Before the finale of CBC’s Triple Sensation, it seems a foregone conclusion that Leah Cogan will be crowned the winner. As much as I’d like to lay claim to being prescient, all credit goes to the formulaic editing of the show that pretty much told the audience who was going to win back in week three.
There were some good performances out of the top six, and all the focus really was on the talent. The personal interviews were kept to a bare minimum, and each finalist sang, danced and acted separately.
Excluding the personal stories and the offstage likeability of the performers made the show an entirely different creature. It also helped me come to a more-or-less final conclusion as to my relative indifference to Leah Cogan. She is most definitely a triple threat, but she isn’t suited for reality television. With all of the personal distractions swept aside, she shone brightly in all three of her solo performances.
Newfoundland’s Liam Tobin was the runner up and he completely won over the panel. Tobin is all charm and smiles and his acting and singing weren’t too bad either. He is definitely leading man material.
Cayley Thomas did a competent version of “A Quiet Thing” from Flora the Red Menace. It wasn’t bad but it didn’t really stand out, especially in the face of such strong competition.
I was surprised that Kaitlyn Semple wasn’t in the top three. Her “Cabaret” was sexy and confident, but not good enough apparently for the judges.
I really enjoyed David Light’s “Sara Lee” from Kander & Ebb’s And The World Goes Round. He was funny in a way that we haven’t seen before and it made for a nice change of pace.
Hailey Gillis infused herself into “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret and you could feel her strength and determination. I was a little put out by the judges’ comments that she wasn’t playing a character; she was just singing it as herself. There was some truth to it though, but I still thought it was a personal high performance for her.
As I already predicted, Leah Cogan of Embrun, Ontario was declared the winner of the $150,000 scholarship and the Triple Sensation title. And I’d say that she definitely earned it. Whatever it is that you need to be a star, Cogan has it it spades.
That brings this season to a bittersweet end. It seems unlikely that there will be a third season anytime soon. This second season was already shot and finished last fall, but the airing was delayed until now. With Executive Producer and marquee panel judge Garth Drabinsky already convicted of fraud in criminal court last spring, the future of Triple Sensation does not look bright. Drabinksy’s sentencing has been delayed multiple times, but is currently scheduled to be handed down on August 5th.
Week 5: Workshop Presentation
Week 4: Master Class (part 2)
Week 3: Master Class
Week 2: Vancouver Auditions
Week 1: Eastern Auditions
Musicals in Vancouver 