The Supa Stylistics annual Mother and Daughter pageant has become an institution. In recent times, it has become perhaps the only show at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) that still plays to a full house each year.
Ingrid Fung and her daughter Sulan, as well as the other founders of the pageant must be justly proud of how it has turned out as it is now no doubt worth all of the hard work that goes into it. It attracts mother and daughter pairs from all strata of society, though it is obvious sometimes that the daughters have twisted their mothers’ hands and hearts in order to get their cooperation. If nothing else, this demonstrates the bond between mother and daughter, which is made even more visible by their synchronized steps across the NCC stage.
This year’s pageant was as delightful as always, if perhaps a tad too long, lengthened perhaps by the dances, including the father and daughter waltz sequence. Now we’re not suggesting that the dances should not have been included, but perhaps, the organizers could have looked at shortening the modelling sequences.
The mother and daughter pairs modelled together then each separately then together again. Some held overly long poses, while others did wardrobe adjustments and then modelled those again. After a while, this became boring, particularly to the younger members of the audience. In fact, points should have been deducted – and we hope they were — from those pairs who hogged the stage and catwalk for too long periods.
In addition, the seat prizes could have been pre-assigned. The lottery was tedious and considering that some winners had to make their way from the balcony to not only collect their prizes, but to partake in the draw was a bit too much. Maybe, next year the Fungs might want to look at finding another way of awarding the prizes that does not take up as much time as the lottery does each year.
Now with regard to the audience. A large number of attendees were particularly raucous. The derisive laughter, shouting at the contestants and booing the decision in the junior category were most unbecoming, particularly the booing. This was done despite the fact that Host Margaret Lawrence explained the judging procedure beforehand, and stressed as well that the judges’ decision would be final.
Obviously, the war on bad manners jingle that is played before every show at the NCC is to no avail. Crude behaviour at pageants has seen organizers put astronomical prices on their tickets in order to exclude certain groups as well as move them from the NCC. Patrons need to be aware that this option would also be open to the Fungs, who we imagine, would not want to see an event that they have worked so hard to build degenerate into lawlessness.
What made the uncouth behaviour even more horrid, was the fact that many of those booing were mothers who had gone their with their own daughters as well. What an example to set! How amazing that the love displayed on the stage seemed to have gone completely over their heads. It must have been unnerving for the contestants and for the judges as well and marred what was otherwise an enjoyable evening’s entertainment. (thescene@stabroeknews.com)
