by Cara Russell
The talented cast from Saturday night’s Whale of a Show at Orcas Center. Photo: Cara Russell
As the audience at Orcas Center excitedly waited for the 2013 Whale of a Show to begin, on Saturday September 28, many discussed years past when they or one of their children performed in this family-oriented talent show; some remembered all the way back to 1991!
The curtains parted and revealed Munchkins of varying ages and sizes, Mona Evans, Isabella Evans, Rusty Diggs, Christopher Evans, Samara and Stephanie Shaw, who sang an Orcas Take on The Munchkin Song.
Didier Gincig and his daughter Emilie have hosted the show for almost a decade now, and were wonderful with the young talent.
First up was Cienna Richardson who sang a capella Glory of Love and White Coral Bells. Richardson is the niece of Makalya Speed-Ryan, who sang White Coral Bells at A Whale of a Show when she was the same age. Alanna Lago sang The Show, while moving about the stage and singing with a pretty, and smoky voice.
Burly Hildreth dawned the stage in a little, red bow-tie, and performed Abracadabra on the piano. When he finished he put on sunglasses, a black ball cap, and rolled off the stage on his Heelys. Ella Weaver (accompanied by Grace McCune on piano) beautifully and effortlessly sang Part of Your World from Disney’s The Little Mermaid. McCune stayed on the stage to accompany Burly’s older sister Stormy Hildreth as she sang Pokarekare Ana.
Willow White and Uma McMurray brought a change of pace when the two young girls entered wearing blue Cookie Monster T-shirts. They passed two large cookies between them as they sang the Cookie Monster’s version of Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe, Share it Maybe. Later in the evening Skylar Dalusio, Madison Pollock, and Bayley Murray sang and danced to Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe.
Going by one name, Makena and Lokahi, wore white gowns and sparkling tiaras as they sang a capella Royals by Lorde. Mona Evans was accompanied by guitar as she recited an original piece of poetry called Darkness. Evans explained to host Didier that she feels most creative and the poems just come to her when she is in the dark. She then told him that if he wanted to improve his poetry skills, he could try putting a blanket over his head.
Skylar Dalusio displayed her skill as she danced to Popular from Wicked. She was followed by Sasha Hagen on violin playing a Hungarian orientated tune called Csardas. As Hagen played, resin from the bow occasionally wafted into the air in small clouds. Hagen has learned to play violin using the Suzuki Method. After the song Hagen and Didier shared a few jokes with each other, a “long standing tradition.”
Next Rhema Miller, Karis Comrie, and Meriel Griffith sang What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction. As the song picked up, Zoe Miller entered wearing outrageous sunglasses and a pair of purple Converse, dancing her heart out.
Ingrid Hanson and Alecia Talbot, clearly two good friends, sang 22 by Taylor Swift. Someday you’ll be 22 girls, but for now you are adorable. Known as The Tornado, Shay Silva danced a mix of styles which was probably break dancing, crunking, and dub step to One, Two, Three, Four Dance. She was truly The Tornado as club lights bounced off of her sparkling dress.
TJ Liblik and Aiden Murray sang a capella The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars. The boys were creative in thinking up their piece—they wore pajamas and used a stuffed bear puppet in their performance. Didier, Matthew Laslo White, and Hagen assisted the audience in a stand up and stretch break, where everyone got to be a “jellyfish.”
It was Bella Evans seventh Whale of a Show, and she sang Gold while wearing a gold dress. Emy Carter, Lisa Carter, and Paris Wilson of Almost Classical, blew everyone away with a harp and a violin duo performance of Love Story by Taylor Swift. Both Carter sisters later returned to the stage to perform with Madi Jane West and Matthew Laslo White, in their band Lane 3.
A hip-hop Leo Miller danced and rapped about yo-yos (what he does in his spare time) and explained how he was named after his grandpa. Tashi and Kaj Litch performed Poc Ma Madre, which means “kiss my dog.” The brother’s dog made an appearance and seemed to be just as comfortable as they were on stage. The Litch brothers played violin and mandolin, and were a musical treat.
The audience loved the show, and interacted with the kids throughout the evening. Orcas Island has many talented kids who are not only very talented musicians, but all have quite a creative flair for theatrics! All ticket proceeds from Whale of a Show go to benefit the Orcas Center’s youth programs.
Special thanks to the crew Freddie Hinkle, Phil Burbo, Regina Zwilling, Adia Dolan, Stephanie Harris, Theo McMurry and Sparks for all the work in putting together this year’s Whale of a Show.
Just as I experienced it, Cara…you caught it perfectly!