Home > Reviews > Paying LIPA Service
...........................................................................................................

By Felicity Newson

Sir Paul McCatney apparently modeled our own LIPA fame school on the New York academy which inspired this musical.
And if the truth is anything like the fiction you can understand why he found the School for the Performing Arts so eminently capable.
Astonishingly, it is 18 years now since Fame was first staged. But in coming of age it seems to have lost none of its freshness and dynamism.
Last night's performance was as pacy, exuberant and full of Stateside confidence as you might expect - brashness of some of the voices included.
But you tend to forget that there are touching human storylines along with the razzmatazz: The will they/won't they? romance of Nick and Serena, the brilliant dancer from the wrong side of the tracks who flunks lessons because he can't read.
And most poignantly of all, the story of Carmen, star performer and singer of the "I want to live forever" tourchsong, who is tragically lured away from the Big Dream by illusory promises and spirals into drug addiction.
Like so many other shows packed with young talent, it almost seems unfair to single out individuals.
But Debbie Kurup and Chris Copeland as "problem students" Carmend and Tyrone are especially electrifying.
While Rebecca Wheatley, known to TV buffs for her role in Casualty, is a big presence, in every sense of the word as stern schoolmarm Miss Sherman.
Energetic and escapist, with added touches of humour and sadness, this is a show with across-the-board appeal from mums and dads to the Pop Idol generation.
So get to the Empire this week and grab your two hours and 15 minutes of Fame - at any price!

Rating: 9/10

< Back to Reviews