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Post by danb on Mar 22, 2018 6:16:35 GMT
If only! Along with Starmaker and especially Desdemona. The Kids From Fame album is fantastic. I couldn't wait to watch it every week back when it was on. I even downloaded it on Spotify  Apparently they were not allowed to use the music from the film or the tv series, and only allowed to use part of the title song, hence it's susung twice, once in Spanish. Like with all of the ‘Grease’ negotiations in the 90’s, would it not be worth actually getting/coughing up for the rights so that they could give the audience the show they want (the film/tv show onstage) instead of the mess they get? I remember seeing it at the Cambridge a few times, then on tour much later. Odd characters ‘similar’ to those in the film/tv show doing roughly the same things but not quite, when all you really want is someone to bust out ‘Life is a Celebration’ and ‘Hi-Fidelity’. Hell, I’d even welcome ‘Shoshoshoshorovsky’! |
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Post by cheesy116 on May 24, 2018 12:24:46 GMT
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Post by danb on May 24, 2018 14:42:11 GMT
GET IN!!! It’s not bothering the South West so nobody I know need ever mention it or make excitable faux nostalgic suggestions.
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Post by LaLuPone on May 24, 2018 14:54:50 GMT
It’s also doing Cardiff New Theatre which has been left out of the article for some reason. Not that I’ll be going! My friend played Lambchops in her school production which I enjoyed but the music was very forgettable and to me it seemed as if it had been written to be performed by teenagers as a school/amateur production.
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Post by danb on May 24, 2018 15:07:47 GMT
Shhhhhhhhhhhshhhhhh!
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Post by Rozzi Rainbow on Jun 10, 2018 19:22:05 GMT
I seem to be in the minority here but I like this show so am looking forward to this. I never saw the original TV show so can't compare it to that, and just view this as a show in its own right. I really hope Jorgie Porter can actually do ballet as I love the ballet scene between Tyrone and Iris.
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Post by theatremadness on Jul 15, 2018 14:43:34 GMT
Is this something to shout about? It's a 675-seat theatre....
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Post by stevej678 on Jul 24, 2018 10:00:29 GMT
Well, this was a very pleasant surprise. I went to the Palace in Manchester without any real expectations but had a ball. This is up there with Little Shop of Horrors as Selladoor's best production for me.
Vocally, the cast are sensational. I was absolutely blown away by the powerhouse delivery of a terrific score. Some serious talent on that stage and not a weak link among them.
It's very much an ensemble show but Stephanie Rojas (previously in In The Heights) is outstanding as Carmen. Great work from Molly McGuire too as Serena and Jamal Kane Crawford as Tyrone. Jorgie Porter dances beautifully. The integration of the band (a small number of actor musicians) worked well.
The energy of the company combined with Nick Winston’s stunning choreography made Fame an absolute treat. Very slick for the first preview at the start of a year-long tour to celebrate the show's 30-year anniversary. This could well turn out to be the definitive production.
The full standing ovation at the end was well deserved. I've booked to see it again later this week.
Five stars.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 6:14:43 GMT
Ooh great stevej678 based on your comments I'm probably going to give this a go this afternoon. |
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Post by danb on Jul 25, 2018 7:56:22 GMT
Ooh great stevej678 based on your comments I'm probably going to give this a go this afternoon. He certainly makes it sound more appealing, but it is that shortage of good tunes and anything happening that made Fame a snooze for me. |
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Post by stevej678 on Jul 25, 2018 8:37:09 GMT
Press night in Manchester is this evening, I believe. Can't cope with the stress of too many people deciding to see it on the basis of just my review!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 10:07:47 GMT
Press night in Manchester is this evening, I believe. Can't cope with the stress of too many people deciding to see it on the basis of just my review! The ATG card half price offer helped swing it, so you’re not solely responsible. £16 for 6th Row Center stalls, bargain! |
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Post by ruby on Jul 25, 2018 11:59:33 GMT
I was tempted to book for next year in Bristol, but the horror that was Flashdance has put me off.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 17:27:01 GMT
Well first impressions count and I am an absolute sucker for shows that capitalize on the time from house open to curtain up. Shows like Bat out of Hell with its disconcertingly eerie postapocalyptic soundtrack and Phantom with its opulent auction scene on show, setting the scene whilst the audience take their seats. Fame makes the most of this opportunity with a birdseye view of a cab between two skyscrapers on show to the soundtrack of city traffic and hubbub which swells with the sound of the underground and other traffic noise into a climax to start the show. I was fooled by the preset scene into thinking the show might start off with some taxi movement, a bit like the car chase in Groundhog Day, but unfortunately this never materialised and the scene flew out never to be seen again. I spent parts of the show wonderning what the taxi was all about, how it was anchored to the show (if i it was supposed to be) and why but then in the Finale of the show 3 mini cabs came crashing in from the flys and spend the duration of the Fame Reprise bouncing, haphazardly, up and down the full height of the stage. Creased. Not only because one hit one of the cast on the head, but because of the randomness of it. Once I'd managed to regain composure I lost it again as a hand crept around the proscenium stage right and switched the head lights of on one. Howling. Otherwise, the set is good and production standards are great. But the taxis, awful.
