Review: ‘FAME’ awes young and old

Kelsey Tegtmeier
Staff Writer
Mar. 11, 2004, Page 5

Children and adults in the audience erupted in applause Friday night after a performance of the musical “FAME” at the Lied Center.
The bright lights and vibrant music caught the attention of young audience members, but it was the vocal and acting performances that captivated older members.
The play revealed the thoughts and feelings of a group of teenagers accepted to an exclusive high school for the performing arts.
The audience listened to their dreams, saw their talent and watched as they struggled to survive in the competitive world of performance.
Rotating staircases enhanced the set and allowed for quick, well-disguised scene changes. The performers and scenery constantly changed, keeping the audience’s attention on the stage. The musical’s use of movement added a lot to the performance.
The actors and actresses transformed on stage, like they were made for the roles. It was hard to imagine them playing any other characters.
Vocally, each performer had his or her distinct musical sound and style that identified their character. The characters presented a wide range of musical styles – pop, soul, rap, classical and Latino.
Unfortunately, the volume balance did not always help the vocals. At times, it was hard to understand the lyrics above the music.
Despite this technical difficulty, the cast of “FAME” earned a standing ovation.