Fame

In the 1980s, the one television show which was a must for lots of the readers of this magazine was “Fame”, about New York’s School for the Performing Arts.  Glasgow’s RSAMD was nothing like that!  The originator of the TV show wanted to have a stage adaptation, and this is it, with all the rivalry, jealousy, joy, angst, pleasure, pain, etc., etc. suffered by students — and tutors — universally, but with great music and movement thrown in.

A static set with some trucks kept things simple and let the audience concentrate on the good chorus and principal movement and singing.  That mustn’t take away from the acting, from both the older quartet of the Tutors, (Lorna Cook, Iain Fraser, Catherine Mackenzie and Ghyll McCallum) at times at odds with each other over the abilities and potential of the students, and of the students themselves, learning all about life.  Tyrone (Gary Fyfe) who prefers rap to ballet, Iris (Nikki Gibbs) the complete opposite; Nick (Darryn Glenn) a competent actor who repels the advances of Serena (Emma Louise Nisbet) suggesting love scenes with him; Schlomo (Andrew Jack) intent on instrument music, but persuaded by Carmen (Jennifer neil) to use her words to his tune; Joe (Samuel Gorman) the class clownwith adolescent hormones, as does Mabel (Chiadra McGuire) who changes discipline; all well portrayed and backed up by the unnamed classmates.  A sad note at the end showed that life’s a bitch at times, but life goes on.

Many of the cast had FE Theatrical training, which meant that Tom Daniels for the singing and Alan Jones, Jonathan Parsons and Marie McElhinney for moving  had great basics which it is hoped will remain in the Club for the future.  Certainly the whole show generated a great atmosphere and was well received in King’s Glasgow that week.

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