Margo? Weren't you at the first CHORUS LINE preview?

[morosco]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 1:46pm

Care to post your reaction? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 1:48pm

I've been waiting for this since last night....

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 3:18pm

OK, OK. Didn't realize anyone was waiting for this.

Bottom line -- this revival is, for the most part, a first rate rendering of the show and I would recommend it without hesitation to any theatre fan. This is not to say that it matches the same level of perfection as the original, but given that last night was the first preview, it still has time to grow and improve, but even now, it provides many thrilling moments.

I have a few quibbles. Not sure how much they would matter to someone seeing this show (in a professional production) for the first time, but for those like me who have every detail of this show imprinted on their DNA, they need to be mentioned:

-- the tempos are noticeably too slow at times especially for the opening. The dancers were clearly within their comfort zone and the pace wasn't pushing them at all. When you have pros at this level, in order for this audition to look real (and for the opening to be as electrifying as it should be), the dancers need to be pushed to their absolute limit and the audience should be able to see the strain and effort and there should almost be an air of desperation for them just to get through it. Otherwise, it can come off a little flat.

-- The orchestrations have been noticeably trimmed and scaled down, giving several passages a rather hollow overall sound. Some harmonic counterpoints are missing as well. Not sure if that's due to fewer pieces in the orchestra or a problem with sound balance (which is understandable for a first preview), but either way some of the more lyrical passages in the score were lacking in fullness. The 70s wa-wa guitar is gone which I guess is understandable. And a couple of measures were cut out of "The Music and the Mirror" that made for an awkward transition or two. Hamlisch was in the back of the theatre tonight. Hopefully he'll make some corrections.

-- The cast was strong overall, especially in terms of the dancing. There's a weak link here or there vocally, though. The acting was mostly solid, though I felt that a few of them were pushing too hard and their performances bordered on caricature. While, yes, in an audition situation it would be understandable that some characters may be overplaying due to nervousness, the actors playing them still have to make sure that these characters always come off as real flesh and blood fully dimensional people.

To single out a few:

-- Jason Tam displayed a lovely vulnerability as Paul
-- Chryssie Whitehead did a terrific job of making Kristine her own
-- Deidre Goodwin was properly bitchy as Sheila, but needs to find more of the self-effacing quality in the character. You should love Sheila and really feel for her and I didn't last night. Her Sheila was too much of a stuck up pain in the ass -- and that's only PART of the role
-- Michael Beresse lacks a certain stature and authority as Zach. He's doing his best I'm sure, but Zach really needs to be intimidating and radiate "power" and Beresse simply doesn't
-- Charlotte D'Amboise acts Cassie beautifully. Her dancing was very good, but I agree with those who said that the choreography of "Music and the Mirror" needs tweaking for her -- she seemed a bit held back and it didn't play to her strengths. Her singing sounded very strained to me, with too much tension in the throat and not enough support from the diaphragm. Overall, a very solid account of the role, but not a complete success

Anyway, I'm pressed for time, so I'll just conclude by saying it's good to see the show back on Broadway and in a production that's mostly worthy of the original. It holds up very well and still is an extraordinary piece of theatre that didn't strike me as dated (though the occasional reference to people like Jill St. John, does certainly remind you that you're in 1975 and not the present day). As I mentioned in my quibbles, certain elements need to be tightened and stregthened to give it a greater sense of urgency than it has at this point. If it's not yet as electrifying as the original, it nevertheless stands as perhaps the best show in town at the moment.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 3:23pm

Thanks, Margo - good to hear.

It's interesting how almost every review I have read single out almost the exact things over and over. Hopefully things will be fixed.

[Actrss100]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 3:24pm

thanks for the review!!!!

[folkyboy]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 3:30pm

nice! i'm excited to hear it for myself :)

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 3:45pm

Thank you for the review!

Posted: 9/19/06 at 4:05pm

Margo you are the best

I was there last night and agree 100% with you I so wanted to watch the original and saw a good show The fire in the belly was missing. I listened to the original CD today and noticed the difference in the intensity of the performance
Your review was right on target I await your reviews each month I tried to find you last night but I didnt know where you were sitting I was in Row B center orchestra

all the best

[morosco]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 4:19pm

Thanks Margo!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 4:28pm

Sweet! If I do go to NYC this coming summer, this is my #1 show to see.

[ken8631]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 4:50pm

I also agree. Wife and I were in Center Orch Row C (two rows in front of Bernadette Peters and Joel Grey...)

[mateo]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 4:55pm

"The 70s wa-wa guitar is gone which I guess is understandable."


NOOOOO!

no it's not.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 5:55pm

You know what amazes me? That I just read what appeared to be a very carefully written review, and ended up being Margo's quick impressions. Man, he's good.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 6:21pm

Margo- What did you think of Tyler Hanes?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 9:38pm

Hanes is completely fine as Larry and is certainly a terrific dancer, but it's very hard for anyone to make much of an impression in that role. Since Larry is Zach's assistant and not one of the auditioners, he only has a few lines and no solo moments in the show.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 9:47pm

"If it's not yet as electrifying as the original, it nevertheless stands as perhaps the best show in town at the moment."

Wow -- those are some hefty words. Not to express any doubt in what you're saying, but really? Even though it just started NY previews? That sounds pretty fantastic. I'll definitely need to get out here and see the OBC at least once, regardless of when I get around to it.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 9:48pm

How about Natalie Cortez and Jessica Lee Goldyn? I've noticed that about 95% of the reviews I've read on this board and the press, they're not mentioned. Are their performances forgettable?

[focusingonmoviesmatt]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 9:57pm

anyone happen to know if its been at tkts last night or tonight?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 9:58pm

NO.

And it will not be for quite some time.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 10:32pm

Cortez didn't particularly stand out to me. Her performance and her vocals were solid, but nothing special and I can't really put my finger on exactly what was missing. Maybe I've heard "Nothing" and "What I Did For Love" too many times over the years for them to make as much of an impact anymore. I don't know. I suppose part of me wishes that Cortez's vocals were stronger -- she sounded OK, but for me to really take notice of the actress playing Diana, her voice has to be better than OK ...... a lot better.

Goldyn was good, though it struck me that she was trying a little too hard to sell "Dance Ten, Looks Three." It's a brash, brassy number to be sure, but she could benefit from toning it down slightly and making sharper, more specific choices. Also -- and I hope I'm not out of line saying this but -- she might want to talk to one of Theoni's assistants about getting a different, better-fitting dance bra. She's delivering a song about her "tits" and so it's hard not to notice that hers looked .......um...... a little lumpy (?) in that tight shirt, which is rather distracting among other things. I mean no offense by saying that and apologize in advance if she or anyone else is bothered by what I said.

Updated On: 9/19/06 at 10:32 PM

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 10:45pm

RACIST! SEXIST! MISOGYNIST!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 11:00pm

Anti-lumpism oppresses lumps!

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 11:02pm

My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely little lumps (Check it out)

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 11:07pm

"If it's not yet as electrifying as the original, it nevertheless stands as perhaps the best show in town at the moment".

What a very nice thing to say, Margo, and I think I'd be inclined to agree. When they formed the line at the back of the stage and struck that pose, my hair stood on end.

It isn't perfect, but it's ohso rewatchable.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 11:08pm

I hope to see the show next Spring!