Entertainment

Pop Idol Michelle fascinated by Sri Lanka

by Mahes Perera
 

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"All This Time" turned out to be a winner for Michelle Mc Manus when the public voted her into the finals of Pop Idol (UK) in 2003. They considered her the bookmaker's rank-outsider and when on December 20 she was declared the winner Michelle Mc Manus was more than overjoyed.

"I used to watch the American Pop Idol while working at the Marriott Hotel and was encouraged to apply for it. I didn't take it seriously. A year later the application came for the audition and I sent it for a lark-thinking 'oh well this is not for me' but I'm lucky if it comes my way" says a smiling Michelle as she recalls the moments.

Of the for judges she says Simon Cowell was her favourite, although many don't like him. Michelle will be releasing her second CD at the end of April. The single from it Just For You was a No. 1 chart hit in November last year. "My first album "Meaning of Love" the single 'All This Time' was on the Sony BMG label but my new CD Different Beat will be on my label Mc Manii.

There are thirteen songs on it in pop up beat and dance beat. Winning the Pop Idol opened up many doors for me. I travelled a lot for the past four years singing at many concert stages - it was an experience. I want to run a future in the recording business."

When did acting come along. We read that you played a role in Vagina Monologues? "I love drama. I had no chance to persue drama after school. I thought I should spread my wins and accepted the part in Vagina Monologues. I was thrown into the deep end, it was a hard play but it was a wonderful experience.

I free lance now joined the British Theatre Play house and played the role of Sadie in their production "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice". I enjoyed my role, I didn't have to sing. We had quite a tour.

We started in Singapore in January, then we went to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and now were here in Colombo. When we go back I return to my broadcasting. I'm presently on Scottish radio stations Clyde programme 'Lets Do the Show Right Here.

This is an informal programme for the young while on BBC Radio Scotland I do a more serious one," reveals Michelle who is an accomplished pianist and violinist and sings regularly in the church choir. "Sri Lanka is a wonderful country and I'm coming back to enjoy the hospitality and the scenic beauty of the country" was Pop Idol Michelle's parting shot.

Hilarious... absolutely hilarious

by Mahes Perera
 

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"The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" was a rollicking comedy, punctuated with many laughs even though it centred around a young girl nicknamed Little Voice who had the amazing talent to imitate the singing voices of many leading singers on the albums left to her by her late father.

She lives with her mother and hardly even speaks. Rachael Wood who played the role of Little Voice has to be congratulated for her performance as the shy LV who makes a comic hash of her first performance at a club with a lot of prompting from the wings and ends up singing Happy Birthday not knowing what to do.

But by the time the play ends this vulnerable girl acquires confidence and sings a medley of well-known great songs like Somewhere over the Rainbow, Big Spender, No Regrets so different from her singing in her bedroom. Rachael Wood in her music career has stared in many musicals in UK like 'Follies', 'There's No Business Like, Show Business,' 'Rave On', 'The Story of 'Buddy Holly' and 'Chess' to name a few.

Mari Hott the mother of Little Voice played by Sandra Duncan was a natural as the foul mouthed, hard drinking mother who constantly bullies her daughter with hilarious dialogue and remarks.

The actor who played the owner of the club produced many a laugh with his style of acting and compering. John Mc-Adle as Ray Say the Smooth talking boy friend of Mari who sees the chance of making money out of the talent of LV added to the complications of the plot and to the hilarity of the play.

Billed as a modern 'northern comedy' the script of the play had many laughs and with the music and singing was a pleasant evenings entertainment with quirky characters, played well by the cast.

Creative Hewisi beats

A concert 'Cultural Collabo' featuring the Hewisi bands of Bishops College, Ladies College, Carey College, Methodist College, D. S. Senanayake Vidyalaya, Museaus College and S. Thomas' College was held at the S. Thomas' College Chapel steps recently.

The concert which featured the sounds of Thammattama, Geta Bera, Dawula, Yak Bera and flute was organised by S. Thomas College Mt. Lavinia. According to their leader Shanel Fonseka "each year we are well-known for doing something different. We were the first Hewisi Band to have featured electric guitars and a magnificent drum orchestra".