A Chorus Line

[robUK]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 6:15am

It still amazes me how people gripe about this magnificent revival. It took a lot of heart searching by the producers whether it was time to bring it back. Remember when it closed 15 or so years ago, teenagers now were just about born and people who wre 15 at the time are now 30. So there is a whole generation of people who have not seen it and cannot compare it to the original. I saw the original both here in the West End as well as on Broadway(And saw this cast 3 times in April on consequtive nights) and trust me there is nothing at all wrong with this excellent portrayal of the original. just a few delicate changes mainly to the score etc. Believe me if they had changed it more people would have been up in arms about it.
This cast is thoroughly professional and as for Charlotte (Cassie) she gives it her all every damn night. She deserved the Tony in my opinion mainly because she doesn't just give 'Music & the Mirror everything she's got 8 times a week, but she is on stage for most of the 2 hours working damn hard in the ensemble pieces.
So to all you moaning minnies out there give this cast a break as this is as good as it gets, and thats an unsurpassable piece of Musical Theatre.))

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 8:00am

Well, with the exception of the phrase "moaning minnies", I agree with your assessment of "A Chorus Line." I hope they go on for years and years. I saw it on May 30th. It was and will always be a fantastic show! from RC in Austin, Texas. It's 7:00 a.m. CST and 70 degrees.

[Born To Reign]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 8:14am

Couldn't agree more.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 8:32am

I completely agree, robUK... but not with the "moaning minnies" bit

While I was excited and happy for Charlotte and her Tony nom, I knew she had no chance of actually winning the award she richly deserved.

The show is flawless. Each of them takes great pride in the show and their characters and that is plain to see. They did not revive this just for fun. They are serious about it.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 9:14am

I agree, although "moaning minnies" might be a bit harsh.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 9:16am

While Charlotte may be an excellent dancer overall, one reason I hear why people don't like her is because her voice is pitchy and she just wasn't "right" for the role. I haven't seen the show...yet (July 1st!). Anyways, looking at the competition this year, yeah, there was a slim chance that she would've won. Knew it wasn't happening.

[HDThoreau2]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 9:22am

The revival of "A Chorus Line" is magnificent production. When the reviews came out, the Manhattan Elitists were so disappointed that it couldn't and didn't remind them of their over-emotional reaction to the show in the 1970's.

The monologues and script content of "A Chorus Line" are so mild compared to the Broadway of today. It 1975 it was revolutionary. A Chorus Line can now be celebrated as a standard of Broadway.

It is a solid show in a solid production, and I hope it has a healthy run in New York. It deserves it.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 9:42am

I saw this revival of A CHORUS LINE for the second time on Tuesday, June 12th. I had seen the first Friday preview back in September and LOVED it (it was my first time ever seeing the show). I was nervous that seeing it a second time would not be as exciting and I wouldn't like it as much, but it was just as brilliant as the first time I saw it. Charlotte was really incredible as Cassie, and while I do not think she deserved to win the Tony, I am thrilled that she was nominated for the role. The cast as a whole was excellent and I would recommend this show to anyone. Honestly, in my opinion, A CHORUS LINE is one of the best Broadway musicals ever written. Perfection.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 6:55pm

Does anyone know if the ACL (revival) casting people utilized some/any casting methods (ex. talking about personal events) as was done in the show itself? I know it may have been too obvious a method to have used but still... I wonder? RC in Austin, Texas

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 9:58pm

I alargely agree--much of the complaints "it doesn't have the emotional resonance of when I saw it in 1975" etc are just... obnoxious. Get over it. Of course a revival can't and won't live up to the original production but how many of those people who complain even actually saw the first cast

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[robUK]

Posted: 6/16/07 at 5:06am

Hi no I dont think so they just auditioned about 6000 people I think, at least that is what I am led to believe. Most of them had to audition about 4 or 5 times.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/16/07 at 12:25pm

The revival of "A Chorus Line" is magnificent production. When the reviews came out, the Manhattan Elitists were so disappointed that it couldn't and didn't remind them of their over-emotional reaction to the show in the 1970's.

It's such as surprise to read that you wrote that here, Mark Manley, since that is almost exactly what you wrote on your blahhhhhhhhg without ever seeing the show the weekend the reviews came out. Only instead of "is magnificent production" you wrote "I bet it's wonderful." Your assessment of how critics arrived at their conclusions, that it didn't remind them of their reactions in the '70s, really makes no sense.

Basically it's clear that you went in to ACL on your recent class trip with that predisposed reaction in mind, since you had already written essentially the same critique without having seen the show. Which is fine, everybody has their biases. The problem is that you then accuse the critics who didn't like it for having predisposed biases.

[robUK]

Posted: 6/16/07 at 12:38pm

Bravo to you))