Everybody’s Taking About Jamie

Chuffin’ ‘eck, that were good! Pretty sure everybody would have been talking about Jamie all the way home and all the next day, it was a fantastic show from beginning to end! The story of a boy living his true authentic life, battling his detractors and surrounded by awesome cheerleaders carries a message that is becoming more and more important by the day when we look at the world around us. If only we could get rid of all the bullies by planting a big smacker on their chops! I can’t begin to comprehend the bravery required for a 16 year old boy to go to his prom dressed how he feels right – in a dress! It’s an inspirational story to which NS MT did absolute justice.

The production quality was very high and featured excellent choreography throughout. It was great to have a live band who remained predominantly shrouded until the curtain call but whose impact was felt from the very first note. The set was reasonably simple but extremely effective and it is one of those shows that doesn’t need over-egged scenery. I loved the construction of the school desks with the attached stools that flipped in, making the scene changes even easier and said changes were quickly and efficiently executed.

Costume was great with the school uniforms and the drag queen costumes standing out as they should. As always, credit for the wearing of the red stilettoes as they would be the bane of many of any gender! Sound and lighting were generally great with just a few lines lost from a mic not kicking in when it should which is always a shame but tech gremlins are sent to try us!

The performances were extremely strong across the board, it really was an excellent cast giving it their absolute all both vocally and from an acting perspective. Will Astley as Jamie New was exceptional! He infused the character of Jamie with all the nuances needed as this could be an easy character to turn into a bit of a one-dimensional stereotype but Will expertly navigated Jamie’s emotional rollercoaster (along with his expected teenage melodramatics!) with real aplomb. Given that Jamie IS prone to over dramatic bursts of emotion, giving real heart wrenching reactions to what happens with his Dad could potentially lack sincerity but no danger of that here. Well done!

Tracy Brough-Chesters as Margaret New gave an emotive performance as the stellar Mum who loves her child no matter what and gives up much to support his journey, even her misguided moments are done through love. Along with Ray (Charlie Marlow-Cul), they form Jamie’s home-based cheer squad, Ray giving a slightly more practical level of support (bolstered by slightly dodgy chocolate purchases!). Charlie gave a lovely performance of Margaret and Jamie’s pillar of support.

Jamie’s school based support is his best friend Priti - Charlie Stubbs captured all aspects of Priti from the bullied nerd mousiness, her genuine affection for Jamie and her core of steel which culminates in the yelling of THAT word and the dressing down of bully Dean.

Miss Hedges (Stephanie Richardson) tries to be the voice of what she thinks is reason – surrounded by unambitious teens who want nothing more than a shortcut to being rich and famous, she tries to instil a dose of (probably well needed) reality. Stephanie’s portrayal of a ground down teacher who doesn’t quite know how to handle a Jamie’s insistence on living life his way was spot on – I always have the impression that the character doesn’t actually really care one way or another, when pushed will come down on the side of the “norm” but the whole thing creates work & drama for her which is the bit she is really against and Stephanie’s performance portrayed this.

I love the character of Hugo, who becomes the real male role model in Jamie’s life (though Ray does a good job!). The juxtaposition between how you would imagine a character of a former drag queen who runs a costume shop and the reality which Rob Lawton portrayed very well, taking the unsure and slightly lost Jamie under his wing. Add in the support of the other drag queens played by Crystal Decanter, Gareth Ridge & Aaron Richardson, and Jamie finds his home from home. Great performances and kudos for getting your choreographer on stage in tights!!

Mike Dyer as Jamie’s Dad and Rhys Gregory as Dean represent the nasty side of the battle Jamie faces to be his authentic self. Jamie treats Dean almost as an expected nuisance to be endured but they finally reach if not a friendship then at least an understanding and Dean’s gradual epiphany was well portrayed by Rhys. Jamie’s Dad is the real villain, rejecting Jamie for no more reason than who he is. As Mike is a real life nice guy, the boos during curtain call proved that he nailed it.

Jamie’s classmates all gave great performances and again, they too go on a bit of a journey from viewing Jamie as something to brighten up a dull class (and probably giving them some good stuff to post on Insta!) to genuinely backing him in his choices against “the establishment”.

This was my first visit to watch North Staffs Musical Theatre and I really hope it won’t be my last as it was a fabulous show and I had a great evening. Thank you for the invitation and for looking after me so well.

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