Fame JR

Set during the last years of New York City's celebrated High School for the Performing Arts in the early 1980s, Fame JR. is the bittersweet, but ultimately inspiring, story of a diverse group of students who commit to four years of gruelling artistic and academic work. With humour and insight, the show explores the issues that confront many young people today.

Amongst the students who attend the High School are the fame-obsessed Carmen, ambitious actress Serena, wisecracking comedian Joe, quiet pianist Schlomo, talented but dyslexic dancer Tyra, determined actor Nick, and an overweight dancer Mabel! Their studies are under the leadership of a number of English, acting, music and dance teachers who all try, not always successfully, to galvanise the attentions of their students. The opening number when the students are grouped according to their main disciplines had impact and was very effective.

With 15 characters it is impossible to name them all, but one of their strengths was the different characterisations that came over well. There were many musical highlights including Serena’s “Let’s Play a Love Scene” sung with great clarity by Amelia Davies, Mabel Washington’s funny  “Mabel’s Prayer’ (Erica Borewell Fox) and “Bring on Tomorrow” in the final graduation scene.

The scenes between Schlomo (Jake Wakefield)  and the feisty Carmen Diaz (Dixie Stone) and those between Nick Piazza (Elijah Broadbent) and Serena Katz (Amelia Davies) worked well with feeling, along with Tyra (Mischa Denney Richards) who eventually discovered that dyslexia was holding her back in English. All the ‘teachers’ displayed a matureness in their portrayals that was convincing.

The set was very effective with angled projections on each side of the stage, mirrors and two acting levels that gave the staging great depth and height. The production was well dressed, moved at the right pace and throughout the company danced to some well-rehearsed atmospheric choreography.

Congratulations to the Production Team, led by Director Leanne Hollyhead and choreographer Tabitha Bradley.

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