Munk's A CHORUS LINE review- Page 3

[Producer2]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 9:41pm

I was there last night and I absolutely loved it. The place was packed and many people were standing. I saw the original when I was much younger and was a little bored. This time around, being much older and knowing the script and songs, I truly enjoyed every moment.
The only thing to me is that knowing the cast album so well, I felt that last night's vocal performances could have been more powerful. I didn't miss the original voices, I missed the vocal energy. Diana was missing it on both of her songs and "What I Did For Love" became a fast wash, Val was missing it with T&A, yet the only one who blew me away was Charlotte who some wrote on posts that she doesn't stand out like a star but she certainly did and was the best vocally. Did they turn up her mike? Should they have turned up the others?
As I was sitting there, I felt the music sounded canned as well. Maybe it was just because the orchestra was out of sight and piped in from another location. I was glad to see someone else wrote that thinking it was just my ears. AND CURLY SUE IS IN THE SHOW!!!!!!!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 9:44pm

"AND CURLY SUE IS IN THE SHOW!!!!!!!"

And is one of the best performers onstage.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 9:44pm

I wish I saw the stardom in Charlotte's performance, but I just didn't. I'm very glad other people are, though - because I am a big fan of hers in general.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 9:48pm

I'm with you there, Munk. Considering the entire plot point of how she supposedly stands out and can't fit in with the others, I wouldn't have noticed her at all if not for the platinum blonde hair and bright red dress.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 9:51pm

Agreed.

The audience seemed to love her, though.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 9:56pm

During previews, you have a theater filled with industry professionals, friends, and fans. They WANT to love it and will convince themselves they do.

It's A CHORUS LINE and she's D'Amboise. No one wants to believe that the revival has a Cassie who is not living up.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 9:59pm

I agree with that as well.

I also feel that people love Cassie more than they loved D'amboise, and their desire to be knocked out by this girl got in the way of their opinion of her actual performance.

I DO think that Charlotte has the means to pull it off. With a more adept director and a convincing Zach, she has the potential to be showstopping.

[John3]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 10:26pm

I am gonna try to see this on saturday by SRO. I am so glad that people are really liking Mara. I took a couple of classes with her back at Cal State Fullerton. She is great.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 12:32am

Munk- I agreed with everything you said EXCEPT about Ken Alan. I thought he was one of the best in the entire cast. I thought he delivered his monlogue perfectly. I found it to be one of the highlights of the show (and I saw it in SF)

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 11:34pm

neddyfrank - I agree.

Munk, just reread your review after seeing the show. I have to agree on just about every level.

I think Deidre has gotten a bit better. I suppose in 1975, a black woman wouldn't be the same Sheila that Bishop played. But I was always waiting for more from her...but she ended up as the comic relief.

I think Charlotte acted the hell out of the part and totally put Michael Berressee to shame. Her vocals have improved a lot since San Francisco I can tell. Her dancing was also fantastic, as always, but there were moments she seemed to be aching to do something different...something that could have made her better.

I do disagree about Ken Alan - and agree with neddy. Which is why I was extremely disappointed AND was cut from the CD.

Although he does perform, his Bobby just came out to be that kind of guy. I mean, his personality matched the ascot. But I also saw him as what was a male version of Sheila. Not a bitch, in any way, but a similar attitude. Or maybe it's that he reacts the most with Sheila. But I thought his monologue was well delivered.

Paul McGill's little monologue was hysterical and I loved Natalie Cortez, more than most it seems, as Diana.

I do agree about Alisan Porter, and thought she was the weakest member of the cast, after Berressee. There was a sense of boredom I got from her. I mean, I'm sure she's excited to be on the stage...but she almost seemed like she didn't care about being there. And the Bob Goulet bit fell short. Vocally, she was fine.

Brad Anderson (as Don) did an OK job. I wasn't disappointed with his performance, but there seemed to be something missing. SPOILER I suppose it's the thing that didn't get him cast. SPOILER

Yuka Takara and Heather Parcells also did a great job and, holy damn, Tyler Hanes can dance. He and and Berressee should switch places. (Just kidding.)

I was sort oh hoping for a Kristine who had power - as she is described in the show - but her final note(s) in Sing! made the song for me. Tony Yazbek also has a great voice.

I wasn't sure how I felt about Jason Tam. He was good. But I al

Mara Davi is probably the best, vocally, in the cast and

SPOILER

although I knew she didn't, I was upset she didn't make it - or that Mara Davi didn't make it....

SPOILER

I think Mara connected very well with Maggie. I also think Charlotte connected well with Cassie.

Last that I can think of, Jeffrey Schechter did a great job as Mike. He nailed many of the one liners.
Updated On: 10/11/06 at 11:34 PM

[Trish2]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 12:18am

Why is everyone so surprised at what a great dancer Tyler Hanes is? The guy has been dancing since childhood, had great training, and was competing in dance conventions since he was 7 yrs old. He's fantastic. Beresse only has minimal dance training, but was a gymnast so therefore he was able to do all the tricks in kiss Me kate. Sure, Beresse can do most of the steps, but you could put Tyler into a MOVIN OUT, whereas with Beresse you couldnt. If Beresse ever danced in MOVIN OUT everyone would see how limited his dance talents really are. Again, just not a fan of the overrated Beresse.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 1:21am

I mean, I have seen him in other shows - but he was always ensemble and I never payed attention.

But he just really stood out in ACL.

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 4:49am

"I wasn't sure how I felt about Jason Tam. He was good. But I al"

BSoBW2 - could you finish this sentence? I'm interested in what you have to say.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 11:38am

"Is the orchestra hidden behind the stage or is there a pit? I believe it was hidden next door or in the basement in San Francisco. I thought they sounded canned in SF, too."

There isn't a pit, unless it is way under the stage---I was in teh front row, and there was a speaker under the stage between my seat (101) and 102, back about 8 inches or so.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 12:43pm

I said in a previous post that the cast is not in the pit. It's either piped in the from basement, or from off stage somewhere. For JEKYLL AND HYDE and BROOKLYN (the last real musicals that played at the Plymouth), the orchestra was masked offstage. For TABOO, it was onstage, of course.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 5:23pm

Thanks for the review, munk. I'm seeing it tonight. Can't wait.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 5:34pm

Tyler Hanes is actually one of the u/s for Zach.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 7:23pm

I really wonder how he would do. Though he would be missed as Larry.

HOUFlip - whoa! That sentence must have gotten chopped off as I was editing the post.

I don't remember exactly what I was saying, but I felt like I was forcing myself to WANT to be emotional and feel for his plight because it's Paul's monologue. I guess either I was anticipating it too much and the monologue fell flat, and I felt it was the writing of the piece. But since other actors have pulled it off, maybe it was Tam. The ending was, of course, the part that got to me and I thought if that was the start of the monologue it would have really been an emotional adventure.