REVIEW: A Chorus Line at The New Theatre
This smash-hit musical, which follows the audition process for a Broadway chorus line, opened at the New Theatre last night (Monday 16 September).
Seventeen bright-faced, aspiring Broadway stars are put to the test during the final stage of the audition for this highly sought-after role. But Zach (played by Adam Cooper), the tough director, doesn’t just want to see their talent.
He asks each of them in turn to talk about their lives; how they got into dancing, their family and upbringing, and ultimately what they’d do without dancing. All of this helps him make his decision and narrow down the seventeen to just eight.
A Chorus Line is set in New York in 1975, which was also the year it opened, and it ended up being one of the longest-running productions on the Great White Way. It also won nine Tonys, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Direction of a Musical, which was won by the creator, Michael Bennett.
Michael Bennett put heart into this production. He used real-life testimonies from dancers on late-night recording sessions and managed to portray the ambition, hope and strength that it takes to be in the musical theatre industry.
Before watching the show (and doing a bit of reading), I didn’t know what A Chorus Line was about. I knew a few words to I Hope I Get It and that was about it. I was in awe throughout. I love the simplicity of it - one set, one moment in time, one chance for these dancers to get their role.
But it wasn’t a simple story. It’s about these dancers auditioning, but each one tells the story of how they got there and what it means to them. And then there is also the journey that Zach goes on. In true musical fashion, a lot of these stories were told via song, and different people’s stories were all intertwined into one amazing song, one of my highlights being At the Ballet.
There are some difficult topics discussed, including bereavement, abuse, and mental ill-halth, so I would suggest reading the show guidance on the New Theatre website. However, it was handled with care, understanding and realism. But the moral of a lot of the stories was that no matter your upbringing, your past, or your trauma, you are capable of achieving your dreams.
And the dancing was phenomenal. The talent on stage was just so incredible, and it was even more impressive that they did the two hour production with no interval and being on stage for the majority of the time!
The cast includes Carly Mercedes Dyer as Cassie, Jocasta Almgill as Diana Morales, Manuel Pacific as Paul San Marco, Chloe Saunders as Val Clarke, Amy Thornton as Shelia Bryant, as well as so many more talented people.
I honestly couldn’t recommend this show enough. It’s a production which musical theatre lovers and non-musical theatre lovers alike can enjoy.
A Chorus Line is in Cardiff until Saturday (21 September) so make sure to get your ticket for this amazing performance. Tickets are available by ringing 0343 310 0041 or by clicking here.
Review by Sophie Platt
Photos by Getty Images for the National Lottery (may not include touring cast members)
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