Am Dram

[Keef]

Last week I went to see 2 "am dram" productions, which had to be seen to be believed (seriously!).

On Thursday I was at the South London Theatre Company's production of Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens by Bill Russell, which was a piece that was at times extreamely powerful, and at times, completely ludicrous!

Basically, it is a number of monologues from characters that had died of AIDS in the 80s, and then had a square added to The AIDS memorial quilt. Now the writing of the monologues was great, and the acting was also very very good.

What I found bizare was the fact that between these monologues, they would burst in to these really cheesey up beat musical numbers! It was so hard not to laugh at some points, and I just didn't think it worked. The final monologue was so well delivered, and so sad, that it actually had a lump in my throat, and then they finished with this big musical number, which just made me think of THIS, after which I just couldn't stop myself from laughing!

As if that wasn't enough, on Friday I went to see my friend's wife in Jekyll & Hyde - The Musical (I kid you not)!!! She is a member of The Dartford Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (DAODS), and they put on a couple of shows a year at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford, which is a really nice venue. The quality on show was impressive, as was the set / lighting and all that. But Jekyll & Hyde the musical. Come on!!!

Anyway, thought I'd get that off my chest, so fel free to post am dram stories or recommendations on here! Honestly, I'm not taking the p!ss out of it, they seem to have a great time doing it.... As long as you can break the clique which seems to exist in al thes small companies.

[annaj]

Hhmmm. Confession time Keef.

When I told you I'd never sung in public before it wasn't entirely true.

At school I played Squealer in the musical of Animal Farm!

:-$

[Keef]

Musical of Animal Farm. Seriously? At least you were at school, that's allowed. I was in West Side Story, which I do actually love, but It's a classic.

[RosieH]

Is a musical of Jekyll and Hyde any stranger than Sweeney Todd?

But Keef, would it be unkind to point out the glaringly obvious, as in the title of your thread..? Or am I cynical theatre snob?

[Keef]

Is a musical of Jekyll and Hyde any stranger than Sweeney Todd?

Very good point, but I personally think they're both rubbish. Even Oliver isn't exactly a cheery tale! ;-)

would it be unkind to point out the glaringly obvious, as in the title of your thread..? Or am I cynical theatre snob?

To be fair, I have seen some really good acting, singing, and production in Am Dram productions (not that I go to that many). Ys there are usually parts that you're trying not to laugh at, but that's part of the fun really.

[David Mc]

Musicals don't have to be cheery to be good. Check out Parade by Jason Robert Brown. My favourite (or one of them)!

[RosieH]

or Cabaret. generally not a fan of the jazz hands (except occasionally to emphasise a vital point in a client meeting) but Cabaret's superb

Keef, I will learn from your example and attempt to patronise the local am dram offerings!

[Keef]

My point above though was that Oliver Twist is far from cheerful, yet that was turned in to one of the better musicals.

Edited, because I think I missed the point :-$

[djfitz]

I think she meant Patronise in the context of "A Patron of the Arts", not slag them off.

[Keef]

Doh!!!