The Fame! Revival

Having never seen Fame! I was unaware of what to expect when I walked into the theatre to see the musical performance; I had a preconceived idea of what the evening would entail, but I was pleasantly shocked with the depth of the story line and the seriousness of the issues portrayed, and how this in no way impacted this pleasurable and energetic rendition of this musical classic.  Alongside the brilliant inclusion of live music and exceptional choreography, the story exposes the dark elements of adolescence and the devastating difficulties in the strive for ‘fame’, which is outstandingly delivered through the characters of Tyrone and Carmen. Both of these characters emotionally encapsulate the struggles along the journey to stardom and showcase the imperfections of the apparently ‘perfect’ stars that we see today.  

Issues regarding the exploration of sexuality, mental health, drugs, and racism all add depth to the otherwise very comedic script, while making the premise of the plot more accessible to the everyday people in the audience. Today, there is a large social movement regarding the portrayal of the seemingly ‘perfect’ celebrity, with various celebrities now realising that the public persona they presented was becoming increasingly damaging in a civilization that is obsessed with appearance, but I left this performance feeling empowered by my flaws due to the successful portrayal of the normality of imperfections and individuality.

Although this play is great entertainment for ANYONE, I think that anyone who undervalues themselves or is feeling disillusioned with their dreams should make the time to come and see this musical; it captures the adrenaline of youthful excitement, the importance of breaking conventions, and the struggles that everyone experiences at some point or another. It also champions adolescent experience and shows the importance of embracing change.

The unfussy and discreet set was used to its full potential, with props appearing effortlessly from the wings to take the audience to a different place, and yet the minimalism of the set only accentuated my focus on the sensational performances. During the first half of the musical (due to my untrained eye) I was unsure as to whether the actors were playing the musical instruments live or not – however, as soon as the music began again after the interval, it became clear to me that the actors were in fact playing live. This only added to my enjoyment and showed the enormous variety of talent within the cast.

If I could, I would go and see this again tomorrow!