"Nothing" from A Chorus Line

I've seen the end of the song performed two different ways. Sometimes the actress smiles and is happy at the end of the song and other times I've seen it performed with the actress getting sad. What is your interpretation of the song's ending?

I think she should be indifferent

Updated On: 4/15/05 at 11:16 AM

The character shouldnt be anything.....she should be whatever she is feeling, thats up to the actual actress

I think its more effective if she plays it emotionally detached at the end. She needs to feel comfortable that she is not "feeling" things like everyone else. She shouldn't be 'happy' about it...just reflective.

Updated On: 4/15/05 at 11:25 AM

Chris, i like the "heavy sigh" comment.

Because you're right, What can you do?

I think she should feel Nothing.

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We, the audience, feel sad because Morales feels nothing, and she may or may not have just realized that. At least she has probably has never said it aloud.

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That Diana is one unfeeling woman.

"Can't regret"
"Look my eyes are dry.."

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This is a dilemma I've had with this song and is why I think it's a bit flawed. There's no arc to Morales' story. Well, there is, but it's confusing because her change comes at "this man is nothing..." but then the song continues and gives us this fairly random second change in "cause I felt... nothing." It's clever, but I've never understood why it mattered. The show isn't about her teacher. It's about these dancers. It doesn't give me any insight into Morales' character other than she's sad that this guy died and she didn't care. If Carp was a family member or something, THEN it would have a profound effect on her character, but he's just a teacher. I'm directing the show this summer, so I'll have a chance to really disect the song.

riv, your comment, "it's up to the DIRECTOR. Actors are paid to follow orders," is totally assinine. It's completely a collaboration between actor and director. To say actors are paid to follow orders belittles them and is actually quite mean. (and just on another point, why would anyone in a show that's not a villain be happy that they didn't feel anything about someone who died?)

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Now is the time to listen to that clever piece of material called "Something" from the off-Broadway revue UPSTAIRS AT O'NEAL'S, which tells the Morales story from the point of view of Mr. Carp.

"Six months later
I got real sick and died..."

I always thought of it as happy.

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Nice discussion. Love the show and everything about it.

I think the song says so much more than simply Morales personal story. First off: It gets to unveil aspects of a dancers life that many might not really grasp. They are not just dancers, stage dressing, or supplemental to a show. They just don't move about the stage without purpose, they show range, emotion, feeling and technique other than simple dance steps or athletics.
Anything that opens up a window into the heart and soul of a dancer works great in this piece.

As far as the emotion of the song: There are many ways to play the ending. She might have cried because she actually was sad about his passing, a teacher has an impact on your life, whether you learn from them something they taught you, or, in this instance, something they didn't, or didn't do well. School is a very emotional time for many, and the nostalgic feelings of her recalling her youth is very emotional. There might be sad resignation of not being able to go back to that time, and maybe changing something. Or sad resignation that life moves forward, you learn from your past and there are things you can never get back.

It's the digging down to the bottom of the soul line that could be a key to the emotion. The beauty of this is there is no real answer, just many avenues for acting choices.

I remember talking about this years ago with a colleague. I always chuckled at that last line because I anticipated the repeat of "nothing". My friend said the ending always left her cold. It's an interesting anti-climax to the song.

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