Nissanka Dharmathilake - BMR 2010

Please analyse my response together with what you have witnessed on 1^st May 2010 and early hours of 2^nd May 2010 at the Hills Centre.

I used to do an item by item review of BMR (from 2004-2006), however, I stopped doing that when the show became very long. This year we reached the pinnacle. YES, BMR 2010 WAS BLOODY LONG.  Since there were more than 40 items, none of us from either production or technical team got an opportunity to see all the items before the show was staged.

My personal comments are listed below:

1.        After 8 months of long closure, this was the 1^st time HC hosted a show and staff was relatively new to the venue and the equipment used. There were a considerable number of technical hiccups, mainly in the sound and DVD areas. Although SCF is not directly responsible for this, the audience expects nothing less than highest possible quality. (As you know some of them paid $50 per seat)

2.        Out of 16 or 17 song items presented by Sydney’s local artists, only 3-4 could be categorised as good ones, others were well below par.

3.        Most of the dances presented by experienced dance teachers and our youth were of highest quality and these items virtually rescued the show from a potential disaster.

4.        Both comedy items produced by our local artists didn’t make any significant impact.

5.        There were too may children’s items. Sometimes, people felt like being to a school concert.

6.        Although it had a noble intention, the use of youth members for compering should be closely looked at.

7.        If we have managed to slash 15 items (12 songs, 2 children items and 1 comedy item) we could have easily staged a far better quality show. Of course we would have ended up with a few disgruntled self appointed artists.

OVERALL RATING: AVERAGE