Fame – The Musical, lyrics by Jacques Levy, a Zenith Youth Theatre production, directed by Scott Rogers, musical director Roy Page, at the Kingswood Theatre, Bath, 11th-14th July, Wednesday- Saturday 7.30pm, matinee 2.30pm Saturday.
Unless you’re visiting from another planet you’ll be aware that Fame the musical is based on the 1980 film of the same name, and was also a TV series all about an intake of students to the New York School for Performing Arts. In other words a huge success that has rarely been out of production somewhere ever since then.
And of course an ideal platform for Zenith Youth who can be relied on to sing, dance and act effectively.
A few familiar Zenith faces have moved on and the large cast of forty or so include some new students so this is almost type casting.
Georgie McSherry is outstanding as Carmen Diaz. “I could win a Grammy and my mom would still call me a slut,” she says, also giving us the classic line, “I’m young, I’m healthy, I’m gonna live forever,” plus some outstanding singing.
George Miles gives us a convincing Schlomo along with a great performance from Marcus May as the dyslexic would be drop out Jack.
It’s a high energy musical and that’s how Zenith performed it with a simple set and lots of lighting effects, though occasionally a little less full volume singing might have been more effective.
As the first night clashed with England (and Federer!) playing and losing, there were a few empty seats but that should be rectified for the remaining performances.
It’s also a hectic time for Zenith, taking four different productions up to Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.
Philip Horton
