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

"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?

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And that is supposed to mean what exactly?

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

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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

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..."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.

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

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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.

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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).

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

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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?

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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.

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

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

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