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The Oppitts
The Blakehay Theatre
Weston-super-Mare
Saturday 28thJuly 2018.
The Oppitts (Weston Operatic’s Junior section) have an annual ‘slot’ for a musical at this time every year. For me (always attending on the Saturday night of the run), it always seems to coincide with Weston super Mare Pride and rain. What it also routinely does, is show the world just how strong the future is for musical theatre in and around Weston. The Oppitts’ show will always be a good and entertaining evening, sometimes amazing but always showcasing some great talent.
This would be the second year under Director Christopher Mills and it would be interesting to see any changes and developments from last year’s Bugsy Malone. Fame Jr is a severely truncated version of the full-scale adult show, in turn derived from the successful TV show and the original film. As a simple showcase for the singing and dancing talents of the cast it is fine but the swinging cuts imparted on the storyline to make it ‘child friendly’ virtually destroy any dramatic impact. There are a good many ‘Jr’ versions of shows available and regrettably the quality of ‘juniorisation’ varies in success. I suspect that American sensibilities regarding young performers may be a little more puritanical than on this side of the ‘pond’ and occasionally deprive young performers the valuable opportunity to portray more complex emotional or political issues.
Right, jumping back down from my soapbox(!): Fame Jr was an enjoyable evening at the Blakehay in the hands of the Oppitts. Singing was strong and tuneful. There is a terrific attack to the Oppitts’ singing performance, giving a real lift and energy to all of their shows. Musical Director Annie Ford’s influence and expertise always shows through, getting the best out of the young team. Recorded backing tracks were employed and these were well managed.
Dance too was an enjoyable feature. From the large, ensemble numbers reflecting the ‘Eighties’ style of the setting to a beautiful pas de deux Choreographer Tessa Sayers (it is her second year with the Oppitts too) must have been very pleased with the results. Every performer danced and moved with energy and shining smiles which convinced us, the audience that ‘this is all very easy’, when of course it is very hard work.
Technically the show was pretty good: the simple design representing the ‘Fame School’, featuring a central stair case to give a little height, school lockers which cleverly reversed to present a dance rail and mirror stage left or a library setting stage right and a banner above the stairs which was changed to show the passing of the years worked well. I was less keen on the ‘black gang’ who set some of the scenes, being casually dressed in shorts and colourful tops – perhaps either full costume or the traditional black might have been better? Or even employ the cast to make the changes, as happened in a couple of the transitions. Lighting was effective and attractive but sound, although a marked improvement from last year’s outing was not the best I have ever witnessed. Sadly, despite the audio improvement the auditorium was blighted by a series of very noisy column fans that competed aggressively with the audio system (I assume this is an issue for the theatre rather than the production?).
Performances from the young cast were what the very appreciative, full-house audience had come to enjoy and they did not disappoint. There was a great energy from all of the cast, despite this being the second show of their day and there were several impressive moments: Hannah Steer as Mabel Washington raising goosebumps on my arms as she raised the roof with Mabel’s Prayer was a clear stand-out. Freya Perrins as Carmen Diaz gave the role terrific sass and attitude, combined with some very strong singing and good acting. Daniel Walker, with his strong characterisation and singing as Schlomo is one to watch for future greatness. I was particularly impressed, however, unusually by a member of the Dance Ensemble: Mollie English manages to stand out strikingly from the crowd with her excellent dance, electrifying smile and eye-catching stage presence. I would be fascinated to see her in a lead role.
Direction by Christopher Mills had a slight sense of a work in progress: there were some great touches- I particularly liked Carmen’s brief pose in the doorway for example but I would have liked the overall show to flowa little more smoothly. Performers tended to wait to be perfectly in position before ‘starting to act’ and many of the final lines for scenes were ‘thrown away’ in a seeming rush to get off. Having said that, the whole team looked to be having a great time and your audience were in raptures, so what do I know?
Once again the Oppitts have delivered an all singing, all dancing show full of the spirit of youth. I am particularly pleased, too to see so many talented young men in the company – it shouldn’t just be the girls who discover the joys of Musical Theatre! I thoroughly enjoyed my evening in your company and relish the thought of our next meeting.
Thanks for inviting me