In 1975 the Marvin Hamlisch (music), Edward Kleban (lyrics),
James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante (book) and Michael Bennett (conceived and
originally directed and choreographed) musical hit, "A Chorus Line” hit
Broadway and never looked back.
It received 12 Tony Award nominations, winning for Best
Musical, Best Book and Best Score culminating with nine in all. The show ran
for 6,137 performances and became the fourth longest running Broadway show
ever.
Any show that has that sustainability deserves a second,
third and however many productions it takes to look back at what is says and to
whom it’s speaking.
Lauren Louis as Diana |
Every now and then, it’s good to see it again just because it is one of the classic dance shows of Broadway’s past (by doing the math, it’s 45years old), not to mention it is a damn solid and good show and it gives dancers the complete floor on what goes into the process of becoming a dancer. It also gives the audience a chance to perhaps understand how much hard work is involved in making something look so easy.
Jeffrey Scott Parsons Mike with cast |
One by one Zach prods, encourages and yells out orders from
some place in the back of the ‘theatre’ for information from each with the
usual suspects and personalities standing out over and above the others.
Lauren Louis as Diana, the brash Latina, who speaks of her
toughness with one of her numbers, “Nothing” while relating a touchy, feely
acting class she took in school on the one hand, and on the other hand later on
in the show, belting out “What I Did For Love” with more emotional tremor than
what was expected of her given her tough veneer.
Mike (Jeffrey Scott Parsons) is the youngest of twelve who
tells how he used to mimic his sister at her dance class by learning her steps
in “I Can Do That”).
Trevor Rex, Mikayla Agrella and Natalie Nucci |
Sheila, a very strong Natalie Nucci is tough as nails and
somewhat cynical. She’s been around the block several times. In her number, “At
The Ballet”, she reminisces about her parents and her dancing lessons and her
dysfunctional family life.
Mikayla Agrella is Cassie, Zach’s old flame and ex live- in
girlfriend. She’s hoping to make a comeback and thinks she has a bit of an edge
on stage. She does have a moment (‘after all is said and done and you walked
out on me’) Ms. Argella shows her talent as she dances her solo number that
lasts at six or seven minutes if not longer, “The Music and the Mirror”.
Several of the boys speak of their homosexuality but it’s
Paul (Anthony Michael Vacio) who is given the juicy part as he recalls the pain
of his early childhood, his removal from Catholic School when he confesses that
he is gay, his dancing in drag after he leaves school and his parents
recognition of him as a young man. That monologue opens the floodgates for the
audience. It’s a heartbreaker of a story but one that no doubt plays out across
the spectrum.
Holly Echsner as Val with cast |
Holly Echsner is adorable and fiesty as Val, the skinny kid with no
chest no behind to speak of but a great dancer none the less. She ends up doing bit of body reconstruction
and sings about it in another show stopper “Dance: Ten, Looks: Three” or (“Tits
and Ass” showing off her now big breasts.)
Donnie Gersonde is Bobby, the tallest dancer on the line but
don’t underestimate; he can kick those babies out as far as the eye can see. He
is also the funkiest of the contestants as he relates his escapades growing up.
Fisher Kaake is Larry, Zach’s serious assistant who helps run
the auditions and Trevor Rex is Greg the Jewish gay man who struts around like
a prima donna and talks about his first encounter with a woman when it’s his
turn to talk.
All in all the dancing is terrific, the musical numbers are
timeless, the voices good to just OK but the passion of the dancers, on a scale
of one to ten, hits a ten.
Devon Hunt is Richie |
Musical director, (All the music is pre- recorded. I remember
a time when there was live music coming from the ‘pit’) Randi Ellen Rudolph
Jethwa, Patrick Hoyny’s sound, Jennifer Edwards (whose mom Adrianne has been
with the theatre for over thirty years) designed the lighting, Rory Brown
designed the set, (an open stage) with mirrors in the background), but it’s Janet
Pitchers quintessential costumes with the glittery gold and white matching jump
suits and top hats that catches the eye in the reflection of the mirrors that
brings the audience to its feet.
All in all that’s what they do for L O V E …and it shows.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Through March 22nd
Organization: Welk Resort Theatre
Phone: 1888.802.SHOW
Production Type: Musical
Where: 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido, CA92026
Ticket Prices: $59.00 ($59.00 with pre show dinner)
Web: sandiegotickets.welkresorts.com
Photo: Ken Jacques
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