Fame - Does It Live Forever?

                                                 Review of Fame The Musical


My first obsession and love in the eighties was Fame.  Nothing would move me from the TV every week,  I bought all the albums, and Fame was my first concert.  At a function recently when someone played Star Maker, all of us of a certain age still remembered the words, so with this nostalgic love  I was both excited and nervous to see the new stage version.

The story is based around students attending the New York School of Performing Arts as they follow their dreams of becoming actors, dancers and musicians, and it didn't disappoint.

The musical numbers were full of energy with great choreography.  Jamal Kane Crawford who plays Tyrone was phenomenal with a real stage presence as well as some amazing moves!

The new songs carried the narrative perfectly, and whilst all the cast were excellent, Mica Paris singing in the second act as Miss Sherman was powerful and moving.

This was a real ensemble piece with fantastic musicians on the stage, great comedy from Albey Brookes (Joe) and wonderful chemistry between Keith Jacks (Nick) and Molly McGuire (Serena).  However, for me the stand out performances came from Simon Anthony (Schlomo) and Stephanie Rojas (Carmen). The vibrancy and life of Carmen that is taken away by drugs is so movingly and believably portrayed and Schlomo's heartbreak watching her is achingly real.

Fame more than lived up to my expectations.  It has been brought into the twenty first century without losing the essence of what it was and I enjoyed every minute.

The show can be seen at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury this week, as it travels the country during a nationwide tour which culminates at the Peacock Theatre in London in September 2019.

Does Fame live forever - hell yeah!

Passing Strangers

This evening I went to do some market research.  I haven't done one for a long time as the subjects are often not relevant, the timings don't work, or it is too far away.

This afternoon though I slipped away, leaving eldest son in charge of catering for the masses when they all came in from work.

The research was about charities and there were a total of 7 women in the room.

What I found fascinating was the small window into the lives of each of the ladies.

All of us were of a similar age, being slightly over 21, and we came from Twickenham, Cheam and Watford to name a few of the locations. Blonde hair, long hair, smartly dressed, more casual, wearing glasses, working full time, or owning a business, everyone was very different.

Each of us had older children, although I had bragging rights as the only one with twins!

All the ladies were involved with charities, donating, fund raising and supporting others. Cancer related causes led the way, with people having lost family members, and one strong woman who was in remission.  One lady supported a local diabetes charity as her daughter has type 1 diabetes and another lady gave to a heart charity as she had lost her father to a heart attack.

It was interesting to see how their perspective was focused around their experiences.  Whilst I know this is true for everyone, it is easier to see it in others rather than yourself.  

The discussion ran it's allotted time and we all left heading off towards the same station.  In small groups, chatting about our journeys home, A level results, and a holiday someone had just returned from.  

As I went to go on the underground, we separated, everyone on their bit of track heading back to their reality.  We never knew each other very long so there is no great friendship lost, but forward we went, like flowers that have been strewn in the wind, travelling in various directions too our homes and lives, never to meet again.