A CHORUS LINE revival...Periaktois?

[morosco]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:12am

Since this revival is a recreation of the original I would assume that the revival will employ Robin Wagner's marvelous periaktois. Anyone know for sure? Most of the subsequent tours of the orginial Broadway production didn't. Usually it was only the productions that sat down in a city for an extended period of time.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:15am

Since Robin Wagner is re-designing the show, one would think that the original creations will reappear.

[Michael Bennett]

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

I heard they will be part of the show but will probably turn on their own electrically rather than manually as they were originally.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 12:47pm

I agree. The periaktois will be there, only technically "modified"

[Kent]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 2:32pm

Having been an undergraduate scenic design student as well being a HUGE fan of Robin Wagner's I'm super curious to see if there will be any VISIBLE changes to the original ACL design. We know that Theron Musser will recreate her breakthrough 1975 lighting design but has said she will be updating it to take advantage of newer lighting technology. But when it comes to the set for ACL I think there is really very little Mr. Wagner could do to improve upon his original scenic design. Wager's design was and is the ultimate in simplicity and understatement, but also exciting, flowing and beautiful. The turning of the periakois (as well as the lighting) perfectly supports the dramatic action and enhances Michael Bennett's "cinematic staging" creating a space where the action flows back and forth in time and space; past and present, interior and exterior (inside the actors heads and on the stage before us).

I've always considered Robin Wagner's work extraordinary, but his scenic design for ACL is as close to "perfect" as I've ever seen on the stage. There is simply no way it could have been done any better.

There's also something about Wagner's ACL design that verges on the profound. Periaktois (three sided columns that butt up next to each other and turn in unison... much like a double-sided billboard), are one of the earliest scenic devices ever invented for the theatre, dating all the way back to Aescylus and the early Greek stage. The three-sided periaktois in ACL, with blacks, mirrors, and Finale "starburst" on their respective sides, give the show a sort of "bold austerity" that harkens back to Greek drama, letting us know in a subtle yet powerful way that what we're witnessing is important - the very essence of theatre: an actor on a bare stage, simple, bold, timeless and profound. The beauty of the design is also that it in no way interferes with the actors or Bennett's full-stage choreography. In fact, the simplicity of the set, which creates a sort of hollow black box actually INTENSIFIES the focus on the actors and their stories.

The brilliant collaboration of Michael Bennett, Robin Wagner, Theron Musser and Theoni Aldridge (costumes) resulted in one of Broadway's most powerful theatrical experiences (one that has proved impossible to capture on film...at least not by any effort to date). It is my feeling that ACL is one of those rare shows that actually transcends the medium of theatre by touching into the deepest parts of its actors and audience to help us understand what it truly means to be human - digging into our individual and collective soul. And Robin Wagner's mirrored set both literally and figuratively reflects this process back to us, underscoring the very act of theatre in the most profoundly elegant way.

If there's ONE area of Robin Wagner's design I think could possibly benefit from being updated it would be the "starburst" design for the Finale. I certainly don't think Mr. Wagner should change his original design, but I do think there are probably ways to make the Starburt "drop" even more effective with newer materials, lighting, etc. Maybe it's backlit? Translucent? Created without paint? Bursting/chasing LEDs? I don't know. It would certainly be no tragedy if Mr. Wagner and the design team choose to recreate the original Starburst exactly as it was. But I have to admit over the years when I've seen the show and the Finale background is finally unveiled, there's usually the briefest moment where I sort of think to myself, "Hmmmm...that's not quite as wonderful as I remember it being or as it really could be...wonder what Robin Wagner would do if he had the chance to do it over again?"


























Updated On: 7/24/06 at 02:32 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 3:09pm

"...his scenic design for ACL is as close to "perfect" as I've ever seen on the stage..."

I wholeheartedly agree and his DREAMGIRLS would be my #2 choice.