Fame

Firstly I have to compliment every single performer in this show.  The energy and high standard of performance demonstrated by all of them was simply outstanding.  The pace was excellent and the backstage crew worked just as hard as the performers.  I don’t think I have ever seen scene changes done so quickly and smoothly.

On to the principals, a lot of the principal roles were shared so I can only comment on the performers that I saw but I am sure that the alternative performers were just as good.  Katie Gallivan played Carmen with energy and great style.   Her portrayal of Carmen returning after a time in LA was excellent, she showed the change in the character’s personality with great effect.

Jake Bailey played Tyrone with just the right amount of teenage truculence, almost as though it was his natural behaviour!  His dancing and singing were very strong and I look forward to seeing Jake perform professionally in the future.

Gabrielle Klein played Serena and although I would have liked her dialogue a little slower, she portrayed the angst of a teenager extremely well.   Luke Reid played Nick, again a little slower on the delivery of the dialogue would have made his portrayal perfect.  His dancing was superb, clearly his first love and I am sure that he also has a professional future.

The other students were played by James Gordon (Schlomo) Callum Thomas (Joe) Sophie Carrick (Mabel) Ben Neagen (Goody) Isabelle Giles (Lambchop) and Hattie Wadeson (Iris).  They completed a very strong line-up of performers and each had clearly worked on their characterisations.

The four teachers were all very good, Laura Joseph (Miss Sherman) commanded the stage when she appeared and her singing voice was beautiful.  Megan Fane (Miss Bell) was the archetypal dance teacher, displaying a passion for the subject that gave the character depth. Josh Sweeting (Mr Myers) was the drama teacher and he had a lot of good lines to deliver which he did with great timing.  William Lester (Mr Sheinkoff) maintained an excellent middle European accent throughout the show and has great stage presence.

The dancers were integral to this show and very good they were.  The choreography was up to date and delivered with terrific energy and style.  It would be very unfair to mention any single one of them individually as they were all good.  I am sure that many of them will progress to having principal roles in the future.

The singers with the two soloists, Courtney Emery and Amy Thorpe, produced a good sound and the chorus supported the performance throughout.  I was a little bit disappointed by the volume of the band.  There were quite a few occasions when they drowned the singers out, and not just the soloists either.  It was a large band for this production and I would have liked to hear it a bit more muted, especially for the solo and small group numbers.

Costumes were good, right for the production and the ages of the performers.  Scenery was excellent, based on a simple set with pieces that were moved in to show the various locations for the scenes.  As I have mentioned at the beginning, the back stage crew did an excellent job of setting and striking the various pieces.  It was choreographed extremely well and, although I expected some collisions, they didn’t happen, so very well done to all.

Finally my apologies for my late arrival and my thanks to the cast & crew, for being prepared to wait for me to get there.  It was definitely worth it from my point of view.  Another brilliant production, well done.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.