Gammage Auditorium's "A Chorus Line"
(out of 
)Mark S.P. Turvin
(home office) (602) 912-0117
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
(out of )Before the current trend of "wall of music" musicals, there was a time when people actually talked to each other without accompaniment during a show. One of the most popular of this type of musical was the late Michael Bennett's "A Chorus Line." This well-written show, set in 1975, takes a behind-the-scenes look at the audition process of seventeen dancers competing for eight spots in the chorus line of a splashy Broadway musical.
Zach, the director/choreographer,
tries to humanize the grueling cattle-call by having the final
seventeen auditioners talk about themselves. The result is an
interesting look at the various lives, inspirations and desperate
hopes of dancers competing in one of the toughest forums in the
arts. It is at turns funny and bittersweet, and includes whimsical
and introspective songs, with an interesting subplot of Zach's
ex-girlfriend, Cassie, returning from a busted career as a featured
dancer and trying to make a fresh start from the bottom. Famous
songs from the show include the beautiful "What I Did for
Love" and the bright and bouncy showstopper "One."
National touring companies have a
tendency toward excesses, with elements (or entire shows) either
being excessively good or bad. It's easy for a touring company
to slip up. The schedules are grueling, performance space specs
vary wildly, the rehearsal time minuscule, and last minute adjustments,
additions and changes occur constantly. Actors come and go from
companies, and their replacements tend to be given limited rehearsal
by the Stage Manager or company Dance Captain. Despite all of
these potential problems, and many more, there are some performances
that are able to shine. This production of A Chorus Line
doesn't quite make it, though.
A Chorus Line is first and foremost about dance, and generally,
there are no problems on that front. Michael Bennett's original
choreography, restaged by Baayork Lee, is still wonderful, twenty
two years after its first performance. Almost all of those who
are supposed to shine do so, and even the choreographed mistakes
work seamlessly into the production. This is truly an ensemble
show, although two performers are featured. As the spunky Puerto
Rican Diana Morales, Cindy Marchionda performs the comedic song
"Nothing" and the touching "What I Did for Love"
very well, and dances up a storm when given the chance. As the
rebounding Cassie, Jill Slyter also dances well, though not in
the showstopping way that one would expect from the desperate
and triumphant song "The Music and the Mirror." Also,
her scenes with Zach, played by Mark Martino, seem a bit forced.
Acting and singing in this show all suffer from the same problem.
When not drowned out by the very unimpressive orchestra or defeated
by Duncan Edwards sound design, the overall singing talent itself
was sometimes unimpressive and occasionally awful. There were
moments when performers were left breathless by the daunting choreography,
making their songs impossible to hear.
In terms of acting, everyone was
good, though no one was truly spectacular or completely believable.
A perfect example of this somewhat limited performance was embodied
in the presentation of the older, fading and jaded Sheila, played
by Michelle Bruckner. While the character is admittedly a bit
two dimensional, Ms. Bruckner did nothing to try to flesh out
the standoffish yet sympathetic role. It seemed that a lot of
the actors depended on the dance and words to carry them, never
truly imbuing their characters with the life that would allow
the audience to connect with them on deeper levels.
Still, this is a dancers musical,
and the solid and occasionally impressive performances justify
the productions existence. Flaws in the other aspects of the performance
will be forgiven by those who are there only for the movement.
Having seen this production on Broadway with the original cast,
though, and knowing how impressive a performance with great acting,
singing and dancing is, it is difficult to get past the flaws
of this production.
Production Details:
A Chorus Line by James Kirkwood & Nicholas
Dante, with Music by
Marvin Hamlisch and Lyrics by Edward Kleban
Gammage Auditorium, Tempe
(602) 965-3434
May 27th-June 1st, 1997