Nadine Sutherland and Anthony Miller having a little 'tiff' on set at the Rising Star audition in Portland on Sunday, May 6. Looking on is Clyde McKenzie.

Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

As the competition to select the top 10 performers for Portland in the Digicel Rising Star competition intensify, the contestants, who turned out for the second day of audition on Sunday, found the going much tougher.

Auditions were also held on Saturday at the Neville Antonio Park, and from the outset it was clear that natural talent was widespread in Portland the choice of songs selected by many contestants led to their own elimination.

In a somewhat nonchalant, but professional display, the three judges, Nadine Sutherland, Anthony Miller and Clyde McKenzie, probably deciding to separate the ordinary competitors from those with real talent, adopted a level of firmness, while sending a message that mediocre performances were simply a failure.

The intense heat along with the intensity of the competition may have accounted for a 20-second verbal clash of words between two of the three judges, Nadine and Anthony, with the former accusing the other of being a bully, who tramples performers. But the two resolved their act of 'comedy', and in no time were complimenting each other.

The brief outburst, however, never affected the flow of the competition which continued in its process, but for many on-lookers, the 'comedy' was probably staged by the two to add some spice and life to the competition, which was on in earnest.

The competition was brought to life by a performance from a competitor, who goes by the stage name 'Mongoose'. Clad in a black jacket and pants outfit, while sporting a mobile found on his hip, the performer reeled off a lyrics entitled Rising Star, which complimented the judges.

The performance caused staggering laughter from the crowd, especially after Mongoose struck a pose for more than two minutes, while being analysed. He too was instructed to try again in Ocho Rios or Montego Bay.

The final stage of the audition saw 10 of the best being selected from among the penultimate batch of 41,which are to go on to the studios final to be aired on Television Jamaica (TVJ) for a one-week period.

Rising Stars hopefuls patiently await their turn to face the judges at the 2007 auditions held in Portland on Sunday. Over 400 persons turned up for the event. - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer