It’s time to bring out those leg warmers that have been stuffed in the back of the drawer for years, shake out your Lycra and join in the party at the Liverpool Empire Theatre.
‘Fame’ follows a group of talented kids who attend the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. Many facing personal difficulties, attending the school for various reasons, they are faced with obstacles and decisions that they must make along their journey.
Tyrone Jackson (Kieran Williams) is illiterate and faces an uncertain future at the School. All he wants to do is dance, why should he have to be able to read and write to do that?
His English teacher Miss Sherman (Kelsey Cullen) threatens to keep him out of the Fall Festival if his grades don’t approve, but eventually helps Tyrone learn to read.
Carman Diaz (Lauren Sidwell) dreams of seeing her name up in lights. She has a plan to drop out of school and go to Los Angeles, where a Hollywood agent she has met has promised to send her a plane ticket. Despite her classmates telling her not to go, Carman thinks it’s a quicker road to the success that she has always dreamed of.
Then there is Iris Kelly (Charlotte McKelvie) who gets dropped off at the school gates every day in a black limousine. Yet, despite outward appearances, she is as poor as the rest of the kids in the school - her dad is a chauffer.
The show is packed full of solo numbers, and this is when we get to see the real gems sparkling. A solid performance from Jess Hunt who plays Serena Katz, and an incredible voice from Lauren Sidwell, who plays the unfortunate Carman. And a very confident Tim Lucas injected some fun with his comic character in amongst all the seriousness Joe (Jose) Vegas.
To choreograph a cast of 150 all singing and dancing youngsters is not easy, but the challenge was pulled off by choreographer Gillian Burns. Although most of the dance routines were neatly choreographed and everybody seemed to know what they were doing, at times I felt that there was definitely an overspill of children on stage.
The set was kept the same throughout, and in keeping with the whole show, there was even a team of youngsters setting and striking the set which would explain some long scene changes.
Irrespective of this being an amateur production, it is an excellent way for these kids to show case their talents. It's clear incredible hard work has gone into this production, and it was obvious every one on stage was having a great time. There are definitely some names to watch out for in the future.
7/10
‘Fame’ is on at the Liverpool Empire Theatre until Saturday 07th August. Contact box office on 0844 499 6677.
Matthew, Liverpool around 1 year, 4 months ago