Huskcharmer sees A Chorus Line on Tour

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/19/09 at 8:51pm

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.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/19/09 at 9:24pm

"Judy introduced herself as Tina Turner...which was new to me...and anachronistic, since really Tina Turner was more famous post-divorce than pre."

If we date ACL to 1975 or even a few years later, then the Tina comment has some validity. It's true that Tina didn't reach superstardom until later, but in 1975, the movie "Tommy" came out and she did get noticed for her role as the Acid Queen (not only because she brought her usual fierceness to the role, but there are really only two women in the show, Tina and Ann-Margaret).

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/19/09 at 10:07pm

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

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/19/09 at 10:28pm

1975.

Tina Turner guest-stars on The Ann-Margret Show, and they do "Proud Mary" together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4-VJTQZu7g

If my last name were Turner, I would have introduced myself as Tina Turner too in 1975.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/19/09 at 11:02pm

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

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 2:09am

Lana Turner wasn't exactly "hot" in 1975. She was a huge movie star in the '40s and '50s.

It's sad to me that people don't remember Lana Turner. Soon, they won't remember Bette Davis or Joan Crawford. And the "big movie stars" of today won't last a decade before people forget them.

By the way, that original line was taken right from Patricia Garland's real-life interview. She said, "My name is Patty Garland ... but my real name is JUDY Garland."

The line was adapted for the play. And that's why they named her character "Judy" as well.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 2:27am

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

The Big, The Bad, and the Beautiful

[faithzilla]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 2:56am

I saw the tour a few nights ago as well.
I thought the dancing was great, but the acting was merely mediocre. Clearly a touring cast.

Loved Riker (Diana), loved Moore (Judy), loved Dougherty (Val). Gruber's (Zach) acting drove me up the wall. Every time he spoke it was a "line reading." Dudding (Paul) was fine but the monologue didn't really do anything for me. His tears were sudden because he never really built the speech up to anything. Pretty flat.

I have to say Hurder's (Cassie) dancing was a disappointment for me as well. Charlotte d'Amboise blows me away with that dance. She is so in time to the music and hit every mark that matched a beat or drum perfectly. She made me notice every nuance in the music. I'm also a huge fan of Jessica Lee Goldyn. You can really see her passion for dancing when she does it, and I think she was a great Val.

Overall though, not terrible. Clearly a tour, but not terrible. Hell, I live in the suburbs in Texas. This is all I've got! :P

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 3:17am

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.

[faithzilla]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 3:25am

Hollie Howard was indeed Maggie. She neither impressed me nor bothered me. I barely remember her actually. She kind of faded into the background.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 10:38am

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!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 10:52am

I'm sorry to hear this about the tour. It was absolutely wonderful and in great shape when I saw the show 4 times in DC back in March. I especially liked Robyn Hurder's Cassie.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 11:11am

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

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 11:34am

MTVMANN-
I think that was just something that Al did, and then Diana did back as more of a "well...uh...ok?"

Howard was shrill, but better than Mara Davi on the CD. Honestly, at that point in the show, when the mirrors revolve and the lighting changes, I get such goosebumpy chills of wow that I kinda ignore the singing.

The only time Gruber's acting bugged me was during the accident, but EVERYONE onstage for that first few seconds just kinda forgot how to act...it was oddly paced and slow. The accident always seems awkward to me...like when you watch Paul fall, it doesn't seem that big. Of course, that may just be Dudding or it may be the fact that I know it's coming.

I like what I've seen of Knowlton's monologue. The problem is, a lot of people seem to just find one emotion to play the entire time. The only line he (Dudding) really nailed was "You're fourteen years old, and you're a faggot." A few audience members gasped audibly near me, and he had such a self-loathing that it worked...however self-loathing stayed. The only really good performance of the monologue I've seen was in a college production in April.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 11:39am

"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.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 11:40am

"Did the 'bronx bonding'/raised fist exist between "Al" and "Diana" in the original production?"

No,that was not in the original production; but it was in the revival from the very first preview.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 11:42am

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

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 11:46am

I also agree about the accident.

I think it needs to be more realistic...maybe a more difficult dance move or something.
Also, I think the transition needs to be better. They all immediately switch gears and I think it comes off staged.
But the blame there goes to the director...not the actors.

As for the "Maggie" I thought she was off during "At the Ballet" with her solo notes.
The Richie also had a bad note when he sang "And" but since he is an understudy and that part is really high it is forgivable.


Also, just because it's on my mind...one of the funniest things I've ever seen in the show was during a local production and "Al" takes out his gum during the opening and gives it to "Kristine" and since she doesn't know what to do with it, she puts it in her mouth!
Seriously...if you ever get to direct the show, put that in!
Updated On: 7/20/09 at 11:46 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 3:46pm

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

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 4:04pm

Re: the "Tina Turner" updating - I knew precisely who she was in 1975 yet had never purchased any of her recordings. She was part of the Ike and Tina Turner duo (Proud Mary) and was on TV enough that people knew who she was and she was considered a "known personality". Lana Turner was "niche" even then because she hadn't made a movie in years and only older adults remembered her. The writing was a bit retro in '75.

Re: the acting / singing in the tour - All I can say is that I saw the original production on BW in 1980, long after the original cast had departed. By that time, they must have run through every decent dancer / singer / actor in NYC because the acting and singing were dreadful. It's hard to find performers who can do all three, which makes casting this show a dicey proposition in the best of circumstances. That's how it goes.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 4:06pm

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.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 12:06am

Grant Turner was FANTASTIC as Zach.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:33am

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

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 10:08am

I am also partial to Alex Ringler. Very partial.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 10:15am

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."