Express & Star

Fame the Musical, Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham - review and pictures

Some things really do live forever, and it looks like Fame could be one of them.

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The cast of Fame The Musical which has been on tour at Alexandra Theatre

Almost 40 years after the musical first shot to the big screen, the very thought of Fame still brings as much excitement as I’m sure it did back then.

Wannabe young stars, unrequited love and of course, leg warmers and leotards – what more could anyone want from a revival of the iconic 80s hit?

The cast of Fame The Musical which has been on tour at Alexandra Theatre

A 22-strong troupe of performers took to the stage for opening night at Birmingham’s The Alexandra on Monday to bring Fame The Musical to life as part of its 30thanniversary celebrations.

The show follows the lives of fame-hungry students dreaming of success in the industry while at New York’s High School for the Performing Arts – the stage school made famous by the 1980 smash hit film.

Pirouettes, high kicks and a hint of street dancing filled the stage as theatregoers watched the trials and tribulations of the hopeful stars play out.

The cast of Fame The Musical which has been on tour at Alexandra Theatre

Soapstar and former I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here contestant Jorgie Porter was a pleasant surprise as ballerina Iris Kelly, a character which was a refreshing contrast from her days in Hollyoaks as Theresa McQueen.

Stephanie Rojas, who played troubled Carmen Diaz, not only brought a hint of Latino flavour to the dance routines but a show-stopping take on Irene Cara’s title song.

The cast of Fame The Musical which has been on tour at Alexandra Theatre
The cast of Fame The Musical which has been on tour at Alexandra Theatre

Bt undoubtedly, the stand-out performance of the night came from British singer Mica Paris, whose stellar rendition of These Are My Children as Miss Sherman was in a complete league of its own.

Her unrivalled powerhouse vocals brought a rapture of applause from theatregoers, unlike anything else heard that night.

The crowd, maybe unsurprisingly, leaped to its feet as award-winning song Fame finally rang out it full during the finale, sweeping a touch of nostalgia across the theatre and leaving everyone believing they might just live forever too.