UK Theatre Network

Fame: The Musical

UK National Tour

Reviewed at The Sunderland Empire Theatre

Based on the 1980 hit movie and successful television series that ran from 1982 -87, Fame: The Musical follows the lives of the students and faculty at the New York High School for Performing Arts.

However, don’t expect to reacquaint yourselves with Coco, Montgomery, Bruno, Leroy and Doris as this production of Fame is set in the present day. Although the characters have changed the story remains virtually the same.

The decision to update this musical, thus depriving the audience of the opportunity to don leg-warmers and spandex, works successfully on some levels and not on others. Recognisable musical numbers such as ‘Star-maker’ and ‘Hi-Fidelity’ are absent, although the iconic title number remains. The new songs, including ‘Hard Work’ and ‘Bring On Tomorrow’ are apt and well sung but, with the exception of Beverley Trotman’s performance of ‘These Are My Children’, they are not as catchy as their predecessors.

The choreography is amazing and executed with precision and energy by a young cast who were danced to within an inch of their lives. The set is simple but highly effective and lighting is skilfully utilised to reflect the mood and tone of each scene.

Despite the fact that Fame is an ensemble show, a couple of performances stood out as exceptional. Holly James plays Carmen with honesty and conviction and Tarisha Rommick puts in a wonderfully comic turn as Mabel.

Disappointingly though, the pizzazz of the television series is only really recaptured during the reprise of the signature tune at the finale.

Steve Burbridge.