After a successful season in Melbourne (premiered at the Regent theatre late in April), ‘Fame The Musical’ has come to town, and is currently playing Sydney’s Capitol theatre.
The musical (music by Steve Margoshes, lyrics by Jacques Levy and book by Jose Fernandez) is based on the 1980 Hollywood film and has had numerous revivals around the world since its premiere in Miami, Florida in 1988.
‘Fame The Musical’ charts the journey of a vibrant group of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural young performers from when they anxiously gather to audition to enter the New York City’s High School Of Performing Arts to when they party after their graduation.
Kelley Abbey (I fondly remember seeing her many years ago as the fantastic lead in ‘Sweet Charity’ at the very same theatre) helms the current Australian production as both director and choreographer with Max Lambert as the Musical Supervisor.
What you are in for with ‘Fame the Musical’ is a pulsating, high energy show from beginning to end with the music and the lights literally bouncing off the walls. The large cast sing and dance their pants off as well as providing some great characterisations.
My pick of the cast were Rowena Vilar as the sexy dancer with a big ego, Carmen Diaz, Timomatic as the talented but dyslexic hip hop dancer Tyrone Jackson, Tim Dashwood as the shy muso, Schlomo Lamb, Lilias White as the tough English teacher, Ms Esther Sherman, Talia Fowler’s gracefulness as ballet dancer, Iris Kelly, Andrew McFarlane as the laid back drama teacher with an obsession for human psychology, Mr Myers, and amongst the dancers, Stephen Tannos of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ was a stand-out.
A great night of musical theatre, ‘Fame-The Musical’ opened at the Capitol theatre, 13 Campbell Street, Haymarket on Thursday 14th October, 2010 and is currently taking bookings until the end of November, 2010.
