Bad Updates to A Chorus Line

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 12:30am

I'm sure we've all seen bad community productions of A Chorus Line. I saw a college production last night and it was pretty rough. I am of the belief that this show is a period piece and must remain so, but we all know that some directors try to update the show. Well this particular director decided to set the show "now" and changed many of the references (Robert Goulet, Ed Sullivan, etc) to Justin Timberlake, Robert Pattinson, Megan Fox, Keeping up with the Kardashians, etc. It was truly awful and being a huge fan of this show, I was offended and found it disrespectful to the material and its creators. The costumes were also contemporary with the performers in dance wear and shoes that would not have existed in the 70s. What experiences have you had with bad productions of this show and attempts to update it?

Updated On: 11/22/10 at 12:30 AM

[Jemstar86]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 12:48am

One time I saw a community theater production of ACL and they did a pretty decent job ... until the finale. Instead of the usual gold outfits that are iconic with this show ... they all came out in these cheap, party-city, red sequin outfits. I was actually appalled. I mean, really?! Who do you think you are community theater director/costumer? You can't re-invent the wheel here. This is A Chorus Line. One of the most famous shows of all time. You don't get to take artistic license and change something that big. If you want to play god pick something a little less well known.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 1:03am

Changing a costume is not taking artistic licence with the show...

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 4:11am

Costumes have nothing to do with a show, only productions.

[RemlapLBC]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 9:03pm

Worst update, the recent Broadway revival that copied and the movie and made the Director an on-stage character instead of just a voice from the darkness.
(full disclosure, I only saw the national tour at the Ahmanson in LA, but I assume it was the same on Broadway revival)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 10:32pm

I've heard this argument before, but I disagree. I don't think its a period piece at all. I WISH they had updated the revival -- it was one of my criticisms. It felt like a museum piece. (Mind you, I saw the original production when I was in HS and utterly fell in love -- this production? Meh.)


I really wish someone WOULD explain WHY they feel it NEEDS to be set in the 70s.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 10:36pm

Jemstar86, I saw a recent production that didn't have the iconic gold costumes--they were basically the same, but they were silver, instead. I personally liked that more, as the costumes were cleaner and more appealing to the eye, in my opinion. Luckily, they didn't make any changes like the production that bakcwoodsbarbie described.

RemlapLBC, in the production I mentioned above, the director was on stage, but he was just a voice until he was talking to Cassie after "Music and the Mirror". I really liked that because at that moment, it made the director suddenly a person, too, just like everybody else on the line. I'm not sure what they did in the Broadway revival, but it can work having the director on the stage.

I think it's important to note that while A Chorus Line's original production still holds up today, it's not the only good way to do it. The production I've been talking about was staged in the round. The immediate thought is that it wouldn't work, but it worked well. If anything, it only made it better. While one actor was talking, the others from the line were sitting on the four corners of the stage in front of the aisles, interacting with each other. In the opening, auditioners surrounded the audience in the aisles, forcing the audience into the dancers' lives immediately. Probably the hardest thing about making the show work in the round would be the mirrors. This was done by using eight two-way mirrors that surrounded Cassie, isolating her in the world of her dance. So, what it the point I'm trying to make with all of this? It's interesting to see things done differently. Replicating the original production doesn't push the art form. If the idea doesn't work, at least they tried. When something is amazing, it's worth all of the failed attempts for something new.

[morosco]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 10:42pm

There was a production somewhere where the role of Mike was shared by two guys who were twins. They were Mike and Ike. Seriously.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 10:46pm

Faye Dunaway?

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:02pm

My first experience with the show was the revival and for that reason, I am grateful that they did not update the show as I got to see it as Bennett originally staged it. I feel that the show is most effective in its original setting because the role of the dancer in musical theatre has changed drastically since then. Now it isn't enough to be a dancer and people who hope to perform on Broadway have to be triple threats. As a dancer myself, what I find most touching about A Chorus Line is the fact that dancers on Broadway in the 1970s never really had a shot of making it out of the chorus, and it was enough for them just to dance. Nowadays, chorus members are not hired unless they can also dance and act and many even understudy featured and principle roles. I hope I am getting my point across effectively.

