CurtainUp
CurtainUp

The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features, Annotated Listings
HOME PAGE

SITE GUIDE

SEARCH


REVIEWS

REVIEW ARCHIVES

ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP

FEATURES

NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings


LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway

NYC Restaurants

BOOKS and CDs

OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
DC
Philadelphia
Elsewhere

QUOTES

On TKTS

PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS

LETTERS TO EDITOR

FILM

LINKS

MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
Writing for Us

A CurtainUp New Jersey Review
A Chorus Line
Share

Kiss today goodbye,
The sweetness and the sorrow.
Wish me luck, the same to you.
But I can't regret
What I did for love, what I did for love.

— Diane
The question of why the 1975 musical A Chorus Line doesn’t wear out its welcome after almost forty years of sustained popularity was answered in part on opening night at the Paper Mill Playhouse where this acknowledged ground-breaker has been given a stunning production. Aside from the opening night performance that was designated to honor and celebrate the musical’s late composer Marvin Hamlisch (1944 – 2012), it included fifty former cast members from 1975 to 1990 who joined the current company following the curtain calls in a reprise of the finale. This was an evening to remember also for the way this production constantly thrilled us under the direction of Mitzi Hamilton.

Hamilton, who joined everyone on stage for the finale, was part of choreographer/director Michael Bennett’s original taped group of dancers. She was the inspiration for Val and played that role in the London production and later on Broadway. But it's the work that she did in inspiring sensational performances from every member of the company that all future audiences will experience during the run.

There is no question that this Chorus Line continues to give us a rare glimpse into the hearts, minds, and even the bodies of the dancers we take for granted in show after show. It works best when we can feel responsive to the passionately shared personal life-stories of dancers. When all the stories jell, and when all the dancing excels, it becomes an emotional experience that has no equal in American musical theater. Even for those who don’t feel much rapport with the difficulties that mark the life of the dancers, in show business called “gypsies,” this musical goes way beyond feeling like a music and dance-propelled group therapy session.

Amazingly, the funny/sad stories weave as effectively through Hamlisch’s best score (with dynamic lyrics by Edward Kleban), as do the dance sequences, all of which have a dramatic thrust. So much has been written about this show l that I will just share the one that really lifted this production into the extraordinary.

Except for the impact of the original production, I don’t recall since then ever having been so wrenchingly involved before with the difficult relationship between Cassie ((electrifyingly danced by Jessica Lee Goldyn) and former lover choreographer Zach (a wonderfully blunt and callous, replete with a distinctly British accent Martin Harvey). Goldyn, who played Val in the 2006 Broadway revival ( review) is possibly more heartbreakingly earnest than anyone else I've seen in this role as the dancer who once wanted to become a star and now wants desperately to get this job in the chorus (“I’d be proud to be one of them”).

The success of this A Chorus Line, perhaps even more than the last Broadway revival, has to be measured by the effectiveness of its individual performers as well as its collective brilliance. Tall, shapely and a knockout looker Rachelle Rak comes on strong, funny and desperate as the “almost 30” Sheila. Gabrielle Ruiz certainly put over the slightly insecure tennis shoe-tapping Diane, but sent the hit ballad “What I Did for Love,” soaring into the rafters.

It’s difficult to say exactly why each of the twenty six characters seems to have a more persuasive and psychologically compelling presence. Let’s attribute it to sheer talent, and to director Hamilton who knew how to bring Michael Bennett’s original direction and choreography and the conception of the characters as written by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, into high relief. The use of overhead mirrors has also never been more effective as they are in reflecting the dancers in the classic setting as designed by James Dardenne (based on original design by Robin Wagner). Bravo to sound designer Randy Hanson for not distorting the sound of the singers or the terrific orchestra under the direction of John O’Neill.

It is worth noting that among the alumni who participated in the finale were Scott Allen, Kelly Bishop, Priscilla Lopez from the original production.

For a song list, see See Curtainup's previous Paper Mill Playhouse review.

A Chorus Line
Conceived and originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett
Book By James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Edward Kleban
Restaged by Mitzi Hamilton (based on Original Direction and Choreography by Michael Bennett

Costume Coordination & Additional Design: Gail Baldoni (based on original Costume Design by Theoni V. Aldredge)
Lighting Design: Adapted Julie Duro
Music Director: John O’Neill
Cast: Ashley Arcement, Carleigh Bettiol, Kevin Boseman, Kyle Brown, Mike Cannon, Jennifer Cordiner, Kevin Curtis, KC Fredericks, Julia Freyer, Jessica Lee Goldyn, Maertin Harvey, Jordan fife Hunt, Chris Klink, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Brian Letendre, Mark Myars, Jeffrey Pew, Rachelle Rak, Amanda Rose, Gabrielle Ruiz, J. Manuel Santos, Alexzandra Sarmiento, Grant Thomas, Jessica Vaccaro Kkyle Vaughn, Karley Willocks.
Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes without intermission
Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, NJ
(973) 376 – 4343
Tickets: ($34.00 - $110.00)
Performances: Wednesdays at 7:30 PM; Thursdays at 1:30 and 7:30 PM ; Fridays at 8 PM; Saturdays at 1:30 and 8 PM; Sundays at 1:30 and 7 PM.
From 10/03/12 Opens 10/07/12 Ends 10/28/12
Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 10/07/12
Subscribe to our FREE email updates with a note from editor Elyse Sommer about additions to the website -- with main page hot links to the latest features posted at our numerous locations. To subscribe, E-mail: esommer@curtainup.comesommer@curtainup.com
put SUBSCRIBE CURTAINUP EMAIL UPDATE in the subject line and your full name and email address in the body of the message -- if you can spare a minute, tell us how you came to CurtainUp and from what part of the country.


Visit Curtainup's Blog Annex
For a feed to reviews and features as they are posted add http://curtainupnewlinks.blogspot.com to your reader
Curtainup at Facebook . . . Curtainup at Twitter


REVIEW FEEDBACK
Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
  • I agree with the review of A Chorus Line
  • I disagree with the review of A Chorus Line
  • The review made me eager to see A Chorus Line
Click on the address link E-mail: esommer@curtainup.com
Paste the highlighted text into the subject line (CTRL+ V):

>Feel free to add detailed comments in the body of the email and state if you'd like your comments published in our letters section. . .also the names and emails of any friends to whom you'd like us to forward a copy of this review.

You can also contact us at Curtainup at Facebook or Curtainup at Twitter and Curtainup's Blog Annex
Google
 
Web    
www.curtainup.com
Book Of Mormon MP4 Book of Mormon -CD
Our review of the show

Slings & Arrows  cover of  new Blu-Ray cover
Slings & Arrows-the complete set

You don't have to be a Shakespeare aficionado to love all 21 episodes of this hilarious and moving Canadian TV series about a fictional Shakespeare Company

amazon



©Copyright 2012, Elyse Sommer.
Information from this site may not be reproduced in print or online without specific permission from esommer@curtainup.com