Huskcharmer sees A Chorus Line on Tour

I give the tour an 8/10 for the most part. Dudding has improved since I saw the show on Broadway last summer, but not enough (he's the offical Paul as of this week) for me to like him. He plays self-loathing through the monologue.

The girls were mostly sharp pitch-wise, and with the exception of Rebecca Riker (Diana), Emily Fletcher (Sheila), Dena DiGicanto (Bebe), Robyn, and Derek Hanson (Don), most of the cast in general were subpar singers.

LOVED Fletcher as Sheila, she was sassy yet restrained when she needed to be. She also smoked during the Alternatives segment.

Riker was a good Diana, looked a lot like Liza though.

I liked seeing Michael Gruber as Zach, and he was nice at stagedoor (and signed my ACL Closing playbill from Apr 28, 1990)

We had an u/s for Richie, who was Hispanic, so they cut the "And I'm black." line. I have yet to see the show with the proper racial assignments.

Judy introduced herself as Tina Turner...which was new to me...and anachronistic, since really Tina Turner was more famous post-divorce than pre. But, I guess Lana Turner is too dated.

Hurder was a let down. I could see where people really would like her, and acting/singing wise she was terrific (She has one of the best Cassie and Zach fights, IMO)...but she held back on the dance too much. Which, considering there was no evening performance, and it was their last one before a 3-week hiatus...I'd expect more. And, while I grade Cassie's on a hard scale, I loved what I saw of Nikki Snelson and Jessica Lee Goldyn.

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^ Yea, I just...I dunno, most of the younger generation (and a good portion of the older) think of the post-Ike Tina.

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James Kirkwood is spinning in his grave.
Unless that zinger was added by Neil Silmon
who probably doesn't know what's going on.

It's sad to me that people don't remember Lana Turner.

The Big, The Bad, and the Beautiful

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I saw Bryan Knowlton on Broadway, and I remember him rather underplaying his part (as in "God, my life sucks, doesn't it? *chuckles*") and I was totally unimpressed by it. Later on, I saw Joey Dudding and he failed to move me, either. It felt as if I was watching a college production.

Now, when I saw the tour last year, Kevin Santos was on for Paul, and he COMPLETELY played it over the top and his emotions felt way too forced. But despite this, I was teary-eyed by the time he finished his monologue.

Now, is Hollie Howard still on the tour? That was my only major complaint for the tour last year. Her money note in "At the Ballet" just didn't deliver.

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I was suprised to hear the "Tina Turner" as well...but I liked it. She made it funny and it gives her more to work with than saying "Lana Turner".

I was also wondering what they would do with Richie...but I think they could have left the line in if they wanted to because I think that he looked "black enough"...like Lisa Bonet.

I loved seeing "Mike" do backflips too!


You could say that the "Cassie" was on the heavier side if you wanted to...but I liked her. Everytime I think of Charlotte d'Amboise as "Cassie" I think of someone who seemed to sweat all the time and on a strict diet too!

Speaking of the Paul Monologue...I think it could use a bit of "updating".

Not that they have to make it current and X rated. It just could probably benefit from a few updated words or pharses.

Also, there was a family with 3 kids under the age of 10 and they walked out right before "Val" came up for her monologue. Sometimes you forget that it isn't necessarily "family" friendly!

ALSO...a quick question! Did the 'bronx bonding'/raised fist exist between "Al" and "Diana" in the original production? Or did it develope in the course or its run...or was it put in for the revival?

Updated On: 7/20/09 at 11:11 AM

"and it was their last one before a 3-week hiatus...I'd expect more."

actually the tour isn't starting up again until Sept. 22 in Memphis, TN.

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ACL2006-
They told me it was 3 weeks, and then they spend 6 or so in Japan. Michael Gruber's website also confirms it.

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Thanks, husk! I find it interesting that ACL's website doesn't list anything about the Japan stops.

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I must say that I did enjoy Dudding as Paul when I saw him.

As far as Zach's go, I must say that I GREATLY enjoyed Grant Turner in the Broadway company, especially when paired with Jessica Lea Patty. Jessica Lee Goldyn was a fantastic Cassie.

I am also partial to Alex Ringler.

Any reason why "Val" wore dance heels in the show as opposed to sneakers?

Also, have they taken out saying the year they were born in their introductions for the revival and tour? I don't remember them saying the year.

Updated On: 7/21/09 at 09:33 AM

most of the cast in general were subpar singers.

That aspect doesn't really bother me with ACL. In fact, when I saw the revival, I thought it was jarring how pretty and well blended everyone sounded. That could be because I'm used to the OCR, and I think of that part in "What I Did For Love" when they all murder "we did what we had to DO."