Amazingly talented performances rocked a packed George Walcott Lecturer Theatre (GWLT) last Friday, February 14, when the Turkeyen Campus of the University of Guyana (UG) held its ‘Talent Splash’.
What was not amazing, was the one hour delay in the commencement of the activity, though judging from the number of people who straggled in late, this might have been expected and the frequent sound issues. At the end though, it was well worth it.
Long past 2 pm, when the event should have started, organisers were backstage struggling with programmes and stage props.
Finally, at 15:00hrs, MC Aisha Jones, better known by her stage name A-TayJah welcomed on stage Nadine Jalil and Mariah Perry to sing “Royal”. The duo did very well and warmed up the audience with their rendition of the song made popular by Lorde.
Tanny (only name given) was next and her rendition of “Kiss Me” with Jeremy Sobers on keyboard, made the hundreds seated favour her powerful vocals.
But it was Marvin Lawrence who got the GWLT roaring. Just the announcement of his name had a section of the audience shouting, most likely students from the Faculty of Natural Sciences who he ‘hailed up’ before they cheered him in support. Then there was silence as he began his poem “Love”, a poem about being in love that was then lost and how the pain is there, how it hurts to know she is happy with someone else but how he becomes accepting. The cheers that followed rocked the GWLT.
The University of Guyana boasts multiculturalism in a state that celebrates six peoples in one land and it was Emma Tie that reminded the audience of this. Singing a Chinese folk song that translates in English as “A compliment for you” Emma bravely and sang in her native tongue, highly encouraged by the audience who were clapping in the rhythm. She too received a hearty applause.
Esther Osbourne, past contestant and third placed finalist at the 2012 GT&T Jingle and Song Competition, began singing Alicia Keys’ “No One” which wowed the audience but almost midway through the first stanza the audio recording of the song’s tune cut out completely. Esther continued acapella – revealing a strong, bold voice. She stopped at the end of the stanza announcing the track would be restarted and the backstage crew finally got it right.
Hubert Norville’s rendition of John Legend’s “Stay With You” had the audience swaying and singing with him before they give a roaring applause at the conclusion. At this point the GWLT was packed beyond its usual capacity leaving other spectators to assemble by the doors and walkways.
Lloyd Low performed “Love Has Come For Me” while playing his guitar. His soft and gentle voice soothed, leading into Kene Mellive performing Bob Marley’s “Turn Your Lights Down Low. This song was popular with the audience as the hundreds sang the chorus and famous lines: “I want to give you some good, good loving” while swaying harmoniously.
Cassandra Lowe was next with gospel hit “Never Let Go”, which the audience appreciated as they clapped in rhythm. Kady Floy then came on the stage to sing “Mirrors”. It was her first time performing in front of an audience so her shaky opening was excused. She quickly got over it and held on to her comfort range. Andrea Paul was next with “Make You Feel My Love”. She kept a slow tempo.
It was Disi (stage name) whose hip hop original song “Right Way to Love” had the audience either standing or at the edge of their seats. They were singing with him, clapping along and having a great time. Disi was the first performer to earn a standing ovation.
Jenell Pierre and Devon Scoth made their way on stage to perform “Break Even” by The Script. Although the popular song had the audience chiming in, Devon sung well while Jenell on the guitar seemed a bit hesitant.
After the duet, Devon left the stage while Jenell stayed with her guitar to sing her original song “New Bird”. She announced that the song is personal to her and in keeping with the spirit of New Year resolutions. Just at the last line of the song the microphones cut out yet again, ending her performance.
Coming with the spoken work poetry “I’m Done” was UG politics lecturer and past International Relations student, Chevy Devonish. He captured the audience’s attention as he waxed poetically about a confused, loveless girl who he watches her with admiration and passion, even curiously. As he was about to end, the microphones cut off again. Chevy was able to complete the poem when sound was restored. However, it was only restored to left side of the theatre, leaving those on the right, stage complaining.
Disi and Tanny returned to perform “Jesus at the Centre”. Crystal Crawford and Andrea Paul did “These Streets” (Tanya Stephens) and Nicasey Gordon, “First Love”, a poem, all with no sound to the right of the stage, but to an encouraging audience of their peers.
Jeremy Sobers’s keyboard solo “Purge” was great but it in no way prepared the audience for the phenomenal performance that was coming next.
The trio that we come to know as The Whaul Sisters performed songs in Afro-Caribbean beats; they blew away the audience with an African folk song which saw everyone on their feet dancing. After a standing ovation, the crowd called for an encore which was granted.
Whitney Houston would have been pleased with young Daniel Frank’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You”.
It was on key and had the audience amazed. Lerone Souvenir, finalist at last year’s Jingle and Song competition came on for a few seconds to sing “Affairs of the Heart” in acapella.
Next was punk rock band Keep Your Day Job! with “The Middle” by Blink 182, “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi, and Eddy Grant’s “Electric Avenue”. Perhaps their performance was too long because the hype they started with was lost as the once standing, dancing and singing audience settled into their seats by the end of the rock showcase. And it was the Crusaders who got everyone up and jumping again, closing the evening with “My God is Awesome”.
Talent Splash followed UG’s annual Career/Open Day, which featured dozens of businesses and organisations as well as students of the university showcasing academic programmes.
