By Simone Tull
The lush canopy of trees that enveloped the gully deck of Hunterspring provided a welcome escape from the stifling humidity on Sunday afternoon. Billed as one of the top places for live entertainment, its stellar record was maintained with three exceptionally talented female singers taking centre stage. Shadia Marshall, Shernelle Boyce and Nikita delivered masterful performances, belting out carefully curated top hits from various blockbuster movie soundtracks.
In an evening dominated by women, Carla Springer-Hunte reassumed her role as the emcee, reclaiming the spotlight from her husband, Rory Hunte. Providing the musical backdrop was a group of skilled female musicians which included Juanita Clarke on drums and Lynelle Larix Caines on keys. The talented ensemble kicked off their presentation with the instrumentals of Beauty and the Beast followed by the iconic theme track from The Pink Panther. Their musical interlude reached a sweet crescendo with Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid where the steelpan magnified the essence of the Caribbean.
Nikita fully immersed herself in her performance.
In the previous month’s edition, Marshall had treated the audience to a thrilling reggae spectacle. This time around, she exhibited her versatility by putting together a programme that highlighted the exceptional voices of the featured leading ladies.Â
Marshall wowed the crowd with a heartfelt rendition of Circle of Life and a spouge-infused version of In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle both from The Lion King. Paying homage to her idol Tina Turner, she delivered We Don’t Need Another Hero from the film Mad Max. Her stunning vocals on Unchained Melody from the movie Ghost reverberated through the intimate setting.
An all female band provided the musical accompaniment.
Boyce, a first-time performer at Hunterspring, though not as widely known, made an indelible mark. Possessing not only an extraordinary voice but also an effortless comedic flair, she commanded the audience’s attention. Drawing inspiration from her favourite movies, her setlist included It Must Have Been Love from Pretty Woman and Diana Ross’ classic Do You Know Where You’re Going To from Mahogany. She was engaging in her walk down memory lane and she wrapped up her nostalgic segment with If I Can’t Have You from Saturday Night Fever. She left exhilarated patrons on their feet.
Shernelle Boyce was a hit with the audience.
Also making a debut at the rustic location was the orange-haired songbird Nikita. She delved into the essence of her artistry, reacquainting attendees with her musical foundation in R&B. In her segment, she emphasised her superb vocals singing Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You from The Bodyguard and Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On from Titanic. These impressive pieces were beautifully complemented by the serene strains from the flautist. The artiste also injected lighthearted moments with selections from Minions and The Little Mermaid as well. She was riveting with Never Enough from The Greatest Showman, leaving the music lovers craving more.Â
The trio got the audience on their feet.
When the other featured vocalists joined her, the trio harmonised to perfection as they showed off their raw talent. They culminated with the expertly executed And I’m Telling You, I’m Not Going by Jennifer Hudsofrom Dreamgirls as they brought the show to a climactic conclusion. (STT)
