WEEDSPORT - The entertainment was diverse, to say the least.
A Black Sabbath song, played at a notch above top volume and drowned out intermittently by screaming fans was followed by three sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade sisters dancing identically to an Irish melody.
The annual Weedsport Community Talent Show, held in the high school auditorium Friday night, had a method to its madness. The proceeds of the Lions Club of Weedsport event were to provide four scholarships to graduating Weedsport Central School seniors.
“It was great! I like country, but it was great,” said Bill Saroodis, of Weedsport, critiquing the performance of the retro-rock group EELARKWARVAY. He was a few years removed from the age group of Weedsport and Auburn High School students who comprised the quartet. But that wasn't exactly the point.
“We come every year. We love it. They all do a great job, young and old,” he explained.
Sitting front and center in the audience, a group of eighth-graders from Weedsport Junior High School were less than politically correct. Caitlin Arnold said she didn't really care for the dulcimer playing occurring onstage. But ask any of them what they were screaming about earlier, and “Oh my God, it was great!” said Sam Smith.
It was the fourth talent show to excite the village of Weedsport, completely unrehearsed, and filled with surprising area talent.
“It's one of the few venues in the village where people can get up on stage and display their skills, test their talents,” said director and creator of the event, Wally Meier.
“We have little kids tap dancing and senior citizens singing,” Meier said. “I like to keep it impromptu, casual. If it's too structured, it becomes too tight.”
What few glitches did occur, did not faze Norma Harvey, of the Cayuga Chords, a senior citizen ladies singing group.
They had just performed “In the Still of the Night” before those eighth-graders sitting up front.
“There's lots of kids. It's cool,” Harvey said.
The annual Weedsport Community Talent Show, held in the high school auditorium Friday night, had a method to its madness. The proceeds of the Lions Club of Weedsport event were to provide four scholarships to graduating Weedsport Central School seniors.
“It was great! I like country, but it was great,” said Bill Saroodis, of Weedsport, critiquing the performance of the retro-rock group EELARKWARVAY. He was a few years removed from the age group of Weedsport and Auburn High School students who comprised the quartet. But that wasn't exactly the point.
“We come every year. We love it. They all do a great job, young and old,” he explained.
Sitting front and center in the audience, a group of eighth-graders from Weedsport Junior High School were less than politically correct. Caitlin Arnold said she didn't really care for the dulcimer playing occurring onstage. But ask any of them what they were screaming about earlier, and “Oh my God, it was great!” said Sam Smith.
It was the fourth talent show to excite the village of Weedsport, completely unrehearsed, and filled with surprising area talent.
“It's one of the few venues in the village where people can get up on stage and display their skills, test their talents,” said director and creator of the event, Wally Meier.
“We have little kids tap dancing and senior citizens singing,” Meier said. “I like to keep it impromptu, casual. If it's too structured, it becomes too tight.”
What few glitches did occur, did not faze Norma Harvey, of the Cayuga Chords, a senior citizen ladies singing group.
They had just performed “In the Still of the Night” before those eighth-graders sitting up front.
“There's lots of kids. It's cool,” Harvey said.