Fame, the Musical

In a world full of High School Musicals and Glee Clubs, the original quest for success, ‘Fame’, brings us a more frank (and perhaps more realistic) account of the highs and lows of the stairway to success. Barnstaple Young Generation’s production was energetic, frank and, at times, moving.

The production featured some very strong performances from the cast of teens, with stand out performances from dedicated actor Nick Piazza, sexually frustrated Joe Vegas, aspiring musician Schlomo Metzenbaum and the laid back, street-smart Tyrone Jackson. Their characters were distinct and strong which helped make their musical numbers among the most memorable and most well-rounded.

But the boys were not the only ones to deliver sterling performances when we were also served a hilarious slice of Mabel Washington, whose ‘Prayer’ was a great moment of light-hearted relief during the heavier goings on in act two. Romantic plot lines are woven in for Nick and Schlomo in the form of Carmen Diaz and Serena Katz - both played well and adding to the dramatic tension as the students moved from wide-eyed enthusiasts to stress-filled talent junkies - junkies being the operative word as the show takes a dramatic turn with the deterioration and eventual demise of Carmen. Although the two girls gave good character performances, their vocals were not strong enough for their powerful solo songs.

Then there was Miss Sherman. From her first entrance onto the stage she was a formidable character, constantly sparring with Tyrone, but when she sang the excellent ‘Teacher’s Argument’ opposite the equally strong Miss Bell we thought we’d seen her best. And then she sand her big solo ‘These are my children’. I don’t think I’ve ever cheered so hard at the end of a number and I certainly wasn’t alone in the audience. The song showed her to be both passionate and vulnerable with beautiful highs and lows and a mighty coup de grace that blew us all away.

The bare, black stage was dressed with permanent staircases, could have been too spartan if not for the vibrant lighting design and occasional added object in the form of flown dance mirrors and some large swags of red material to enhance the ‘Festival’. Costuming was effective, with each character enhanced by good dressing - Nick’s subdued beige, Carmen’s vibrant red dress, a great set of ‘flamenco-style’ outfits and a stunning power-suit for Miss Sherman.

Although cast appropriately with an older range of juniors, there were a few younger attendees at ‘PA’ who gave us some nifty cameos, including an impressive ‘audition’ from a young man who’s contemporary dance helped set up the audience for a good show. Another nice touch were the cast members who played their own instruments, namely the band formed by Schlomo, Lambchops and Goody.

There were a few unnecessary issues with audio balance, although these were not too distracting. I enjoyed the choreography, particularly as it built in the larger production numbers such as the rousing ‘Hard Work’ that opened the show and the final payoff (complete with a rather lego-block yellow taxi) with the finale performance of the title number ... Fame!

My congratulations on what was a great show, packed with energy, hope and drama!

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