Fame 2000

If, like me, you remember the TV series, Fame, and the original film of the same name with affection, you may well have been interested to see that a new, revamped stage version of the show is on the road touring.
I was a fan of the original film and, although the series went on a bit long, it was a creditable transfer to the small screen. Imagine, then, my abject disappointment when I went to see Fame 2000, the current touring production. They have taken only one good song from the original, Fame, I'm gonna live forever, and replaced the rest with dirges beyond belief. The story has been thrown out along with every other vestige of interest.
The actors struggle manfully with what is laughingly referred to as characterisation and make the best of woefully inadequate songs and no storyline.
Out has gone virtually every character from the film. There is no longer a gay character (Montgomery MacNeil) or the shy fat one (Doris Finsecker). The singing and dancing is energetic and well executed but is merely a string of performance pieces with no cohesion.
The performance I saw at De Montfort Hall, Leicester was dire right up until the encore when the cast were finally let loose on the only decent song in the show, Fame.
Fame 2000 continues its tour round the UK with dates in Blackpool for August and September. Avoid it like the plague!
Inexplicably it returns to the obviously easily pleased West End audiences of tourists on 28th September and takes up residence at the Victoria Palace. If you feel masochistic enough and have £20 odd to waste then the booking number is 020 7834 1317.

Published in Gay UK Net © Paul Towers 29/9/2000