Fame

Theatre Factory celebrated 15 years of performing and supporting the development of young people with a trip to another renowned performing arts school – New York City’s High School of Performing Arts, home of Fame.  This production featured a couple of Theatre Factory firsts, being their first full-length musical and also their first show to feature a live band.  Seeing how energised the live music left the young performers on stage, it might be hard to go back to recordings!

A split level set depicted the various locations of the school, with the band residing at the rear of the upper level.  Nearby, a separate riser featuring a keyboard and drum kit provided the rehearsal space for the band formed by some of the students.  There was also a yellow cab lurking at the rear of the stage, in a nod to the New York setting.

At the outset, we met the main characters of the play, all praying for their opportunity to study at ‘PA’, before launching into the vibrant ‘Hard Work’.  This was an opening section full of energy and optimism, as the students prepared themselves for the work to come.  Some of the performers on stage will be able to enlighten us as to whether this really is the toughest of jobs, as after the show we learned that they have won places at performing arts colleges.  Good luck to them!

Fame has an episodic format, as we regularly check in with a cohort of performers making their way through college, observing their lives, loves, and tribulations.  There was loads of confidence and great, controlled singing on display throughout, with many powerful and emotional solos.  I think there is a risk in Fame that the characters’ confidence can tip over into arrogance, and the actors worked hard to stay the right side of that line.  Many of the roles were shared between two actors, with those not ‘on duty’ for a particular performance taking their place in the ensemble.  This provides for an extra challenge as, in effect, the performers each have to prepare for two roles.

Leading the way was Demi DeLord as Carmen Diaz, a self-possessed young woman convinced that she is on a one way trip to stardom, but whose story has a tragic ending.  This was a powerful performance from Demi, totally convincing whether charming her fellow students into letting her join their band or returning, chastened, from an abortive move to LA.  Her fellow band member and on/off love interest, Schlomo Metzenbaum, was well played by Kieran Lilley, clearly showing the character struggling to live up to the high expectations of his family.  Their band was completed by trumpet player Goody (Dan Lewis; role shared with Arlo Turner) and drummer Lambchops (Frankie Cook Stephens; role shared with Florence Morton), both of whom added plenty of zest and fun to their characterisations.

Love was also in the air between the earnest, serious Nick Piazza (Alfie Thompson, showing off a superb singing voice) and Serena Katz (Libby Faulkner; role shared with Florence Sinfield), shy and nerdy but with a steely determination.  Similarly, talented dancer Iris Kelly (Bella Webb; role shared with Robyn Underwood) formed a connection with temperamental outsider Tyrone Jackson (Sam Perkins, impressing on his debut with Theatre Factory.)  These two characters seemed made for each other, with Iris wrongly being assumed to come from a rich background by her classmates and Tyrone’s defensive response to his dyslexia. 

There was plenty of comedy on offer too, firstly in the form of Joe Vegas, gleefully played by Ellis Harding, a sex-obsessed yet ultimately kind hearted student. His rendition of the saucy ‘Can’t Keep it Down’ was great fun and an early highlight in a show packed full of them.  Last, but absolutely not least, Maisie Forrester played Mabel Washington, an overweight student with the catchphrase ‘I see food and I eat it’.  Maisie rightly focused on the vibrant, fun-filled aspects of this character, raising plenty of laughs from the audience. 

Alongside the young performers playing, well, young performers, were those in the perhaps trickier roles of the School staff.  Front and centre was Amelia Walmsley as Miss Sherman, a strict disciplinarian who nevertheless had the best interest of her students at heart (this role was shared with Meg Walley).  Her song ‘These are My Children’ was superbly performed and deservedly brought the house down.  Miss Sherman’s inflexible approach brought her into conflict with Miss Greta Bell (Issy Caddick; role shared with Freya Skelton) a dance teacher who fights for Tyrone to be allowed to perform at the Junior Festival.  Further good performances came from Grace Laurenson as the supportive Miss Myers (role shared with Molly Branchett), and Toby Charles as Mr Sheinkoph, the music teacher who amusingly cannot stand ‘rock and roll’.  So well did these actors inhabit their roles, it wasn’t really until they came out of character after the performance that I really saw how young they were! 

Supporting those in named roles was an impressive ensemble made up of six actors and five dancers, all of whom contributed hugely to the success of the show.  The dancers showed admirable stamina by pulling off a series of complex and exhausting looking pieces of choreography put together by Nikki Parsons.  The dance content of the show was high and to a consistently high standard.  Bravo! 

Director and leading light of Theatre Factory Leanne Cook marshalled her cast superbly; the confidence and ability shown by these young performers is an absolute credit to her.  Vocal coach Sarah Stone, Production Manager Mike Ardis and Musical Director Lee Fisher (leading a nine piece band) complete a formidable backstage team who, together, produced something really special.  The final song ‘Bring on Tomorrow’ felt totally appropriate, as both the characters and those playing them looked ahead to a bright future.  My hearty congratulations to all at Theatre Factory – here’s to the next fifteen years! 

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