"Nothing" from A Chorus Line- Page 2

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 4/15/05 at 2:17pm

i like to think that it's a realization that maybe she should be feeling something...but she feels nothing! i think it's a sorta "that's life" kinda comment.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 4/15/05 at 2:32pm

riv:

Your comments on director and actor will likely lead to much animosity and poor rehearsals and (eventually) and poor production. The actors do NOT work for the director, they work for the producer, and any good director will not simply tell their actors what to do without any kind of collaboration. It's true, the actors in the end should be doing what the director wants, but there has got to be some kind of collaboration.

As far as "Nothing" goes, I find it totally wrong for Morales to be happy at the end. The audience isn't going to like anyone that is happy someone died. That doesn't get me on her side. I'll write more when I have a free moment.

[riv]

Posted: 4/15/05 at 2:43pm

Is it really necessary for Morales to get the audience "on her side?" She's expressing herself honestly. I'm not saying the audience shouldn't "judge" a character, but why is it imperative for them to "like" her.

It's ultimatly a directorial choice if one wants all the characters in A Chorus Line to be likeable, but that choice may not be true to the work.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 4/15/05 at 2:43pm

I also think it's interesting because, as an actor, you encounter so much rejection. You have to learn to control the impact that things have on your life and rationalize what that rejection actually means. The fact that Morales is able to feel nothing shows that she should be able to survive in the "dog eat dog" show business world.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 4/15/05 at 4:29pm

The dramatic arc of the story only works if the audience LIKES Morales. She's got the big ballad of the show and if they don't like her from the beginning, they won't be automatically turned around with that song. They've mapped it out so brilliantly that you should be rooting for her to make it, and when they say, "Morales. No, I'm mistaken. Back in line, Morales," or whatever the line is, you want her to win and you think she's been cut. If she's NOT liked by the audience, you're happy that you think she's not going to make it, and then you're pissed when she actually DOES make it. I just personally think that's the wrong choice for that part, because so much of the show depends on if you like these people or not. I'm not saying the audience has to like EVERYONE, but they should at least like Morales. Just personal opinion.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 4/15/05 at 4:48pm

most often, the ending is played with the actress appearing happy. however, it does not have to be that way,,,she can be indifferent or even sad. Live theater is a living and breathing thing and can always be changed an reinterpreted. Do what you feel with the part; I suspect any choice would make your director happy. THE MOST PROBLEMATIC LINE in the song is "The Kids Yelled Nothing." Priscilla Lopez did a rotten job with that line in the theater and on the recording. If you listen to her it just doesn't seem to make sense. After she left the show other some actresses would perform NOTHING and emphasize in that line "the KIDS! yelled NOTHING!" (with the thought in her mind of how incredulous that EVEN the kids YELLED NOTHING!!! in addition to Mr. Karp.) Lopez did not bring across the increduelity of the character's shock at "the kids yelling nothing," in addition to Mr. Karp(sp?) Listen to Lopez's recording. You can do it better than she did easily.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 4/15/05 at 6:50pm

Wow, what a cool discussion. And just think: We'll get to see it reinterpreted in the upcoming revival.