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A Chorus Line has come to Norwich Theatre Royal as part of the UK tour. We saw the saw on opening night so read on to find out what we thought.
About the show
Seventeen stories. Eight chances. One singular sensation.
New York City. 1975. On an empty Broadway stage, seventeen performers are put through their paces in the final, gruelling audition for a new Broadway musical. Only eight will make the cut.
A Chorus Line is a musical masterpiece that revolutionised Broadway, with creator Michael Bennett using real-life testimonies from late-night recording sessions with dancers. Celebrate the lives of theatre’s unsung heroes, as they tell searing stories of ambition, shattered hopes, and what it really costs to follow your dreams.
Originally produced at Curve and Directed by Nikolai Foster, with a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban, A Chorus Line features iconic songs including One, I Hope I Get It, Nothing and the hit ballad What I Did For Love.
Note: Content Warnings
Haze, Loud Music, Strobe, Theatrical Smoke, Bereavement, Physical violence and abuse, Mental Ill Health, Discrimination, Strong Language and discussion of sexual abuse.
What did we think?
You all know I love a musical by now and I’ll give them all a go. A Chorus Line, although I’d heard of it, was one I didn’t know much about apart from one big number.
Seat selection
Unfortunately, this is a show where seat selection makes a difference. We were sat on the left side of the front circle and had quite a restricted view. Throughout the show one of the characters walks around with a video camera, with the footage coming up on a big screen. We couldn’t see the screen at all. At times there were other things happening at that side of the stage, which were blocked completely from our seats (B30 and B31 Front Circle).
Setting the scene
The majority of A Chorus Line is set in rehersal space in New York City, so the set is pretty basic. There’s quite a large cast to fit on the stage so there aren’t many props, apart from some chairs and mirrors, and the lights which move around over the course of the show. The set is simple, but it’s one that works and it really didn’t need anything more than what it was.
Cast and characters
A Chorus Line has a fantastic cast and they were all so talented. There are no real ‘main roles’ in this show, as it really focuses on all of the dancers. Even though we follow 17 different characters on the journey to be dancers, and performers, they all shone together. There are so many great characters and personalities here.
On this occasion, Cassie was played by Laura Hills instead of Carly Mercedes Dyer.
Musical numbers
There are plenty of musical numbers throughout A Chorus Line, some of which I knew before seeing the show. There’s a mix of upbeat numbers, some great jazz moments and also some slower moments, which created a nice mix. I could have done with 1 or 2 more BIG numbers in the middle, something to make it a bit more exciting at times. That being said, I loved Sing! and of course, One.
The plot
In theory, I loved the idea behind A Chorus Line. What an interesting idea to use real testimonies from dancers, relaying their thoughts and dreams in the entertainment business. However, with 18 stories to tell, it was a bit drawn out for me. I found myself wanting a bit of a change half way though to break up the monotony.
Interval
Unlike most theatre shows, this one does not have an interval. It has a run time of around 1 hour and 50 minutes.
On this occasion, I just wasn’t wowed. That’s not to say A Chorus Line isn’t a great show, it just wasn’t one that I loved.