Whats the most depressing part of A Chorus Line

Sheila's "long" look as she leaves. I always identified w her and her sense of hurt and betrayal is almost physical.

BrodyFosse123 said: "The legendary "One" finale.

It always breaks my heart when the lights dim on the stage as Zach starts giving his statements after the audition ends and the cast dancers are showing their excitement which leads into the opening strains of "One". As each actor/dancer starts popping onto the stage all dressed in identical costumes, quickly the audience begins to stop recognizingwho the actor/dancer is as they all now all look the same. They applaud as they know its protocol but as each dancer starts filling the stage, they can't recognize any of the actors they saw earlierin their own clothes as now they all lookthe same. That was Michael Bennett's directorial choice.

A CHORUS LINE became what it became in the mid-70s because it showcased chorus dancers for the very first time. Chorus dancers who we always saw in the background now became people. We learned their stories. Why they danced. What their struggles were. They became human.

Michael Bennett chose to end A CHORUS LINE by bringing full circle this point of the no-name chorus dancer with his finale. Having all these dancers unrecognizable at the end of the show. After spending 2 hours with them, they are back in their unrecognizablechorus spots. The number "One" is a production number in the show they were auditioning for. If you look at the choreography, they are dancing around an invisible lead actress, hence the lyrics to the number. If you imagine a female center stage, you will see how they are dancing behind and around her.

Many still comment how A CHORUS LINE doesn't have a traditional curtain call unaware that "One" IS the show's curtain call. Each actors is taking their bow during the "One" vamp. Bennett had "One" end with the lights fading duringthe famous kickline and the house lights quickly turning on right atthe blackout. This left the audience sitting in their seatsbaffled as they expected a regular curtain call when the show ended. Sorry, folks. When you all were applauding the dancers bowing at the start of "One" then just kept on applauding just to applause as you no longer recognized who each one was, that was their curtain call. That was Bennett's way of making his point: these people who youlearned about and cared about were once again reduced to "One" same faceless person. A chorus dancer in a crowd.

You make valid points about the "One" finale but I look at it from a very different perspective. Yes, they now look the same and you can't tell them apart, BUT they are doing what they love to do - - - they're dancing in a Broadway show - - - their hard work paid off. It gives me nothing but pure joy every time I see that number performed.

The fact that I'll probably never be a part of a production, on account of my double-left-footedness.



For real, I'll second the "One" Finale. Because yes, it does show the performers getting to do what they love, but at what cost? The loss of their individual identities and suppression of their unique personalities.

A good follow-up to watching A Chorus Line would be reading Donna McKechnie's autobiography. After I finished that, I felt like I finally fully understood the life of a working dancer. She must HAVE to be a dancer because her career was so full of ups and downs and not being settled or financially secure that it gave me anxiety.

BrodyFosse123 said: "The legendary "One" finale.

It always breaks my heart when the lights dim on the stage as Zach starts giving his statements after the audition ends and the cast dancers are showing their excitement which leads into the opening strains of "One". As each actor/dancer starts popping onto the stage all dressed in identical costumes, quickly the audience begins to stop recognizingwho the actor/dancer is as they all now all look the same. They applaud as they know its protocol but as each dancer starts filling the stage, they can't recognize any of the actors they saw earlierin their own clothes as now they all lookthe same. That was Michael Bennett's directorial choice.

A CHORUS LINE became what it became in the mid-70s because it showcased chorus dancers for the very first time. Chorus dancers who we always saw in the background now became people. We learned their stories. Why they danced. What their struggles were. They became human.

Michael Bennett chose to end A CHORUS LINE by bringing full circle this point of the no-name chorus dancer with his finale. Having all these dancers unrecognizable at the end of the show. After spending 2 hours with them, they are back in their unrecognizablechorus spots. The number "One" is a production number in the show they were auditioning for. If you look at the choreography, they are dancing around an invisible lead actress, hence the lyrics to the number. If you imagine a female center stage, you will see how they are dancing behind and around her.

Many still comment how A CHORUS LINE doesn't have a traditional curtain call unaware that "One" IS the show's curtain call. Each actors is taking their bow during the "One" vamp. Bennett had "One" end with the lights fading duringthe famous kickline and the house lights quickly turning on right atthe blackout. This left the audience sitting in their seatsbaffled as they expected a regular curtain call when the show ended. Sorry, folks. When you all were applauding the dancers bowing at the start of "One" then just kept on applauding just to applause as you no longer recognized who each one was, that was their curtain call. That was Bennett's way of making his point: these people who youlearned about and cared about were once again reduced to "One" same faceless person. A chorus dancer in a crowd.

"

Loved reading your entire post, especially your commentary about the conclusion of this show. Brought back my memories of seeing it at the Century City Shubert. My ex surprised me with tickets for superb seats in that cavernous venue. The cast was fired up since one of the original Broadway female leads joined them for the evening's performance.

For me, the most depressing part of A Chorus Line was Paul's knee injury because I could personally relate to that agonizing injury. Dislocated knees are excruciating, a disabling condition for sure; it sidelined me from all active sports. I can just imagine how devastating such an event would be in the life of a professional dancer.

Updated On: 11/26/18 at 12:47 AM

Whats the most depressing part of A Chorus Line.....

....that no one gets the true intention of the last number. The dancers we have come to know during the show are now faceless and nameless, just like at the beginning, but now they dance around an invisible leading lady, or "the One".