Fame - The Musical

‘Fame The Musical’ is a stage musical based on n original film. Because film can give you much greater realism, transferring it to the stage requires a lot of ingenuity to define scenes and settings. This often makes the stage show a lesser vehicle, but because of strong music and dance (although the same weak story line) ‘Fame’ has been a huge stage success since 1995.

‘Fame’ requires outstanding principals, and a very competent company who can sing and dance and ‘ClOC Juniors’ certainly delivered on both.

The simple but effective sets and well designed inset trucks made the staging seamless. The costumes were contemporary and perfect for any period setting. The lighting was interesting but there were many shadows on the stage making it difficult to see some of the cast during full company numbers. With the very upbeat music and dancing, more adventurous lighting would have enhanced what was often a dark stage.

The MD Carol Kenway had gathered very talented musicians to make up her ‘rock band’ and the sound was terrific throughout, over loud occasionally but the sound man dutifully ‘turned up the wick’ when necessary so we could always hear the dialogue. The musical numbers (apart from the title number Fame) were almost unknown to me and although entertaining within the show, were not particularly memorable. They were also very complex musically and the MD is to be congratulated for the high standard that the performers achieved and maintained.

The director Kerrie Barry can be well pleased with her efforts. The story is thin and there are many changes of time and place. These were logical most of the time, but lack of clarity, not from the volume, but from delivery of dialogue from several cast members lost me occasionally. The pace of the show was good and the wide age range of the cast was successful.

The choreography was excellent with the company demonstrating life, energy and talent in every number. Both Jules Ashton and Anna Coleman are to be congratulated on what to me seemed to be originality.

The whole company reverberated with passion for the show and an infectious enthusiasm, but honours go to some outstanding principals.   With too many principals to mention individually all were well cast and gave good performances. ‘Joe Vegas’ offered amusing humour, ‘Iris Kelly’, a lovely dancer, gave a controlled and talented performance, ‘Nick Piazza’ demonstrated a terrific voice and  much developing talent for the future and ‘Serena Katz’ partnered him beautifully (a lovely performance). All four cast members playing the roles of the Tutors, performed with a maturity belying their age, they were talented and wholly believable. I really enjoyed their performances. But I could not take my eyes from ‘Carman Diaz’ and ‘Tyrone Jackson’ when they were on stage. Both demonstrated natural and excellent talent in song, dance and acting, Tyrone is a natural comedian and Carman a natural for the tragic heroine.

The tendency for all the girl soloists to demonstrate who could shout their last note the longest and loudest became rather tedious, but did not spoil an entertaining production.

Fame (the song) was a sure fire final curtain hit, lively colourful and exciting (loved the car!). Well done once again CLOC Juniors.

Thank you to Ros for your usual warm welcome and hospitality.

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