Fame the Musical - Milton Keynes Theatre 12th-17th May 2014
"You want fame? Well fame costs... and right here is where you start paying - in sweat"
Since its West End launch in 1995, Fame The Musical has established itself as one of the country's most successful theatrical productions.
Forget the 1980's sweat band, florescent leg warmer clad wannabe's - this is Fame brought bang up to date with the performing arts students taking "selfies" on their iPad's and iPhone's. There's not a huge ghetto blaster in sight!
Directed and choreographed by Gary Lloyd - the man responsible for shows like "The Tina Turner Experience" and "Thriller Live", this is a high octane musical from the start, it's infectious.
It's the dancing that holds this show together, especially the amazing Alex Thomas as Tyrone Jackson - as sadly some of the songs, performed with heavy New York accents means that most of the lyrics are lost, which is a shame.
However that said, the musical number that proves a breath of fresh air (due to the many sexual innuendos coming thick and fast) in the "Can't Keep it Down" number sung by the very funny Joe Vegas (Joseph Giacone). It's a total audience pleaser!
Jodie Steele plays the lead as tragic wannabe star Carmen Diaz, at times she has a very pleasant voice but she seemed stretched when trying for the big high notes.
The action takes place in front of a Times Square backdrop, the set is quite basic with rotating blocks to form classrooms - there's a mezzanine flooring area above the actual stage on which a brilliant five piece band are housed. The music is great throughout the show...you get little snippets of the iconic title song that you are literally itching to hear, but it's not until the very end you are indulged in this 80's Irene Cara classic.
The whole cast certainly gave it everything they could and when the finale finally came you are invited to join in - after saying "'I'm sure you know the words...?" and of course most of the audience did and were up on their feet before you could say...FAME!
Lily B x
Dance 'Til Dawn Milton Keynes Theatre 5th - 10th May
Director and co-choreographer of Dance 'Til Dawn, Karen Bruce has worked with Vincent and Flavia since the Strictly Come Dancing Tour in 2010 and said that working with them again was "magical".
Dance 'Til Dawn follows the totally amazing Midnight Tango - I wowed and raved about that show... and wondered if that could be topped. Dance 'Til Dawn exceeded all my expectations.
This production has everything - sensational dancers, wonderful vocals and comedic moments too...but it's when Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace walk on to the stage, the magic starts. The minute they float on to the stage, there's such a buzz of anticipation it was almost audible. They are quite simply stunning together. Every move is effortless and so precise, you have to sit back and appreciate the amount of difficulty in their steps as they rise and fall in total synergy.
Dance 'Til Dawn showcases every dancing style the pair posses from the Charleston to the Waltz (and of course the Tango!),but don't think that this show is just a string of dances - it's a 1940's style gangster movie and has a love story bubbling in the background that blossoms between Tony (Vincent) and silver screen starlet Sadie (Flavia).
If you were lucky enough to see Midnight Tango, you will have recognised one half of the silent slapstick comedy husband and wife bar owners. Teddy Kempner returns as the private detective Tommy Dubrowski, a lovable rogue who gets mixed up in a murder cover up. Dance 'Til Dawn allows the very funny Kempner a voice and therefore the ability to showcase his comedic talent and timing, he is brilliant.
The femme fatal Lana Clamenza (Abbie Osmon) is girlfriend to a big time gangster, who wants to cover up her infidelity by retrieving some pictures she'd rather her boyfriend didn't see. Osmon shone in this role, her signature saying "I'm not happy" made the audience chuckle time and time again and stunned us all with her amazing vocal talent.
Someone who needs to be mentioned is simply billed as "The Voice", Oliver Darley - former NME vocalist of the year and who has sung with best selling artists including Ray Charles, BB King and Sir Tom Jones. Darleys' voice is faultless.
Dance 'Til Dawn will wow you in every way from the talented cast, the fantastic live band to the wonderful costumes and clever staging. If you only book tickets just to see Vincent and Flavia dance it will be worth every penny. They are at their very best - slick, smooth and their performance throughout will blow you away. Vincent was his cheeky, charismatic talented self and Flavia was totally captivating, her body shape and movement on stage was mesmerising.
As the final dance finished, the audience rose to their feet in appreciation...I, like them wanted to watch it all over again!
Enjoy!
Lily B x
