New 'Fame' may not live forever

"Fame - The Musical" may have received a standing ovation at a recent Philadelphia performance, but the applause ended quickly. Even as the audience began bundling into its coats, a sense of disappointment pervaded the theater.

In some ways, "Fame" succeeded. It gave the audience a realistic and fun glimpse of a class graduating from New York's High School for the Performing Arts in 1984. The authentic '80s garb served as a disturbing reminder of an era of fashion trends most people would rather forget.

But in spite of the costuming and compelling music, the show left behind the nagging sensation of an incomplete work. The missing element was character development. In trying to recreate the high school experience, writer Josè Fernandez introduced too many characters and their problems in a couple hours.

The approach of following an entire class of students through high school works well in shows such as "Grease," because the focus of "Fame" remains on two main characters. In "Fame," however, the audience can't pick out the main characters from a lineup.

Often, the characters only referred to a conflict in one line and never came back to it, leaving the audience hanging. The music student Schlomo Metzenbaum, for example, wants to start a rock band, although he comes from a long line of classical composers. The potential plot line starts out interesting, but Schlomo only mentions it once before he launches into singing another cheesy tune.

The same fate befalls acting students Nick Piazza and Serena Katz. Although University graduate Gavin Creel and Jennifer Gambatese worked hard to keep their several scenes interesting, the script had already hardened the hearts of the audience into indifference.

Only Dwayne Chattman as class rebel Tyrone Jackson and Natasha Rennalls in the role of the ambitious Carmen Diaz really managed to win over the audience by sheer force of character. They also played the only two characters with developed problems for the audience to understand.

Josè Restrepo overcame the script in his smaller role as the class clown with the solo "Can't Keep it Down." No one could remain apathetic to his humor.

The ensemble songs and dances, such as "Hard Work" and "Fame," also remained entertaining, even with the script's flaws. The cast seemed like they really had attended performing arts school and graduated with honors. Their sheer energy spawned an irrepressible urge to tap your feet.

Song and dance segments, even when combined with an energetic and talented cast, don't make a successful musical, however. The script's holes ultimately doomed the show's chance at fame to mediocrity.

Tickets for "Fame - The Musical" are $25-$50 and are available at all Ticketmaster locations. The Detroit Music Hall is located at 350 Madison Ave. "Fame" begins April 27 and runs through May 2. Call (313) 983-6611 for more information.

04-20-99