[wicked4l]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:10pm

I want to see a well done updated revival!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:13pm

I do see your point. I appreciate your taking the time to explain your thoughts!

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:15pm

We have a regional company that is doing it early next year. They are good and pull in some great talent. But I have my reservations. I do have to say, they pulled off "BARE" and Lippa's "The Wild Pary" quite well and they are getting good reviews for [title of show], which they are doing now and I am supposed to see on Sunday.

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:21pm

^^Thats really funny because the college theatre company that I saw do A Chorus Line last week also did Lippa's Wild Party and Bare two years ago. They were very nice productions but they missed the mark with ACL. Oh the irony!

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:49pm

backwoods, for some reason I just feel it is a show that regional theater shouldn't touch.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:55pm

I saw that tour in the 90's where they changed the costumes. All I can remember are bright colors. It was awful. I am so glad I saw the original production on Broadway. Shows don't "change my life" but I walked out of the Shubert Theater a differnt person!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 12:14am

You would need a director/choreographer of equal brilliance to Michael Bennett to restage A Chorus Line and make it work. I've seen people try, and it always falls flat.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 12:52am

I agree. And even with the people involved with the revival, I stayed away. I remember standing in line at TKTS when it was playing and staring at the marquee wondering if I should see it and decided not to. After the tour I metioned I decided I just didn't want to see another production of it. But it looks like I am going to next year! And what scares me is that I will most likely review it. I hope they surprise me.

Updated On: 11/23/10 at 12:52 AM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 12:10pm

Is A Chorus Line a period piece? I would say absolutely. So much has changed not only in the role of the chorus dancer on Broadway (partially due to the show itself), but also in our society. The gay characters especially would be coming from an entirely different world. I know that my experience, being a child in the 80s and a closeted teenager in the 90s, is entirely different from what a closeted teenager in the 60s would have gone through, and even entirely different for what a teenager in 2000s would be experiencing.

That being said I don't think the show should be thought of as a museum piece, which is how I feel Baayork Lee treats it. When this happens you end up with a robotic show that runs like clockwork. I know several dancers who have done various productions that she has staged, and while she does try to get them to all go in depth and discover their characters it is almost always within the scope of what the original cast went through. She, sadly, often leaves very little room for anything new or fresh, down to the point where they are given such detailed directions as "Now, Val, when you hear Diana say *insert line here* you need to shift your weight to your left leg and bring your right hand to your hip." Why? Because that's what Pamela did and she is insistent on keeping every moment the same. There is no room to create, only re-create, leading to productions where everything looks right, but nothing feels fresh.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 12:35pm

"... down to the point where they are given such detailed directions as "Now, Val, when you hear Diana say *insert line here* you need to shift your weight to your left leg and bring your right hand to your hip." Why? Because that's what Pamela did..."

That is my BIGGEST pet peeve about Baayork Lee staging A Chorus Line.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 4:57pm

A high school near me has just announced it will be doing 'A Chorus Line' as it's next production. It will be performed by a group of 15 year olds...

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 11:46pm

There must be some really excited fifteen year old gay boys right now.

[Overkill]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 10:02am

A local production of mine cut out "Dance: Ten, Looks: Three" and changed a lyric from "SH*T, Ritchie" to "Go, Ritchie"

Nothing too bad...

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 10:48am

There were problems in the original Broadway cast with keeping things exactly the same. Michael Bennett moved several of the original cast members from Broadway to the LA production. The ones that remained on Broadway spoke about how when the new group came in, the caretakers of the show tried to keep it exactly the same.

This happens in other shows as well. Patti LuPone talks in her autobio about Arthur trying to carbon copy the Tyne Daly production.

[morosco]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 11:48am

Speaking of younger performers doing ACL...I think this kid is really good as Paul.
Paul Monologue-