A CHORUS LINE revival....intermission??- Page 3

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 9:10am

"Hello Twelve..." should NEVER be broken up. I hate that "Nothing" is taken out of it on the CD. It's a brilliant montage.

And art should prevail over having an intermission JUST to sell drinks or avoid someone's feeling cheated. Are you going to the theatre for the play or for the intermission and decorum? Both is likely your answer, but truly which should prevail?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 9:28am

We could get into a huge debate over things that should prevail, couldn't we, jerby?

Kringas - thanks. I'm glad they took it out, though. I think NOTHING is my favorite song. Well, I can relate to it. Though my Mr. Karp hasn't died yet.
Updated On: 7/17/06 at 09:28 AM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 9:32am

And that is supposed to mean what exactly?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 9:35am

It was just a general statement, not pointed at you.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 9:36am

No, I wasn't taking it personally--I just didn't understand your point. No worries.

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 9:55am

Ah, but without an intermission, would we have such great Act I closing numbers such as 'Mame', 'Before the Parade Passes By', and 'Everything's Coming Up Roses'?

I saw the original production of ACL in 1976 and the scene where Paul tells Zach about his past always felt like an intermission to me. I always got the feeling I was eavesdropping on a private conversation and, when the other actors returned to the stage, it was time for the show to continue.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 10:25am

Have no intention of seeing it so it is a moot point.

I may be speaking heresy here but I always thought Chicago was far superior in every way . The score was much better as were so many other areas

I enjoyed ACL but just enjoyed Chicago more. I guess it all depends on ones point of view . I would give Chicago a 10 & ACL 9 or 9.5

[Magdalene]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 10:52am

"If you can't make it 2 hours without a potty break and a snack, you should be attending preschool, not Broadway shows."

Not totally fair. I can go without snacks, drinks, and cigarettes, but occasionally the potty is a (medical) necessity and I can't always predict in advance when that will happen! Though if I do know going into a show that there is no intermission, I can adjust mentally and physically!

[Kent]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 10:58am

..."the scene where Paul tells Zach about his past always felt like an intermission to me."

Actually, I've been told (or maybe I read) that Paul's monologue was specifically placed in the center of the show so the musicians could take a 15 min break. Even Michael Bennett couldn't get away with breaking the rules of the (very powerful) NY musician's union. Instead Bennet took advantage of the union's break rule, worked around it, and used it to his advantage to create a seamless, dramatically perfect interlude. Still, It's interesting to ponder what the middle of the show might have looked like if Bennett didn't have this "restriction" to work around.

After I learned this I've never been able to see the show without briefly thinking about when and where the musicians are leaving and returning to the pit during Paul's monologue, picturing them tip-toing around, wondering what they're doing, talking about, out smoking cigarettes, etc.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:07am

NOOOOOOOoooooooooo!

Oh, please don't let them mess with the 'original' and insert an intermission!

*goes off to pray to the theatre Gods*

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:24am

If current audiences could tolerate an intermission-less MAN OF LA MANCHA, I think we should be okay with A CHORUS LINE.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:32am

Wasn't Man of La Mancha a flop? I saw it, but I don't remember it playing for that long....

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:34am

I didn't mean as far as a long run, I just meant - there wasn't a huge uproar or anything when the last LA MANCHA didn't have an intermission.

It is far less painless to sit through A CHORUS LINE straight than it is MAN OF LA MANCHA. After about 30 minutes into LA MANCHA, I wanted to leave. I just don't like the show.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:38am

La Mancha was a....snore-worthy production to say the least. Stokes was great, though.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:40am

Yeah, I was stunned at just how awful that revival was, top to bottom. The original staging was riveting and thrilling (and the two hours just flew).

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:42am

I liked the Raul Julia/Sheena Easton production of "Man of La Mancha" much better that the Stokes version. Sheena was pretty good.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:14pm

Shining City had no intermission, and the patrons survived---if that is what the show calls for, who am I to argue?

[ashley0139]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:26pm

Why was there originally no intermission? Just to keep the show flowing? Because that would seem like a reason for every show not to have an intermission. What director wants their show broken up? Does this one just need to flow like an actual audition to work? (I've never seen the show live, only the movie- ugh)

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:35pm

It just depends on how you want to tell the story. As has been stated, some shows do well with a build up to an act one closer that often leaves the audience hanging until act two. Some shows need to keep the story building.

What did you guys do during Titanic or LOTR?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:20pm

I think it's because this isn't a simple book musical. It doesn't have this big dramatic question or this big dramatic arch. So I think that's why, but I saw the show when I was younger, around 12 when it toured and I was so underwhelmed by the show. But I was 12 and I thought Broadway shows had big huge sets, so I was disappointed, but I really would like to see this revival. I hope it gets recorded.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:33pm

Lots of people weaned on POTO and the like have said the same. I paid all that money for a bunch of mirrors!?

And it just makes my stomach churn.

I'm sure you will enjoy it now.

[Kringas]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:40pm

I could be wrong, but I think the original program said something to the effect of "A Chours Line is performed without an intermission, because dancer's lives don't have intermissions."

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 02:40 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:48pm

The website has been updated to show "no intermission".

http://www.shnsf.com/shows/show.asp?key=18&subkey=29

[NYadgal]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 5:57pm

*relieved*