Performed at Fakenham Community Centre, Fakenhamon Friday, 16th May 2025.
Having unfortunately missed my first attendance at a FADLOS show, I was very much looking forward to attending this production, and, having not seen this title before, it was a double debut. There is a very generous stage at the Fakenham Community Centre, and the set had been designed simply, but impressive high quality scenic projections were used to create the various sections of the show, using objects such as desks in the school classroom, and all the usual items you would see in a kitchen for the scenes at the New family home, to support the overall effect. The wheel on female toilet cubicle of the school was a funny scene, as Jamie (Teejay Standing) tried to escape from the teacher and ended up hanging halfway out of the toilet window.
Musical Director Jo Kemp led the 7-piece band, who sounded great. As the opening number “And You Don’t Even Know It” set in the school classroom struck up, the audience were entertained throughout by a fast moving, energetic performance. I was particularly impressed in this number by the choreography involving the students, culminating in teacher Miss Hedge (Caitlin Tuck), ascending onto the top of the school desks, and walking across a row of them in high heels. Caitlin’s characterisation throughout was very good, trying to juggle the normal school rules against a student who had decided to take a different path. It’s very sad that there are still school bullies in our society, but unfortunately there are still characters in the classroom like Dean Paxton (played by Tom Bailey). Tom played the part with just the right balance, and it was a lovely touch at the end when Paxton met his match, as Pritti (Annabel Nash), put the bully in his place and Paxton was left as the lonely isolated one as Jamie’s classmates stood by him.
As Jamie’s best friend, Annabel was exceptional. Her vocals in the moving song “It means Beautiful,” to a starry skied backdrop, were a true highlight.
As Loco Chanel, the former drag queen star, Tony Chapman was fantastic. A spot on portrayal with a tinge of sadness reminiscing about the glory days, as he guided and supported Jamie to his chosen path.
The “Queens,” played by Ben Francis, (who doubled up as Jamie’s Father Wayne New), Luke Morgan, Lee Gibbons, Victoria Perryman and Theresa May, provided some lovely moments, especially with some of the comedic banter between them in the dressing rooms.
Providing the “rock” as close family friend for both Jamie and his mother, Margaret (Tilly Baron), Ray (Maria Cutting), was brilliant. Yorkshire accents were excellent throughout the cast, but Maria brought a cutting edge to it with some excellent straight to the point no nonsense talking, standing side by side with the family.
Tilly Baron was outstanding as the mother of Jamie. Standing by her sons’ side, it was a truly remarkable and convincing performance, culminating in a very heartfelt, emotional, and beautiful delivery of the song “He’s my Boy.” The relationship on stage between Jamie and his mother was the outstanding feature of the show.
Teejay Standing, as Jamie, was very rarely off the stage throughout, and it was another outstanding characterisation and performance. Full of energy and charisma throughout, until the moment of realisation that his father would not accept his chosen path, Teejay delivered a brilliant performance as the realisation of losing hope of any future relationship with his father through his rejection dawned on him, singing “Ugly in this Ugly World.”
This was a slick and energetic show, and the reactions of the audience and standing ovation at the end were fully deserved. My congratulations to Directors Paula Graver and Ben Francis, and everyone involved in this production.
David Brammer, NODA East Rep District 5.
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