The last time I saw Fame do the rounds I was a little youth, many years ago in Llandudno. I couldn't quite recall what happened in the show before todays performance and that would probably be because not much does. The plot is paper thin and the book even thinner. This works in the casts advantage however, as it means they have to work that bit harder to win the audience and keep them invested. They succeeded in doing so for today's matinee and to all extents and purpose you wouldn't know this show is still in previews. There is no weak link on stage but Mica Paris absolutely stole the show with 'These are my Children'. An absolute powerhouse with a belting performance, worthy of the ticket price alone.
This isn't Chekov or Stanislavski, but if you want a good couple of hours showcasing some very strong emerging and established talent, check it out.
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Post by stevej678 on Jul 25, 2018 20:25:13 GMT
Glad you enjoyed, @remark ! I'm looking forward to seeing Mica this weekend (she didn't do either of the first two performances, though her understudy had a few in the audience taking to their feet for a mid-show ovation after These Are My Children). Those taxis at the end could definitely join the glowsticks at the Hope Mill Theatre in a stagey Mancunian Room 101!
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Post by danb on Jul 25, 2018 21:27:49 GMT
Stop it, because if I go and it’s terrible I shall hunt the pair of you down! 😂
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Post by bramble on Jul 26, 2018 14:39:07 GMT
What a terrible book. Saved by a hard working talented cast.Clumsily staged at times but full of energy.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 7, 2018 10:48:39 GMT
If you are interested to see this or go back for a return visit then make sure to enter our competition to win two tickets to the show at a venue of your choice! You can also win tickets to Madagascar! ENTER HERE |
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Post by clair on Sept 5, 2018 20:16:26 GMT
For those who prefer the songs from the tv show there's a reunion concert in Liverpool next May! www.fameukreunion.co.uk/ |
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Post by danb on Sept 5, 2018 21:14:07 GMT
I’d assumed that it was at least an arena tour, not just Liverpool...how odd. A good spread of people from across the series, including the lovely Nia Peebles.
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Post by clair on Sept 6, 2018 6:43:56 GMT
It's just one place as it's been organised - and financed - by fans of the show who have got this group together with all profit going to a children's hospice charity so not a promoter or anything like that.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 6, 2018 7:09:56 GMT
It's just one place as it's been organised - and financed - by fans of the show who have got this group together with all profit going to a children's hospice charity so not a promoter or anything like that. How fantastic that fans have been able to organise that. And for a great cause. Hope it’s a huge success! |
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Post by danb on Sept 6, 2018 8:49:05 GMT
It's just one place as it's been organised - and financed - by fans of the show who have got this group together with all profit going to a children's hospice charity so not a promoter or anything like that. Wow, that’s fab then. If they could guarantee ‘Life Is A Celebration’ and ‘Starmaker’ I’d be a lock! |
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 6, 2018 12:32:48 GMT
The first 10 or so minutes of The One Show on Wednesday 5 September are worth a watch on iPlayer for more on the Liverpool concert.
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Post by clair on Sept 6, 2018 12:40:54 GMT
danb They did both of those in Italy last year and Starmaker had me in tears as they had images of all those cast members no longer with us on a screen for it!
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