this 11-year-old, who already has a number of theatre credits behind him, was competing successfully against a much older set of rivals. The Anastasia song I’m Out Of Love and This Is The Moment from Jekyll and Hyde were superbly sung and, in a business where the wrong type of people often surround precocious young talent like flies around a jam pot, I can only hope that this charming and talented young man’s parents have the ability to spot who is who in the murky and often shark-infested waters of northern clubland.

Penultimate competitor on the night was Sutton In Ashfield-based singer and dancer Jamie Greasley, who is currently learning his craft at the well known North Nottinghamshire dance school Dance Mania. This brilliant and extremely engaging young singer and dancer must have spent a fortune on his gold outfit and topper and his version of that great show-stopper Dancing Fool was one of the highlights of the entire evening for this reviewer. Greasley has a huge dollop of charm to sell and, in the talent stakes, has to be one of the most talented teenagers in the country on this showing. He is a Billy Elliot type and a major talent in my view.

Final act in a hugely enjoyable evenings cabaret was another Sheffield girl, Abby Leigh Rowan. River Deep Mountain High and a version of Shania Twain’s Because You Love me were on offer here from a well dressed young lady who, with the right advice on vocal projection and diction, could forge a career for herself.

In the event Lee Lambert was the overwhelming choice of the panel of judges with Jamie Greasley in the runners up spot. King and her happy crew should receive all the plaudits for a creditable and absorbing evening’s cabaret in Sheffield.

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