David Baddiel - Fame: Not The Musical
Menier Chocolate Factory
Reviewed on Thursday 1st May 2014
David Baddiel is back and at the top of his game. Following sold out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and London Southbank Centre, Baddiel explores what it is to be famous and what fame is like in the 21st century.
With such an eclectic portfolio ranging from writing and performing for film, TV and radio as well as being an acclaimed author, spokesman and yes - let's not forget chart topping singer - it is no surprise there is a rich source of material from which he draws his comedy.
Unlike most stand-up comedy, Fame: Not The Musical does not rely on embellished observations, twisted 'true' stories or slapstick humour. The evening consists of an honest, from the heart exploration into what fame means in the modern day where we live in a world of Twitter and Facebook and how fame allows a version of you to be embedded into culture forever.
We hear of mistaken identities from being a Stephen Spielberg doppelgänger through to a long and unbelievable saga involving Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton, as well as the positives that can come from the hatefulness of internet trolls before ending on a moving and poignant piece about family.
As well as taking to the stage for the first time in a decade and a half he is now adapting his 2010 movie The Infidel into a stage musical with composer Erran Baron Cohen (of brother Sasha fame) which will be hitting the Stratford East Theatre later in the year. Following Stewart Lee's epic musical Jerry Springer The Opera, Baddiel seems ideal for such a satirical and clever libretto which so many musical comedies lack.
Fame: Not The Musical is a smart mix of anecdote and investigation and is not to be missed.
Reviewed by Dan Phillips
David Baddiel - Fame: Not The Musical runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory until Saturday 23rd May 2014. Please visit www.menierchocolatefactory.com for further information and tickets.
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