Theatre Review: Fame at The Alhambra

Celebrating its 30th anniversary with a UK tour, Fame The Musical, stops at The Alhambra where LEO OWEN caught the show

EMULATING the performer’s experience, bright house lights come up on the auditorium as the words “New York auditions” are projected onto the stage screen. An off-stage voice cues a montage of individual and group auditions across a split stage on multiple levels, introducing us to fame hungry teens applying to the city’s High School for The Performing Arts, affectionately known as “PA”.

Like the film it’s originally based on, the stage show follows ten hopefuls from Freshman Year 1980 to graduation with years helpfully subtitled. Morgan Large’s simple set uses aged black and white passport photos of ex-PA students as a backdrop with other props like lockers, a chalkboard, lamppost and chairs/desks wheeled on.

Vignettes of lessons from each artistic discipline are quickly punctuated by black-outs as the film’s original producer, David De Silva, attempts to recreate the phenomenal energy of its source material. Through the students’ academic journeys De Silva’s story focuses on, Fame explores issues of sexuality, love, illiteracy, drug abuse and prejudice.

Unfortunately, despite larger-than-life characters, chemistry and realism lacks for some of the romantic pairings. Interactions between Iris (Hollyoaks’ Jorgie Porter) and Tyrone (Jamal Crawford) are not convincing while many of the ballet performances feel rushed and jolty. However, Carmen (Stephanie Rojas) and Schlomo’s (Simon Anthony) connection is more believable, alongside Serena (Molly McGuire) and Nick’s (Keith Jack) blossoming relationship - a joy to watch develop.

Although choreography and timings are off on occasion during dance sequences, emotion is truly ramped up in Act 2 with big name draw, soul and gospel artist, Mica Paris as Miss Sherman belting out These Are My Children in a genuinely powerhouse performance. Rojas’ moving delivery of In L.A. is another high, almost equalled by McGuire and Jack’s duet, Let’s Play a Love Scene.

While the original 1980s’ film may well live forever through its fans and soundtrack, unfortunately this particular production is unlikely to stick: misjudged volume levels leave leads seemingly in competition to be heard, resulting in dynamism and chemistry sorely lacking.

Fame showed at The Alhambra August 27-September 1 before continuing its UK tour: http://fameuktour.co.uk/tour-dates