Everybody's Talking About Jamie

With a current and understandable trend of many youth groups performing Junior versions of shows it was both incredibly brave and refreshing to see Crash Bang Wallop take on not only a huge musical but also an iconic one too.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie was a fantastic choice by Dan Brookes and his production team as it not only played on the strengths of his talented younger members but also allowed many of his older performers to get their teeth into grittier and deeper storylines and roles.

This musical is by no means an easy or safe option. The story line has to be handled sensitively; the characters really need to understand the subject areas and the huge musical numbers have to have the Wow factor and the songs are certainly not easy by any means. I am pleased to say that CBW Youth Theatre took on every challenge and smashed it out of the park.

The staging and technical side was excellent allowing the show to flow, a clever stage extension provided the New family kitchen without any fussy changes, the interconnecting school desks were utilised throughout creating classrooms, catwalks and platforms and the rear projection work created the visual backdrops throughout. Excellent lighting and sound balance ensured that the focus remained on the performers without any blips and the really talented orchestra led by Alan Owens never once overpowered the singers. 

Not only does the opening number set the storyline and introduce us to some of our main characters but it is also one of the biggest and most technical numbers in the whole show with vocals constantly linking in with script and the quality of the choreography set the tone for the whole show. 

The main Junior performers showed excellent synchronisation in the dances, working and using every inch of the stage and handling the desk movements within the number excellent. Emma Greenhalgh must have spent hours in their studio with this and the other big numbers as they were so tight and polished as well as stylish and energetic. 

Reading through the programme after the show I cannot believe the ages of some of the principal cast members. They looked like seasoned professionals with the confidence and stage presence they demonstrated. The main core of students in the story line were not just an ensemble but each one nailed their character (really matching their self-written bios in the programme). Molly Wilson, Romy Gence, Daisy Gibson, and Iris Sowerby were all excellent as Jamie’s school friends, perfectly handing out cheek and attitude whilst loving every minute of Jamie’s rise to fame. Amy Wilson and Cerys Hughes really stood in this group of students, really eye-catching in every scene and number. Maya Parker and Sophie Hilton were excellent as Bex and Becca delivering sass and wit throughout. Their lines delivered with so much strength and the shrieks and comebacks almost as outrageous as their hair and heel flicks on each entrance and exit. 

With an extra supporting ensemble of fifteen more students behind them in the big numbers they collectively not only delivered great routines, but the vocals were exceptional. Harmonies flowing throughout and every single cast member deserved their place on that stage, Erin Goh another stand out performer with clearly a great future ahead of her.

Now not all of Jamie’s school friends are behind him and supportive of his future plans, Dean Paxton played by the brilliant Arthur Wilson used every trick in his book to put a stop to it all. Arthur was great to watch, the sneering and tantrums equally matching the viscous name calling and intimidation. He was perfectly dislikeable throughout the whole show.

Thankfully and happy to stand up to bullies Jamie had a number of people fully behind him, no more so than his BFF Pritti played by the wonderful Maddie Dodds. Struggling with her own bullying and self-confidence issues herself, Maddie brilliantly conveyed not only the close friendship and support for Jamie but also brought so much fun and humour to their scenes together. With two lovely solo numbers to show off her sensational voice and tone, the audience were left breathless after Beautiful, a performance to match the song’s title perfectly.

Jamie would also find support along the way from Hugo (aka Loco Chanelle) a retired drag queen who could truly understand Jamie like nobody else. Alfie Gibson took on this iconic role and delivered it with amazing power, tenderness and comedy all rolled into one. With more layers than an onion Alfie really understood this character knowing where to deliver humour, when to push it over the top and when to pull it back with compassion and act as the father figure. The delivery of the huge showcase number The Legend of Loco Chanelle truly deserved the huge cheers it received. Not only was the musical side delivered but the overall effect of the number was amazing with the funky dancers down stage left almost acting as a mirror for the mask clad drag queens behind Loco herself, a great piece of powerful theatre in one number.

Playing the drag queens in the number, and with the lack of young men available to groups at the moment were Megan McLafferty as Tray Sophisticay and Georgie Golsbrough as Sandra Bollock. Now girls playing men who dress up as women is not an easy task and could come across as cheesy or tacky but both girls performed their roles excellently giving real depth and attitude to both their characters. The accents were suitably rough and northern and the visual and physical acting ability was excellent.

Making up the Trio of Drag Queens was Amos Lane who was not only brilliant as Laika Virgin but also doubled up as Jamie’s homophobic and revolting father Wayne New. A really impressive performance of both characters by Amos who at just fourteen managed to have us hating him as Wayne and loving him as Laiki. Playing two characters so far apart in attitude is very tricky especially for such a young man himself yet he nailed both roles.

Now it was not just the age of these young stars that amazed me but also the news that Rebecca Walker only took on the role of Miss Hedge two weeks before opening night. Her performance and characterisation of the stuck up and strict teacher made me believe she had been rehearsing for months. Her interaction with Jamie and the other students was perfect, her intense scene with Maragret and Ray suitably edgy, the voicemail showed her comic side and her movement and vocals in Work of Art showed us just what a talented performer this young lady is. Work of Art delivered on every level, sharp with Vogue like movements, slick in the staging and placement and delivered real impact on the tricky vocals.

When it comes to vocal performances it is impossible to look past Holly Hilton who absolutely blew me away with her rendition of, He’s My Boy. Not only did she manage to deliver spine-tingling vocals, but she told a story in such a beautiful, tender, and passionate manner. With a huge song like this the temptation is to go for it from the off yet she held back, delivered light and shade and had us believing every single word. How someone aged eighteen with no real-world experience behind them can make us believe her with the lyrics and character background but her whole performance of the night was excellent and if we closed our eyes, we were watching a 40yr old not someone at the start of their career. She had such a close connection with Jamie truly acting as the mother figure and had us close to tears on many occasions in the show. Thankfully, we got to see the fun side of her in her scenes with best mate Ray played by another wonderful actress, Robyn Lane. 

Robyn was truly the life and soul of the party, a self-confessed flirt and party girl yet soft and incredibly protective of Margaret and Jamie. She acted as the big sister and best mate wonderfully, getting her own chance to show us her energy and style in Limited Edition Prom Night Special. Her retort to Miss Hedge in the classroom scene was timed to perfection and another unforgettable moment.

Now playing a title role is never easy, there is a lot of pressure, yet add in the fact that you are just 15 and the character you are playing has such a deep back story adds another level of intensity to playing a role like Jamie New. Noah Gence showed no signs of pressure or nerves as he wowed us throughout the whole evening. His characterisation of the young man trying to find himself was excellent from his vulnerability and fear through his arrogance and swagger at the start of Act Two he simply owned the stage. His mannerisms were excellent (I loved the nervous hand rubbing and twitching) and matched a beautiful voice too, The Wall in My Head a real stand out moment with a lovely vocal blending in without a beautiful dance behind him. He allowed his grit and bite come through with Ugly in This Ugly World and combined with Holly for My Man, Your Boy for a stunning duet. 

I had previously only seen CBW in a concert style and knew through Dan Brookes and Alice Carr-Smith just how good vocally this group were. What this production showed me is how good overall they can be. The vision of excellent costumes and staging, the direction and detail to character and the wonderful routines all combined to deliver a production that most adult societies would be proud of. A huge thank you to everyone involved, not just for an incredibly warm welcome but for delivering a piece of unforgettable theatre.

 

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