A Chorus Line ★★★★ Sadler's Wells Theatre | Jul 31 - Aug 25, 2024


Seventeen young hopefuls audition for the chorus of a big Broadway show and only eight will be chosen! The hopes and histories of the people whose job is simply to highlight the star suddenly take centre stage. This long-running, prize-winning musical of 1975 was based on interviews with real dancers and their stories are as moving today as they were when the show was first produced. Broken families, bullying, homophobia and so much more are exposed by the aspiring performers who find their refuge and comfort in the theatre. Marvin Hamlisch's music is unforgettable and Edward Kleban's lyrics are masterful. From the desperation of "I Hope I Get It" to the hilarity of "Nothing" to the poignancy of "At the Ballet," this is a score that is truly exceptional, and all of the current cast manage to deliver. As Diana, Jocasta Almgill's "What I Did for Love" reverberates with the passion that fires all this optimistic ensemble. Similarly, Carly Mercedes Dyer as Cassie produces a powerful rendition of "The Music and the Mirror." On the other hand, the relationship between Cassie and the director, Zach, seems rather wooden and lacking in chemistry. The show's real emotional high point is Paul's monologue which Manuel Pacific delivers to perfection. Director Nikolai Foster wisely maintains the 70s feel of the show, keeping the somewhat arcane cultural references without trying to update them. The fact that the audience might not know who Troy Donahue or Doris Day is, despite them being the idols of the auditioners only adds to the thematic element of the transiency of aspiration, ambition and even art itself. The use of the projections also creates a nice sense of intimacy and involvement with the characters, which perhaps, could have been more fully exploited. A Chorus Line is a star in the musical theatre tradition and this production shines bright.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Marc Brenner

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