High School Talent On Show

This year's talent show was a pastiche delivered from the furnaced ovens of unleavened teenage, angst-ridden cultural expression or depression (the lighting was kinda gloomy). The best video of the night, perhaps, came in the first half, from a Japanese post-punk glam-rock line-up, and there were energetic dances that spoke of relationship with one other, or the world in general. "Who's pulling the strings?" may have been the cry from the Never, Never Korea-land dance that In Suk and his countrymen regaled us with (view video). While Cheon Ha and Mr. Jung led the charge, and a new Middle School face belonging to Eun A Jo, a few local shakers, from the Doris Datta school, added a bit of spice and dal - true cultural diversity; even old Clint Eastwood rose up from the Mexican pan pipes; the 'good', the 'bad' and the 'beautiful'.

Neeti, Tshering and Seldon made a toe-tapping trio to the grooviest tune heard in the land, since you were my Son-i-a. Sultans of Swing with Mr Dunn and Noryang ambled more than swung through about eleven verses, but Mark Knopfler appeared again in an acoustic guitar duo, with that reluctant talent, fresh in from U.S. Pax program, Dechen Wangmo. Amrita found Nemo (Kate Bush II for those stuck back three decades), and Elisa with almost the right setting on the guitar pedal, but Tomo Miura made a solid debut on the bass. Kesang and the pink sticks were the junior class, Quintessence's, very own moving contribution, though I enjoyed Carey exchangee, Whacko Chacko's, opening grooves. Abhishek was up a second time, offering a more cheerful option - Will you dance?. There wasn't much dancing, but the community chorus was the best I ever heard in these parts, nothwithstanding the dulcet shrieks of Kannagi Bhatt and her friends - the best act not actually in the program. Montgomery and Mann took the advisor slot and told a pointless story about a man from Mussoorie travelling to Scotland.

Before mentioning one last act, we'll do a brief account of the Junior and Senior Surprises. These should be renamed J and S 'predictable', for in most years the only surprise is that the building isn't burned to the ground. Grade Elevens paraded in country by country to a cute speech from Ella, bawled "Quintessence" a few times, and the seniors did the same, though they sat on choir risers allegedly in the shape of some letters; I didn't notice - but they looked serene in the candle flames. Yes, Abhishek played some reflective tune - Kabir turning from drums to dinky guitar, and between lighting and dust, class of 2006 looked seraphic - a heavenly anteroom ready to disgorge its cherubs to a new place. I was almost moved by it, if I hadn't to keep one eye on the fire extinguishers.

But the real Junior - Senior surprise belonged to the Quiet Man himself. Daniel Vachoo. Along with Ed on guitar, Amit on bass and Kabir on drums, the crowd went wild to the quartet's take on Green Day's 'Poprocks and Coke'.. "You know I'll be there" was the line ringing in our heads, as most of us left old Parker Hall. (view video). It that was the sound, the abiding image might have been one of those smart video fillers the grade 11 boys made for us - say Nizar's fancy footwork with a ball. The acts were strung together in stylish Saturday night fever, by MCs, Mikhail and Purnima, doubling as Bob Marley and Beyonce, however the class in general deserves much credit for the fine set complete with gawdy lighting, spinks and sparkles of the glam era, good ticketing, free bar, and, as they say in Ireland, a 'tight' show.