Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
★★★★★
WHEN Jamie: Drag Queen At 16 first appeared on our TV screens 13 years ago it caused, even in those more enlightened times, quite a stir. Few people imagined that within a short space of time it would spawn a highly successful film, and even fewer that from the film would emerge a stage musical that would attract cult audiences who would support it in London through the pandemic, and throughout a long nationwide tour.
This second tour, which has descended on the Bristol Hippodrome like a star burst bomb, was greeted by an over-excited audience, ready, willing, and very able, to loudly applaud and cheer every solo number and Kate Price’s exhaustingly energetic choreographed ensemble presentation. As for the attacks in Tom Macrae’s script on homophobic behaviour, racial prejudice, and bullying, they noisily left you in no doubt as to whose side they were on.
From the moment Ivano Turco’s 16-year-old Jamie put on those red six-inch high-heeled platform shoes, and announced that his ambition was to become a drag queen, the whole capacity audience was behind him egging him on to achieve his ambition. And Ivano responded attacking this tour de force role with verve and vitality giving a performance that gave the impression that he was determined to win all the battles that Jamie faced and, like the real Jamie, win them.
He was supported on stage in those aims, by Sejal Keshwala’s beautifully buoyant bargainhunting neighbour Ray, and Rebecca McKinnis challenging Ivano for top spot with a heartrending portrayal of Jamie’s work and mentally worn-out loving mother. She even made the oversentimental later scenes acceptable as she dismissed her bigoted husband, Akshay St Clair, and defeated Sam Bailey’s fine portrait of the hidebound teacher Miss Hedge.
A third ally was Talia Palamathanan’s understated hard-working student Pritti Pasha, quite willing to stand her ground and defend Jamie against Jordan Ricketts’ bullying homophobic fellow student Dean.
A slight disappointment that Strictly dancing professional Kevin Clifton was not given greater chances to display his dance talents, but he made a distinct mark as drag queen Loco Chanelle.
Stylishly staged and accompanied by Danny Belton and the onstage band, under resident director Georgina Hagen’s guidance, the production delivered everything it promised on the tin from the opening bars of the music to Ivano Turco milking the last drop of audience response as he made his seductively cheeky final exit.