The finale is supposed to be special, but there were dream sequences that could have benefited from some of the things held until the very end. Though the elaborate set pieces and effects of the curtain call confused me (why wasn’t at least one of those pieces used throughout the show?) Set design by Ernie Eliason is functional with a cool mirror effect. I mentioned missteps - and they’re nothing that derail the proceedings. But on the whole it doesn’t all feel as dated as some other shows of that era.
Some of the characters, their stories and motivations, come off as either cliched or slightly insensitive with today’s standards. Several sections feel as though they drag on and on interminably (I’m pretty sure “Hello Twelve” is a week-long musical number), and could use a modern trimming. A Chorus Line is long, and really doesn’t need to be. The songs by Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Edward Kleban speak to the inner fears and sordid histories of some of the dancers (not everyone is so thoroughly represented) while James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante’s book highlights the complex relationships that can form between artists, and the contradictions of individuals competing to join a single cohesive unit.įor the most part, A Chorus Line is still lovely after all this time, though the show does have some issues that have not held up over the last 40 years. The original 1975 show by director/choreographer Michael Bennett follows the dancers as they navigate the dance steps, singing, and interviews that may or may not lead to them getting this gig. The full show chronicles the efforts of a group of 17 hopefuls at a Broadway dance audition. “One” in particular is an oft sung, performed, and parodied piece of pop culture (I first learned it as a kid from a gag on The Simpsons). Despite a few missteps, director David McLaughlin and the cast earn those laughs and applause.Įven if you’ve never seen A Chorus Line before, you’re probably already acquainted with some of its more famous numbers. A Chorus Line is a beloved musical theater classic, the seventh longest-running show in Broadway history, a Tony Award winner, and is packed with familiar numbers and interesting characters. Boisterous applause and copious laughter greeted the 26 performers that make up The Flowertown Players’ season opener, A Chorus Line. Dean Theater in Summerville, and that crowd was not shy. The house was packed last night at the James F.
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