Chorus Line @ NY City Center- Page 6

[bk]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 4:37am

"Overall this didn't live up to the '06 revival,"

Well, I thought  that revival was horrible so this must be really terrible.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 4:46am

The 06 revival was horrid. I never seen so many understudies on in my life.
That theatermania clip with that hat thou ...come on lol

Updated On: 11/15/18 at 04:46 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 4:57am

My thought exactly.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 5:03am

One of the understudies was out due to a family emergency.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 7:55am

whatdoesntkillme said: "I love the clips, but I hate all the wild applause. We get it, it's exciting, it's iconic. But I want to enjoy a show I love without a million people around me screaming like wild during the most exciting parts. Save the applause for after a number is over and for the curtain call."

Then you best not be sitting anywhere near me. I defy anyone trying to tell me how to respond to my enjoyment of a show.

[Kimbo]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 10:54am

CarlosAlberto said: "whatdoesntkillme said: "I love the clips, but I hate all the wild applause. We get it, it's exciting, it's iconic. But I want to enjoy a show I love without a million people around me screaming like wild during the most exciting parts. Save the applause for after a number is over and for the curtain call."

Then you best not be sitting anywhere near me. I defy anyone trying to tell me how to respond to my enjoyment of a show."

You sound like a delight. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 11:12am

Has anyone heard if Leigh Zimmerman is injured and if/when she is expected back?  

[slow_the_rain]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 11:18am

I was looking forward to hearing a friend's response, but he walked out after 20 minutes. Says it all, I s'pose.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 11:44am

Sounds like J. Elaine Marcos is relying on the same schtick she did in Priscilla.

I saw the tour of the Broadway revival 10 years ago.  Both Robyn Hurder and Anthony Wayne were in that.  I preferred the touring company to the Broadway revival.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 1:32pm

JSquared2 said: "Has anyone heard if Leigh Zimmerman is injured and if/when she is expected back?"

I was actually sitting next to some of her friends last night. They didn't know she was going to be out and said she did the run through on Monday. 

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 1:42pm

The important question is, does Larry wear a tank top or a hoodie?

(Who remembers that fiasco???)

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 1:56pm

Was that someone boldly filming the finale on their phone at the end of the clips?

[starcatchers]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 3:10pm

ACL2006 said: "JSquared2 said: "Has anyone heard if Leigh Zimmerman is injured and if/when she is expected back?"

I was actually sitting next to some of her friends last night. They didn't know she was going to be out and said she did the run through on Monday."

She did Monday, but not Tuesday. 

[starcatchers]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 3:10pm

ACL2006 said: "JSquared2 said: "Has anyone heard if Leigh Zimmerman is injured and if/when she is expected back?"

I was actually sitting next to some of her friends last night. They didn't know she was going to be out and said she did the run through on Monday."

She did Monday, but not Tuesday. 

[Trish2]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 4:08pm

by Jesse Green

Not a "run out and see this" review for sure.

“A Chorus Line” has never really been able to solve the Zach problem, perhaps because he is so clearly based on Bennett himself. It helps that Mr. Yazbeck, even playing a brute, has tremendous stage warmth. But the only time this story really makes sense is when Cassie dances it — not so much in her big solo, “The Music and the Mirror,” as in her audition sequences. Her desperation to stop being exceptional so she can get the job (watch Ms. Hurder struggle to tone down her extensions) is heartbreaking.

That’s the “Chorus Line” compromise. It will never say in words what it demonstrates so eloquently in movement. Even in the best productions, and this one’s good enough, it will always be a Cassie."

‘A Chorus Line,’ Still High-Stepping but Showing Its Age

[petewk87]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 10:31pm

Has anyone tried rush or standing room? Thanks!

[starcatchers]

Posted: 11/15/18 at 10:54pm

petewk87 said: "Has anyone tried rush or standing room? Thanks! "

I don’t think they offer either. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/16/18 at 8:51am

Kimbo said: "CarlosAlberto said: "whatdoesntkillme said: "I love the clips, but I hate all the wild applause. We get it, it's exciting, it's iconic. But I want to enjoy a show I love without a million people around me screaming like wild during the most exciting parts. Save the applause for after a number is over and for the curtain call."

