Fame the Musical Review

New Victoria Theatre – until October 6th

Reviewer Heather Chalkley

4****

Selladoor Worldwide had big shoes to fill taking on the iconic Fame. This is the classic coming of age story line, full of love and hope, broken dreams and success born of hard work.

Outstanding vocals from Stephanie Rojas (Carmen) brought to life the theme tune and her performance gave a gritty reality that there is no quick route to Fame. Jamal Kane Crawford (Tyrone) and Jorgie Porter (Iris) were beautiful together, creating one fluid movement in their dance. The vocal performance of the night, not surprisingly, came from Mica Paris (Miss Sherman). She brought soul to the stage, creating a fullness and richness to the story. The ensemble provided humour and energy, getting the audience to their feet, mirroring the emotional roller coaster and vitality of untamed, exuberant youth.

There were a few times when the players had their back to the audience during solos and duets, which may be to do with the set or where I was sat in the audience. Otherwise the creatives have formed a simple but ingenious set, creating layers that provided alternative perspectives and imbued a range of atmospheres.

Director and choreographer, Nick Winston, has succeeded in capturing the essence of the Fame story, bringing in some modern references for younger audiences. With the vocal strength of Mica Paris and Stephanie Rojas, it has been lifted out of the quagmire of ordinary.