A Chorus Line Last Night...WOW.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 4:10pm

First off, it was amazing, and practically flawless. I was in Row K, center. I had never seen any incarnation of ACL before, and I have to say, I was just completely blown away. I truly felt for everyone's story, except Michael Beresse's. But that one negative thing will come later. I especially liked Heather Parcells as Judy, Yuka Takara as Connie, Natalie Cortez as Diana, Jason Tam, and of course the amazing, talented Ms. Charlotte D'Amboise. She has such a presence. Each time I see a show, I pick a favorite, and she was just amazing. Wow. I kind of believed her relationship with Michael Beresse as Zach, but he was just terrible. He was the sour note in ACL. He had so little inflection, he sounded like Pat Kiernan! Every line was the same. He sounded a little game-show-hosty. However, I loved all of the costumes, the rotating mirrors, and the amazing dancing. I was kind of crying a little at the end. I was so happy when my favorites got picked to be in the show.
Even thought there was no intermission, which I needed.
Overall, I am so happy with this production. It felt short. I wanted to see more of everything because I loved it so much.
Wow.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 4:11pm

I loved it, but didn't feel for any of them.

Go figure.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 4:12pm

i was crying at the end too, oddly. but i agree: those seats made my butt sore. i SO needed an intermission

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 4:12pm

I loved it, but only truly felt for a few of them.

It's really such a depressing ending.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 4:15pm

Seeing as we didn't get to see any of the parts of rehearsal, I agree, BSoBW2.
But I have a feeling if we did it would ruin the magic, becuase we are supposed to feel the audition part, nto the actual job. Maybe. I don't know.
I just wanted more.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 4:15pm

Thank you for this review

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 4:22pm

I think this sort of backs up a theory of mine i have posted about before. It seems that people that didn't see the original production love the show but people that did didn't like it because it isn't as good. It was like in the reviews all they said was Blank wasn't as good as Blank was.

[liotte]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 4:31pm

I also saw it last night, it was good but I didn't really feel connected to it at all. The dancing was great, the singing left me wanting a bit more.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 4:31pm

Zach is often played that way Mr. Berresse performs it. It's very dry usually.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 4:40pm

StephenSondheimWHOO- I agree with your theory. I think the original was probably ten times better, but I haven't seen it, so I don't know. I guess it's because it's such a powerful piece of theatre, that it affects all moods, and all kinds of generations of people.

[jess20882]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 5:32pm

JustABroadwayBaby2 -

I was lucky enough to see it on opening night and I felt exactly the same way you did, with the exception of one major difference...I wasn't nearly as thrilled with Charlotte D'Amboise as you were! Not saying you're opinion is wrong by any means, I just didn't think she had as much presence as I would have liked, although her dancing was incredible. And I didn't believe her relationship with Zach very much - but probably also because I wasn't too fond of Michael Beresse's Zach.
I did feel for almost all of the characters - especially Paul, Diana, Chrissy/Al...and I love the attitudes from Deidre Goodwin as Sheila and Jessica Lee Goldyn as Val.

All in all I left with the same feeling you did - WOW

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 8:14pm

i agree that the younger generation that did not see the original, in most cases, really love the revival
i am dying to see this A CHORUS LINE revival, i have the cd, and yeah...im obsessed
it really is amazing, to me at least

how was Natalie Cortez? i am especially anxious to see her!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 8:16pm

She was a standout!

[hellzapoppin2000]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 8:37pm

Chorus Line last night and last week was A WEAK CUP OF TEA. Gorgeous dancing for the most part, fairly good vocals, but no characters that anyone could possibly care about. And why is that? Because there was no attention paid to the little details of what made everyone special. For the most part, its just bad acting all around -- poor Connie's "disappointment" when she realizes she's played: Acting -101. Beresse isn't exactly game show but I think his whole performance is rooted in the line "making up dance steps the rest of my life." Because that is exactly what Zach is doing. So his rather flat reciting of 5, 6, 7, 8 reads well considering the backstory. But the rest of it -- what a shame because these dancers are clearly talented. None of the comic bits which gave the dancers such humanity and charisma years ago is strangely absent. It was a waste of time and money. And poor Charlotte. She couldn't even strike the fabled Cassie stance. She's as much a victim as the rest of everyone else on that stage. Perhaps with exception of Mara Davi. But what's up with Psalm 150? Oh, I get it. Thank GOD.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 8:51pm

What is Psalm 150...fill us Jews in please.

I thought the cast was great....they just have no emotional investment....maybe it's because they're playing parts, unlike the actors of the Original Cast.

Could they have updated it to use the stories of the New cast?

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 8:53pm

Yes, fill in us Jews!
I suppose if it was updated, then it would still be a revival...just a differne tkind of one. It's kind of like book revisions..except character revisions.

Updated On: 10/12/06 at 08:53 PM