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I felt like one of those judges from ‘So and So’s Got Talent’ as I attended The BSB Variety Performance at the Cultural Hall in Manama. I sat transfixed by how much talent the young performers displayed.
I have never seen such a professional and superbly-composed school show before.
From our arrival in the hall, where a quartet were sashaying through popular songs to keep us entertained until the show started, to the closing number, it was just one great big cultural blitz.
There had to have been more than 100 performers aged from three years to … well, in the case of several elderly performers joining in the fun, it is probably kinder not to go there … so I will simply say …the young at heart!
Every act was perfectly timed and the performers were versed in so many genres from ballet to jazz dancing, tap to Cossack. From a delightful acapella rendition of Sweet Chariot by Vocalzone to Gabrielle Liandu and Scarlet Robinson’s Lakme Duo Song and all in Time to Say Goodbye in the closing moments, we were entertained throughout.
There was so much to watch that I cannot mention every performance and, believe me, they were all excellent. I will mention those that were, shall we say ‘different’ to the usual end-of-year concert genre.
The ‘littlies’ stole our hearts with their Scarecrow performance and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. They were so tiny and so professional.
We laughed ourselves silly with the Peter Pan Pirates (The Very Handsome Lost Boys!) belting out Rose Tinted Eye Patch whilst Captain Hook looked on admiringly.
And the James Bond-themed Acrobatics were simply masterful. Mr Bond would have been proud. But the highlight, and that was only because it was so unexpected, was a joyous and extremely well danced performance of The Can Can. A first for Bahrain I am pretty sure.
It is such a shame that the audience were mostly parents and friends.
A show of this calibre deserves a wider audience and I send heartfelt congratulations to Lydia Martin and Louise Chapman who were the guiding lights behind the performance and gave the students the opportunity to rise to the occasion and perform so incredibly well.
If I sound like their Number One fan it is because I certainly am now and cannot wait for next year’s performance. Well done, BSB Academy of Performing Arts!
-Christine Hassan
