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★★★
Andy Moseley’s ‘Almost Famous’ is a play about the realities of pursuing fame that has been at the Brighton Fringe for two performances this weekend. Centring on veteran actor Emily Benton (Jac Wheble), who has reached a point in her life where roles aren’t as easy to come by anymore, the play peels back the curtain on Emily’s illustrious career which has included musicals such as Cats and Les Misérables. However, laden with a glass of wine and hip flask, the audience later learns that all is not what it seems and there is more to Emily’s story than initially appears. After all these years, how is such an established actor needing to audition for a devised play in Brighton? This is one of the many questions answered in the script, which is dedicated to ‘everyone who never quite made it, however far they got’.
Thoughts on the material
Without giving too much away, the writing shines a light on the differing journeys that an actor’s career can take. The audience gets settled in for an hour of career reflection with Emily, who initially comes across as self-absorbed. At first I found the character to be quite grating and struggled to understand why we needed to hear her story, given all of the apparent successes on stage. That being said, Emily’s layers are eventually peeled back and you realise that there is so much more to the figure than initially perceived.
The complexity of the narrative makes the material confusing to follow at times, particularly in the latter sections where realities blur and secrets are revealed. As an audience member I like to be surprised, but the reveals come too late in the running time for me and consequently I felt bewildered at the end of the performance. With approximately 50 minutes of stage time to play with, bold pivots are risky and I found myself questioning everything I’d just watched, rather than focusing on the end of the story.
Creative use of props
Throughout the performance I have to commend the use of props, which are pivotal to the character’s life story. From show posters to old records, each item of memorabilia brings with it a host of memories and the different pieces are also responsible for influencing perceptions of what is real. Furthermore, they help to visualise Emily’s impact as an artist, over the course of many years in the industry.
A reflective character study
There is so much to admire in Moseley’s script, even if the narrative is slightly difficult to follow in its current form. The play will specifically appeal to longtime arts fans, with all of the references to the world of theatre: from regional venues to the West End. ‘Almost Famous’ had its final performance at Brighton Fringe yesterday evening, but it is heading up to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer. Tickets for this run can be purchased via the festival’s website.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘Almost Famous’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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