Chicago or A Chorus Line?

[jv92]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 6:53pm

The two big musicals of 1975. A Chorus Line stole the show from Chicago, but in my opinion, Chicago had and has a lot more going for it. Chicago's score is certainly better and stronger than A Chorus Line. Chicago's story and themes will be forever timeless (although to a lesser extent, you could say the same about Chorus Line) and anything directed by Bob Fosse gets extra brownie points in my book (although Michael Bennet was brilliant as well.) I will admit the the book of A Chorus Line is excellent and the performances were certainly top knotch and on par with Verdon and Company as was the direction and choreography.
I'd like to know the opinions of all of you on Broadway World. It's just a question I've always wanted to ask. And please, no one word answers. Try to elaborate a bit.
Updated On: 8/16/06 at 06:53 PM

[PARISinNYC]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 6:55pm

Chicago's great, yes.

But no comparison to the Line. Not even on the same level.

[icantbelive]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 6:59pm

ACL, it has an incredible cast and could be up for a tony, not saying that Chicago isnt great but heck, its a new production

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 7:02pm

A CHORUS LINE. Even though I adore CHICAGO, ACL wins hands down.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 7:04pm

icantbelieve-

This has absolutely nothing to do with the Tonys this year. This regards the overall show (text, staging, cast, etc.)

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 7:22pm

Chicago is brilliant, but ACL is superior in my book (and in terms of staging and his ability to use all the tools of musical theatre to tell a story and create an electrifying production, Bennett is superior to Fosse as well IMO -- I might rate Fosse higher than Bennett as simply a pure dance choreographer). ACL was and remains a complete original, unlike anything ever seen on stage and is the single most ingenious and seemless blending book, lyrics, music, performance, design and staging ever created -- it's impossible to separate any one element from the integrated whole..... and each element was superb and perfectly complimented the others.

ACL also dealt with themes and issues that no musical before had so frankly and has an emotional pull that few other shows can match. While it's also very funny, those dancers' personal stories often have a deep and profound impact on audiences. People identify with many of those dancers on the line -- their fears, their problems, their confessions about their childhoods (how many times did Paul's monologue cause people to weep in empathy?). Whereas, CHICAGO's cynicism and satirical nature, while engaging and entertaining, has something of a distancing effect -- audiences don't connect as deeply with its characters as they do with the ones in ACL.

CHICAGO is great, but merely the finest example of the sort of presentational concept musical that Prince had begun a decade before with CABARET. While its story isn't original (based on a previous play and film), its book and score and staging approached perfection and it deservedly is considered one of the finest theatrical works ever created. ACL is all of that, but also a landmark, a true masterpiece that has no antecedent in the history of theatre.

[LI Larry]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 7:29pm

I can't really top what was said in the above post. Everything is true. Chicago was terrific, the story told in vaudeville style. It set a standard that many other musicals followed (Buddy, Will Rogers Follies to name 2) In any other season it would have won multiple tonys.

But A Chorus Line was special. It took place in real time. It took place in an empty theater. So it was as if you just happened to be there. No need to be transported. You were already there. And the stories were real. There was always one that you could identify with. And the fact that there were no "Star" names, made you believe even more and remember the characters even more. Then after all that, they all came out, dressed exactly the same, dancing the same behind some never seen superstar. But we the audience knew their real stories, andknew the truth

[ashley0139]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 8:11pm

I think A Chorus Line is superior. I don't know how to explain it, but just the thought of Chorus Line gives me chills (the message and the way it is presented) while Chicago is good storytelling. I also think the way Chicago is staged is boring, but that's just me.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 8:54pm

Wow, I love the response. Thanks everyone! Keep those opinions coming.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:20pm

By the way folks, the original prodution of Chicago had sets and costumes. (The set was actually brilliant and perfect for the show, as the mirrors in A Chorus Line were for that show) The whole concept was "A Musical Vaudeville." For those of you who only know the revival, keep that in mind. As great as the revival is, the original was much more interesting.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:27am

*drumroll*

A Chorus Line