A Chorus Line final performance- Page 3

[winter_sky]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:11am

I really loved that the cut dancers got a large round of applause too. The swings in that show were amazing and it was definitely deserved.

It was an amazing show and I will miss that cast so much. So talented and always so appreciative of the people waiting outside the stagedoor.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:43am

I love reading all the amazing posts of the amazing last performance of this amazing show. It sounds amazing.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 12:56pm

I thought Mario did great when we couldn't see him (except when he was dancing). The business of him going on stage to speak with Cassie during "The Music and the Mirror" just looked forced. And, he looked like he didn't know what to do with his hands...every other performer was totally believable as their character. In this scene, Jessica WAS Cassie. Lopez came across as an actor trying to be Zach. However, when it was just his voice...he was great.
I agree with what others said about the audience. The enthusiasm and affection that was show for this cast, the crew and the creative team was like nothing else I'd ever seen.
My favorite moments were:
*"I Hope I Get It"- one of my favorite "moments" in all of my theater experiences. When the mirrors turn and the cast dances towards the audience has so much power and from a design stand point, it is flawless.
*"At the Ballet"- Maggie's belt was always a huge moment- but last night with the applause and the emotion...I'm getting chills right now.
*"Hello 12..." the moment after Greg says..."I thought I'd never get to wear nice clothes". From here to the end was just unbelievable. The audience was going wild...
*I also loved all the stage pictures during "What I did for Love" and during "Hello 12- when Sheila says..."darling, I can tell you now...your father went through life with an open fly". And of course, the iconic poses that each actor strikes when the come back to the line.
*Deidre Goodwin- she nailed every line. She cracked me up so many times...and I knew what she was going to say...but I still laughed. However, when she left, after the final cut, the look that she gave to Zach said SO much. It was really heart breaking.
*Paul's monologue. We all focus on the dancing and the singing... however, this moment has brought me to tears each time I have seen this production. I totally believed that Brian K was Paul...and that he had experienced all of the abuse that Paul had. I know that's his job as an actor, but he was AWESOME.
*"What I Did for Love"
*Of course, the finale. When you consider how many people saw this show during the original run...how it helped to bring NYC back as a tourist site, how it brought so many people my age to the theater, and literally caused us to fall in love with musical theater...the history, and now, the timelessness of the show, it's totally understandable why everyone was so emotional
Once again…thanks to everyone who brought this show to life…as the producer said…the gift was ours to borrow. It truly is and will always be a tremendous, beautiful gift.

[DAME]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 1:44pm

Welcome back Namo. Happy to see you.

[Wabitfwee]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 2:43pm

The evening was the absolute best.

Jessica Lee Goldyn is by far my favorite Cassie, - and Val for that matter. I am ecstatic that she got to show her range.

That said, I did notice one thing. It seemed that everyone ever associated with this revival was either there, or called, or mentioned, - even the ushers and the dressers. Everyone but Charlotte. I mean, - she was only out for a week.

Is there a story there, or am I just imagining things? Is it unusual to reprint the program for the last week?

Maybe that's a different thread.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 2:52pm

"Is there a story there, or am I just imagining things? Is it unusual to reprint the program for the last week?"

What program was re-printed?

[Wabitfwee]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 2:57pm

No "at this performance" inserts.

Jessica was listed as Cassie. Foote as Val. No mention of Charlotte.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 3:02pm

Playbills are printed and delivered on a weekly basis. It's been known for weeks that Jessica was replacing Charlotte, so it was easy to change it in the Playbills.

[Wabitfwee]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 3:13pm

Oh, just my imagination playing tricks again. Nevermind.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 3:53pm

My friend who has only seen the show 2x mentioned to me that the problem with Mario as Zach (besides the imperfect dancing) is that he is very aggressive and angry in his line readings. He seems like the kind of director to just cast based on looks and not really care about the people auditioning. Every other Zach I have seen has been able to be empathetic and respectful to the dancers (especially Michael Berresse). He yells half of his lines. There is nothing funny about his line readings. There is no concern.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 6:20pm

How "timeless" is a show that couldn't make it to its second anniversary?

