FAME to 1 September 2007.
London.
FAME
based on Alan Parker's film lyrics by Jacques Levy music by Steven Margoshes.
Shaftesbury Theatre.
Mon-Fri 7.30pm Fri 8.30pm Mat Fri 5.30pm, Sat 3pm.
Runs 2hrs 35 mins One Interval.
Tickets: 020 7379 5399.
www.famethemusical.co.uk
Review: Geoff Ambler 15 May 2007.
One last high energy summer's dance with this aging format.
In among a wealth of West End musicals, the Shaftesbury has a Fame revival filling its dark spaces, before Hairspray opens in October. Following a group of hyperactive young talents through their three years at PA, or The New York High School for the Performing Arts, the show is still relying on the popularity of the 80’s film, which it bears little resemblance to, with its similarly hyperactive and youthful audience to attract its following.
This once very popular show ran in various Theatreland theatres for ten years, only closing last year and it already feels dated. Musical theatre has moved on so much in recent years and for a now aging West End show to “revive” so soon, with the same format and little new inspiration I can’t help feel that this production will struggle, full priced, when compared to musical theatre epics available nearby.
Fame, however, still brims over with high energy dance scenes and a Duracell powered ensemble of great dancers led by two “knowns” in Ian H Watkins (the H is important) and Natalie Casey. Natalie enthuses her way through the role of Serena Katz, an acting student, with obvious relish, has a surprisingly strong voice, during her many ballads and does ANGRY with bold capital letters. Ian H from Steps gets little to play with as the muted Nick Piazza, another acting student, and rarely gets an opportunity to embrace the energy flowing all around him. They are supported by a couple of pleasantly surprising performances from George Maguire as Joe Vegas, the comedy one, and Fem Belling as Mabel Washington, the (not very) large one. Both bring some much appreciated humour between the aerobics and except for George Maguires terrible song Can’t Keep it Down, they help brighten the show.
The cast try hard to make this show work and achieve it in places. The audience are drawn in by the dance routines, which is what Fame was mostly about in the first place, although now most of the music is unmemorable. The title number makes a very brief appearance during the show and only arrives in full, with half a yellow cab, during the encore, enticing large sections of the audience out of their seats for the first time.
Along with the fast dance music, equally fast dancers and apparently one hundred cans of deodorant a month, Fame also has a moral built in; "Don’t leave school early and go to LA to become an actress or you’ll die of a drugs overdose" which is good advice for anyone still at school with a penchant for acting.
Nick Piazza: Ian H Watkins.
Serena Katz: Natalie Casey.
Joe Vegas: George Maguire.
Carmen Diaz: Natalie Kennedy.
Tyrone Jackson: Desi Valentine.
Mabel Washington: Fem Belling.
Iris Kelly: Danielle Cato.
Schlomo Metzenbaum: Matthew Thomas.
Goodman “Goody” King: Kevin McGuire.
Grace “Lambchops” Lamb: Natalie Hope.
Mr Myers: Michael Gyngell.
Miss Sherman: Jacqui Dubois.
Mr Scheinkopf: Phil Cole.
Miss Bell: Emma Francis.
Ensemble: Fabian Aloise, Hannah Job, Kate Morris, Chris Piper, Vikki Marie Ryan, Sean Selby.
Swings: Jacquie Biggs, Michelle Bishop, Lewis Griffiths, Jon Reynolds, Ricardo Coke-Thomas, Sarah-Louise Warden.
DirectorRe-staging: Karen Bruce.
Musical Director: John Gladstone Smith.
Assistant choreographe/Resident director: Sarah-Louise Warden.
2007-05-18 09:40:49