AIS shines with Fame Jr!
View(s):It’s not often a school production comes close in paying homage to its original on Broadway. The talented young students of Asian International School rose admirably to the challenge with their rendition of Fame Jr, directed by Anushka Senanayake, that went on the boards at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on the 10th and 11th of February.
With mesmerising choreography by Umeshi Rajeendra and impressive vocal work, no doubt influenced by music director Natasha Senanayake, the audience was propelled into the musical atmosphere of 1980s. There were, of course, certain scenes and songs omitted due the need of upholding the school-friendly version of the production, however, all the scenes chosen were executed brilliantly.
Fame the musical, developed by David De Silva is based on the global musical phenomenon of a film of the same name, which had the world at the edge of their seats in the 1980s. Much like the original, this story is one of dreams, of hard work and of the highs and lows that come with it juggling ambition with adolescence.
Neon lights flooded the stage, the notable sign “Fame” illuminating the dimly lit backdrop, and the cast, bursting with energy, performed “Hard Work”, the Act One opener.
The audience is introduced to the main characters through the high-strung personality of Miss Sherman, embodied by Anya Holsinger.
On day one, Carmen Diaz was played by Celina Randeniya, who gave us nothing short of a fantastic performance. Her vocals shone through Carmen’s main item: “There she goes/Fame”. This song undoubtedly brings back nostalgia associated with the hit single “Fame (I wanna live forever!)” that took musical theatre to a whole new level. It wasn’t just Celina’s stage presence, but also the palpable chemistry she shared with Saniru Perera, portraying Schlomo (Day one), Carmen’s love interest. “Bring on Tomorrow” is a duet written by the two characters, an intimate moment with swoon-worthy dialogue. The harmonies here were extremely impressive, and Saniru indeed did justice to the awkward (but very charming) personality of the musical genius Schlomo.
Another notable performance was Shria Hair’s portrayal of Serena Katz; the enthusiastic young dramatist who is a hopeless romantic at heart. Shria’s engaging facial expressions is what had the audience laughing, especially with her interactions with Nick, played by Sitesh Paul (Day one). Serena’s love for Nick is unrequited at first, but the two eventually end up together after a whirlwind of emotions. “Let’s play a love scene” is a challenging song – with spontaneous chord progression and a slim melody line. Shria’s efforts were commendable and Sitesh’s vocals too were displayed in his solo, “I want to make magic”.
The other voice that shone was Keesha Tranchell, playing Miss Bell, the dancing teacher. Her duet with Anya Holsinger: “The Teacher’s Argument” was remarkable, with Keesha’s piercing soprano harmonies complimenting Anya’s deeper tone. Tyronne, Miss Bell’s star student, was portrayed by Tharuthra Chandrasekera, who came through with his bold dance moves and infectious energy. Zahra Aliasger, who had a strong stage presence, played Tyronne’s dancing partner and love interest, Iris. Her dance moves stood out even in the ensemble dance scenes, much like her character.
Even side characters such as Joe and Mabel; Nathan Maurice and Raaiqa Mohideen (Day one), had a whole lot to offer. Raaiqa’s high vocals were impressive and her theatrics were hilarious, as were Nathan’s. They perfectly expressed the personalities of their characters; Mabel the ‘Fat Dancer’ struggling with the Seafood diet (‘I see food, and I eat it!) and wannabe bad boy Joe. The roles of the Drama and Music Teacher – played by Abdullah Yoosef (Day one) and Goviru Perera were executed well.
Similar to the original productions, there was an instrumental ensemble with talented violinist, saxophonist and cajon player (Bewin Ediriweera, Kaynura Atapattu). They played engagingly in between the scene changes and received applause from the audience each time, deservingly so.
The dance ensemble was also commendable, with more and more youngsters coming onto stage – to also indicate the passing of time from the freshman to senior years.
The overall production was very well done and refreshing to watch – from the acting to the vocals, the stage direction, costumes and lighting. Indeed the students of Asian International School did themselves and their alma mater proud.
-Mithahasini Ratnayake
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