Charlotte D'Amboise as Cassie No Star Quality

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 11:19am

The dance doesn't fit her particular talents, so if you are going to see the show to see the Music and the Mirror, its a waste of $110.00. She has certain strengths, but they are not shown off to any advantage and McKechnie's moves are not flattering on Charlotte's body. What should build into a show stopping crie de coer really fizzles. Funny Charlotte is now the same age that Elizabeth Seal was when Bennett fired her for being "too old." Unless you had McKechnie magic when she returned to A Chorus Line at 42, Cassie should be 32. Natascia Diaz would have been perfect. Go see her in Brel and you'll see what I mean.

[DAME]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 11:29am

I never cared for McKechnie in the role. And I saw her do it in the original run as well as later on.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 11:50am

Interesting, Dame. What was McKechnie lacking? Which Cassie did you prefer and what did she bring to her performance that made it special?

[DAME]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 11:55am

Presence. I remember not believing her relationship with Zach at all. And I thought she was doing the choreography by the numbers ( mind you.. this was years ago. ). I also thought her performance was covered in mannerisms and indication. I loved Bebes Cassie when I saw her do it out here in Los Angeles. And I have seen others throughout the years that were much better.

Updated On: 9/25/06 at 11:55 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 12:20pm

Bebe was really young when she played Cassie. I saw her do it as understudy and then when she took over the role on tour. For my money, she lacked the vulnerability even then to illuminate Cassie's plight or humanity in any significant way. I think Wanda Richert (whom I saw several times) really had a focus on the role and was especially good when she returned after doing 42nd Street. She knew what it was about by then (having been through her Calvary as Gower's mistress-cum-"widow" -- although she would be the first to say she was a sinner) and her humanity really came through, especially in the "we are special" scene.

Charlotte's dancing is okay, but the choreography suit her and the number doesn't approach show-stopping. Maybe that has been the reason she has never really originated a role.

[DAME]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 12:24pm

I also loved Wanda Richert. I saw bebe do it when they opened a new company of the show at the Las Palmas Theater in Hollywood.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 12:29pm

so if you are going to see the show to see the Music and the Mirror, its a waste of $110.00.

Well, if you're dropping that kind of money for the sake of being interested in one song, that's a bigger problem.

Updated On: 9/25/06 at 12:29 PM

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 12:33pm

Who sees the show just for "Music and the Mirror"? Who sees any show for one song?

... Ah, well, I guess someone must, but really. What a thing to complain about.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 12:35pm

Gotta say that of the three Cassies I saw in the original production (Pamela Sousa, Cheryl Clark and Donna McKechnie's return to the role), no one made the number work better than McKechnie.

[DAME]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 12:41pm

I agree. Who the hell goes to the show for just that number. I saw McKechnie again on her return engagement. And I thought the audience made it into more of a WOW performance than she did. She could have just stood there and they would have gone crazy. I guess I just didn't care for her. But I am glad you all did. .

[irememberitwell]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 12:46pm

Frank Rich had this to say about McKechnie's return:

"Ms. McKechnie dances as terrificly as ever - and perhaps more urgently. Here is a performer doing her job with complete conviction, for love of working, long after the parade of sold-out houses and fame has passed by. That is the spirit enshrined by A Chorus Line and that's why Ms. McKechnie's 1986 Cassie induces the shiver that comes when performer, role and theatrical history all merge into a poignant one."

All this after being stopped by arthritis and trashed in the theatrical community by Michael Bennett. I saw McKechnie do it several times before her marriage and in 1986 -- and later it didn't matter that she was older than all of the dancers on stage, it was very moving theater. McKechnie, above all, is a dancing actress and in each section of the number, her intentions were very clear. D'Amboise lacks both the technique as an actress and the grace of McKechnie's arms and torso. Its a major disappointment.

[DAME]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 12:48pm

Well.. there you go. Different strokes for different folks.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 12:50pm

I don't think most of the audience by 1986 knew who McKechnie was. There was an initial flurry of publicity, then she settled into a six month run -- to the sea of red seats that a half empty house had. She still danced the hell out of the number.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 12:59pm

When you're in a landmark musical, the members of the original cast are not forgotten a mere 11 years later. Especially McKechnie.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 1:06pm

Namo -- that is absurd. Most of the people who saw the OBC at the height of its popularity couldn't have told you the names of the cast.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 1:16pm

Not even the one that won all the acclaim, the Tony, and the gay director/choreographer?

[mateo]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 1:24pm

McKechnie is my number one.




I'd love to see a production with a male 'Cassie.'

would that be wrong?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 1:25pm

Um....I think, yes.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 1:28pm

You didn't even really need to qualify that one with "I think."

[mateo]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 1:31pm

ok, may be I'm the only one :)

[morosco]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 1:39pm

Not to theadjack but I was watching a rather lousy movie with Natalie Wood last night and it struck me that she would have been a wonderful Cassie personality-wise. I think she has all the right qualities.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 1:49pm

Charlotte lacks any and all stage presence.... thank god her dress is red because you would totally miss her other wise. It would make more sense to have her a Shelia. Franky D'Amboise looks like a used chorus girl on her way out the door.