Mowden Popstars 2008
On Saturday evening, 29th November, the big moment arrived, after days of preparation and anticipation.
The theatre was bedecked with silver stars and the stage charged with a powerful P.A. system, microphones, amplifiers and coloured lights, ready for the second annual talent show, The Mowden Pop Stars Evening.
Compere, Elvis Presley impressionist Mr O'Sullivan got the show off to a rip-roaring start with his karaoke version of "Suspicious Minds"
One by one the dance troupes appeared, singers sang and there were some memorable miming performances.
A group of 7th year girls started the show with an impeccable dance to the music of Disturbia, by Rhianna; a powerful start to the competition. Following that was a show-stopping solo performance of Tom Jones thrusting his hips to the sound of "Sex Bomb" by a bold member of year 5! A Year 6 girl danced her own entrancing solo dance to Black and Gold. The acts continued with the 8th year boys, all greased up for "Greased Lightning" from the musical Grease, armed with slick-back hair, combs and leather jackets. With barely time to recover from that, the audience was hit by the next act, which brought Charlie Chicken to the stage in a knock-out yellow chicken outfit and mask, dancing along to "I may be Small, I may be Sweet!" which nearly brought the house down. Years 4 and 8 combined to bring us a karaoke performance of the Spice Girls' "Wannabe" which was full of energy and attitude. The theatre was electrified by the arrival of more 8th Year girls, who put on an energetic and spectacular dance routine. A lovely version of Rhianna's "Take a Bow" was sung by a brave 5th year girl.
In mid show, the Gappies, Mr Thomas and Miss Cashmore performed a moving version of Goldline. Two year 8 girls changed the mood with a very strong rendition of Elton John's "Your Song."
The Head Boy stood up on stage and whistled and sang his way through Noah and the Whale's "5 Years Time" before we came to the grande finale of the evening in the form of the 7D girls' dance to Abba's "Dancing Queen." The girls performed magnificently, ending the act by managing to bring the entire audience, including a 5 year old star in the making, up onto the stage to finish the competition off; even the judges made it onto the stage to strut their stuff!
This signalled the end of the main competition, but not the end of the music - the Mowden Rock Band, with Mr Thomas' help, appeared on stage to perform ACDC's "Back in Black" Clapton's "Layla" and other rock classics, while the judges, Messrs Beardmore-Gray, Spencer and Weldon left the hall to deliberate.
In the end it came down to three acts. In third place, Jess Clark with her "Black and Gold" dance, in 2nd place, The Year 7 girls, Clemmie, Lilias, Katie, Rosie, Alex and Alice. The winners overall, by a margin were the first act of the evening, Barley, Honor and Ione with "Disturbia."
M.W.W.S.