Then you best not be sitting anywhere near me. I defy anyone trying to tell me how to respond to my enjoyment of a show."

You sound like a delight."

I know this.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 2:27am

Leigh Zimmerman was on tonight and she was fantastic. I can imagine her Sheila is the closest I’ve seen to what Kelly Bishop’s was.

I disagree with the negative comments about J. Elaine Marcos. Val is a comic role, but I didn’t think her comic bits in her song were just for mugging. They were in response to how she was playing off of Zimmerman (who wasn’t at the earlier performances, so maybe it plays off better now). I never once felt she was chewing scenery. I thought Marcos was wonderful. Also (1975 spoiler alert?), this is the first time an Asian was put on the line!

I’ve met and worked with Baayork in the past, and watching Jolina Javier as Connie was like seeing Baayork on that stage. That’s exactly how she is in life.

Denis Lambert as Greg was a true standout. Max Clayton as Don had a superior voice and I wish he had more to do. I enjoyed Kate Bailey actually trying to match tone and pitch in “Sing.” She made Kristine so relatable as a fierce dancer and hard worker who just cannot carry a tune. Tara Kostmayer’s Diana was delightfully spunky. I could feel her channeling Priscilla Lopez.

And of course, Robyn Hurder is probably the best Cassie I will ever see. She was phenomenal. Best singer in the role maybe ever (she sang “Music and the Mirror” in the original key).

The orchestra sounded incredible. Many musicians from the 2006 revival are in this orchestra. And thank goodness they added harp and guitar back to the orchestration! It makes such a huge difference and I hated the choice to cut them from the revival, especially the guitar.

Overall, this is a way better production than the 2006 revival. Yes, same staging, choreography, etc., but this cast is overall so much better. The energy in the theatre was electric. It really did not disappoint, and the audience, mostly big fans of the show I’d assume, was eating it up.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 7:49am

Thanks for the review HeyMrMusic! Going on Sunday and can’t wait. I’m thinking that the cast is getting more comfortable now as this short run is really what would be previews for a broadway show. Curious if it really will transfer for a limited run on Broadway...

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 8:14am

I second everything HeyMrMusic wrote. This production is damn near perfect and the hype about Zimmerman is REAL. My God she was radiant and hilarious. This production is transfer ready. Just pack the mirrors in a truck and move them to a Broadway house next week and they’re all set to completely shake up this year’s Tony Awards.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 9:17am

I agree with HeyMrMusic and Jordan's praise of this production. A thrilling night of theatre which, of course, lies largely in that brilliant text. Thankfully, this production adds no new gimmicks or twists—it honors, upholds, and preserves A Chorus Line with a dynamo cast that, with maybe a week or two more of rehearsal, would be laser-sharp and on fire. That said, what they were able to do with this beast in three weeks is a marvel.

Highlights were Robyn Hurder's Cassie (heartbreaking), Leigh Zimmerman's Sheila (radiant), Jay Armstrong Johnson's Bobby (biting), Tommy Bracco's Mike (charming and perfect). But there are no weak spots in this cast. All are terrific.

I'd love a Broadway transfer (but a limited engagement, as I selfishly need Hurder to continue on as Nini in Moulin Rouge if it indeed is coming in the summer). But with the season as it currently is, I could easily see this taking some Tonys.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 12:59pm

Jealous for those that got or will see Zimmerman's Sheila.

In regards to a limited engagement Broadway transfer, half the cast would need to be replaced. Some are on a temp leave from their current Broadway show. And we wouldn't get Hurder as Cassie since she's attached to Moulin Rouge. Seems very unlikely to happen.

[teatime2]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 4:53pm

Saw the show last night. Finally getting to see the original staging at this caliber was such a special experience. I will say I really didn't enjoy Marcos as Val. I thought Kostmayer had a good voice, but her actions seemed very fake and over dramatic during Nothing. Yazbeck is great. What else would we expect from him? Etsy, Zimmerman, Moore, and Johnson were also standouts for me. Hurder really knows how to work that line. Impeccable. 

[Just_John]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 5:31pm

I saw it this afternoon and I loved it. I had seen the broadway revival over ten times and don’t think it was as strong as that, but with more rehearsal it could have been. It ran two hours and twenty minutes. It’s suppsoed to be one hour and 40 minutes.