A Chorus Line

A Chorus Line is one of my favourite musicals of all time. All performers having to be triple threats - great singers fantastic dancers and good actors - excites me.

The musical, based on 17 dancers auditioning for a chance to be in the Chorus Line of a Broadway show, provides insights into each of these dancers’ lives. Unorthodox questioning of the dancers by the director character Zach reveals some very touching stories. Problems range from being too short to play a role your own age, to the big question that goes straight to the hearts of all the auditionees – “What would you do if you cant dance anymore?” - entertain the audience.

Manly Musical Society’s production certainly provided an entertaining afternoon of theatre, with some little differences thrown in for a change, from previous productions I’ve seen of the show.

Walking up to the theatre’s entrance, I could see cast members mingling with audience members in costume. This was something I’d never seen before at any musical. This show lends itself to this though as the cast were waiting to attend the audition. As the doors to the theatre were opening, the cast all rushed in nervously and made their way onto the stage.

From here we saw the opening song “I hope I get it” as they dance their hearts out, in the hope to be picked in the top 17.  A few get cut after this number and we meet our final 17 dancers.

First time Director Sam Ducker has a mixed cast with some terrific dancers, some excellent singers, and most of his cast acted well.

Jacob Barn played Mike Costa, whose character started dancing because his sister was taking dance classes. His rendition of “I can do that” along with his impressive tap routine was brilliant. He also kept a great comical character throughout the show and he was one of the stronger singers in the cast.

Madeleine Norris playing Diana Moralis (from the Bronx) was another stand out. Her dancing was very strong and she sang “ What I did for Love” with great conviction. Some direction in her other number though, “Nothing”, lacked the comical element the show usually offers, with the cast usually playing her class mates in drama school, which she is told she’s failing at.

Another strong dancer who always seemed to be front center was Sarah Friedrich as Val Clark.  Her acting commanded the stage in the number “Dance: Ten; Looks, Three”.

Amy Gough plays Cassie Ferguson, the dancer that has been in the chorus line before and went off to do bigger and better things, but didn’t make it.  Her heated argument with Zach to prove she can still dance in the chorus was powerful and so was her dance in “ The Music and the Mirror”, although you felt she could do more with the song if given more by the choreographer.

Sam Ducker’s direction was great overall, and he seemed to have all areas of production covered really well. His choice of having Zach being seen by the audience and moving throughout the theatre was a brave one, but for mine it just didn’t work. The score was played to perfection, lead by Manly regular Anthony Cutrupi. Choreographer Chris Bamford used the abilities of his dancers well and seemed to have pushed them a lot in some of the routines. His choreography of the number “One” was brilliant.

Manly Musical Society has offered a new fresh production of the classic dance musical and should be credited for being bold. If you’re after an entertaining evening of theatre don’t miss it.

James Russell