A Refreshing Burst of Sparkles
Everybody's Talking About Jamie, presented by the Coventry Youth Operette Group, at the Albany Theatre, Coventry, until Saturday 9 November. Directed and choreographed by Craig Garner.
Review by Alison Manning.
Coventry Youth Operetta Group’s production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, both directed and choreographed by Craig Garner, is on till 9 November at the Albany Theatre. Set in Sheffield, it is a feel-good production, based on a true story about following your dreams and finding who you are, full of fun, energy and feeling from this young cast.
This musical tells the story of a16 year old boy, Jamie, played with sensitivity and vivacity by Joseph Hallam, who dreams of becoming a drag queen, when his career psychometric test dully recommends being a fork lift truck driver or a prison guard. His best friend Pritti, in an outstanding performance from Marleigh Pinnock, dreams of becoming a doctor, working hard to achieve this, and encourages Jamie to go to Prom in a dress. Their career teacher, however, crushes everyone’s dreams with the intention of keeping things real, but perhaps she had her own dreams crushed in the past.
The set consists of simple but effective cubic blocks, that variously form seats, tables, toilets, pedestals, a door and a bed, providing great flexibility and moved around seamlessly by the cast and crew to create the scenes of school, shop and houses. A double staircase completes the set, providing a place for entrances and exits, as well as allowing the large cast to spread out to great effect. Also, the platform at the top of the staircase accommodates the talented live band, complete with keyboards, guitars, drums, trumpet, saxophone and trombone.
As the story progresses, we see the loving support Jamie receives from his mum (Elise Harris) and her friend Ray (Erin Killworth), in contrast to his absent dad’s disapproval. Despite the cast’s youth, the principal roles are played convincingly so it is easy to suspend disbelief and forget that, for instance, the actor playing Jamie is only two years younger than the actor playing his mum, or that the actor playing the teacher is probably younger than some of those playing her pupils. And we can forgive them their occasional overly stereotypical Yorkshire accents, but perhaps, being from Yorkshire, I’m being overly sensitive!
The heartfelt musical numbers are uplifting and moving by turn, as Jamie and his school friends explore what it means to find your true identity, inner beauty and pursue your dream. One of the highlights for me was “It means beautiful” sung with an appealing sweetness by Pritti to Jamie, heightened part way through the song by sudden dramatic glitterball lighting effects, bathing us all in dancing sparkles. As Jamie, befriended by drag shop owner Hugo, debuts into the drag queen world, as Mimi Me, he finds that, ironically, it is only by taking on a new identity and pushing back against lies and bullies, that he can truly find the courage to be himself.
Bursting with spirit and sparkle, this is a joyous production played with enthusiasm and vitality by its young cast, that will buoy you up and gladden your heart, which is probably what we all need a dose of at the moment. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is on at the Albany Theatre, Coventry till 9 November. Get your tickets here now. Box office 02476 998964 or visit: https://www.albanytheatre.co.uk/shows/yog-everybodys-talking-about-jamie/
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