Debuting in New York back in 1975, A Chorus Line is undeniably a Broadway classic. Winning 9 Tony Awards alongside the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it has been adored by audiences for the last 49 years. Revived by Curve in 2021, Nikolai Fosters non-replica production has now embarked on a UK tour.
A mostly bare stage sets the scene perfectly, with the story based in an empty theatre where a shortlist of dancers are competing for a spot on the chorus line for Zach’s (Adam Cooper) new Broadway show. Amongst the fresh faced wannabes are veteran dancers Sheila (Amy Thornton) and former leading lady Cassie (Carly Mercedes Dyer) amongst a whole host of other hopefuls. Whilst Cassie is often considered the lead, there is equal weighting for each cast member to tell their characters unique story through song and dance.
Even with each cast member given chance to shine, the brightest light is the incomparable Jocasta Almgill as Diana Morales. The eleven o’clock number ‘What I Did For Love’ has never felt more iconic, with Almgill’s powerhouse vocals enchanting the entire audience.
Marvin Hamlisch’s music is an absolute masterclass, with Edward Kleban’s lyrics making each and every characters story feel relatable. We are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions from growing up in broken homes, craving escapism (‘At The Ballet’) to hilarious takes on misogynistic beauty standards (‘Dance Ten, Looks Three’). The 1985 film gave us some excellent additional tracks such as the Academy Award nominated ‘Surprise, Surprise.’ I would have loved if this revival managed to weave this standout track into the stage show, just as Dreamgirl’s did with ‘Listen’.
A Chorus Line has some of the most iconic choreography in musical theatre history. It would be sacrilege to have a new take on this, right? Wrong! Ellen Kane’s magnificent choreography is world class, and is perfectly executed by the entire cast. Yes, the large polished ensemble numbers are crowd pleasing triumphs, but it is the meticulous movement design that takes it to the next level. We are seamlessly transported from the rigid chorus line itself to the characters stories and back, without really noticing it happening.
These seamless transitions are helped by Howard Hudson’s lighting design. Lighting rigs are lowered and raised throughout the show, invoking the emotion of each moment. This alongside moments of live camera feed help the audience feel every bit of tension and turmoil from the characters perspective, better than any of the previous stagings I have seen. It is this relatability that is key to the shows success. You will find yourself in at least one of the characters, regardless of your path in life. One of the most poignant moments is where the dancers discuss what they would do if they could no longer dance, after one of them is rushed to hospital with an on stage injury. Through this we feel how quickly our dreams can get taken away, in a show otherwise full of charm and heart.
The show culminates in the highly anticipated ensemble dance number. The costumes are glittering and the choreography is faultless, as you would expect. Whilst the orchestrations have been more subdued for other parts of the show, we get the full 1970’s Broadway experience here with the orchestra going all out. With all of this in mind, it is a shame that the production itself doesn’t feel even bigger for the closing performance of ‘One’. That said, the rapturous applause and standing ovation when the curtain fell is testament to how great this revival is. At a fraction under two hours without interval, the show somehow feels half this length.
With many of the shows themes still relevant, A Chorus Line is timeless and somehow more relevant than ever. It remains at The Lowry until Saturday 27 July 2024.
Note: My ticket was gifted. Irrespective of whether a show is gifted or bought, I always ensure that my reviews are fair and based on my honest opinion alone.
Komentar