[winter_sky]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 6:34pm

First of all, this is the place for positivity so none of that here, please?

Second of all, look at Gypsy. That's widely considered to be a near perfect show and it's not selling out. People want big flashy musicals and I think ACL got lost in the pack this past year. I would suggest to people that they should see the show and they would say they saw the original production.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 6:57pm

"I would suggest to people that they should see the show and they would say they saw the original production."

Then basically you're telling them to move to Dreamland and live there with you.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 7:18pm

ACL never fully recovered from the strike. It had it's high moments afterwards during holiday weeks and it finished strong over the summer. It actually continued to still make a small profit after the strike because of its strong sales over the summer. I still feel it could have lasted until the end of the year if not for "All My Sons" nudging it out early. Just my two cents.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 7:27pm

So how soon before Charlotte goes back to "Chicago"?

Who woulda thunk back in 1975 that "Chicago" would look like a timeless musical 30 years later and "Chorus Line" would just be a piece of theatrical history. A wildly important piece, but history nonetheless.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 7:31pm

yeah, it's really odd that the revivals of the two have switched from the original runs with Chicago now the veteran Broadway show(btw, the original Chicago ran for only 936). Odd isn't it.

[misschung]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 8:31pm

"I love reading all the amazing posts of the amazing last performance of this amazing show. It sounds amazing."

lol.


I saw the show on Saturday night, for the first time, and was disappointed. Great show, but the cast seemed tired to me. And am I the only one disappointed in the fact that they cut the taps in "I Can Do That"?

[kissmeimirish]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 9:53pm

Charlotte AND Deidre back in Chicago - wouldn't that be nice? And Berresse as Billy? Now I'm dreaming...

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 10:18pm

MissChung-
The taps were ONLY on the OBCR, and have never been there.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 10:19pm

The taps in "I Can Do That" were only added in the original cast recording. Mike never had taps during the actually show.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:05pm

Miss C., sounds like the show wasn't amazing for you. The cast might have been holding back the amazing so that Sunday's final show would be amazing.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:11pm

Deidre said she would not be returning to Chicago any time soon.

Jason Patrick Sands went from ACL to Chicago though. I would love to see Michael as Billy.

[misschung]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:17pm

Interesting - I wonder why they only did that on the recording...seems a strange addition if it's not in the show.

Anyway, I love the show itself, and maybe you're right that they were holding back for Sunday. I really liked Jeffrey Schecter and Natalie Cortez, though!

Also, winter, I agree about Mario. He sounded awfully gruff in the first half of the show, especially the beginning.

[Ryguy7]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 1:49am

As someone who has been to tons and tons of shows, but only one other closing show (Les Mis), I have to say I thought last night was amazing. The audience was great, and the actors really gave it their all.

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned was Natalie Cortez starting to sob after 'What I Did For Love'. I thought that was an incredibly touching moment. After 3-4 minutes of pure applause, she broke down and started crying. And well, that got to me and I got teary eyed.

Wonderful performance, glad I flew into the city to see it. I was a little sad when I walked by the theatre today and they were loading the set into a truck..

RY

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 2:49am

UGH!

Back in West Virginia after an amazing weekend capped off with seeing this closing performance in second row center.

Unfortunately, I really don't have that much to add to what's already been said. But one thing I will say is that I can NOT stress enough how amazing Jess Goldyn is. This girl probably bleeds talent and we are lucky to have her on Broadway. Her entire family, who were seated right behind me, were the sweetest, most loving people I've had the opportunity to meet. Not to mention, her grandma gave me a really delicious raspberry candy! haha

Another thing I noticed, and I'm not sure if this was mentioned, but after the speeches at the end of the show, a good majority of the cast was still onstage after all the house lights came up, looking for their families and friends and such, Well the "star" *I use that term to it's loosest possible degree* Mario Lopez, wanted to get out of there so fast and he turned and ran RIGHT into the stage wall and fell back a little bit. I nearly doubled over from laughing so hard. It was like Michael Bennett putting him in his place from heaven.