A CHORUS LINE
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The current show at the Stadium Theatre is “A Chorus Line”, the 1976 winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Book and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It is a musical based on the lives and experiences of Broadway dancers. Original director/choreographer Michael Bennett wanted to do a show with the spotlight on the class of performers known as the gypsies. The action takes place on a bare stage, where the casting for a new musical is almost complete. For 17 dancers, it is a chance of a lifetime. It is the one opportunity to do what they always dreamed of, not only to be a star, but a chance to get a job and have the chance to dance. Through a series of interviews from funny to heartbreaking, it ushers the audience into the lives of these dancers until the final eight are chosen. The original Broadway show opened on April 15, 1975 and ran 6,137 performances, closing on April 28, 1990. Director William Deschenes, musical director Alex Tirrell and choreographer Jennifer Webb create a stunning, high energy and fabulous version of this musical at the historic Stadium Theatre.
The show is performed in two acts and flows along beautifully. From the opening montage to the closing kick line, the amazing choreography comes forth one number after the other. Jennifer does a terrific job with this hard working cast. William blocks the show wonderfully especially Paul’s poignant monologue. He also makes the most of the hilarious one liners written for the show by an uncredited Neil Simon as well as the comic numbers “Sing”, “Nothing” and “Dance, Ten.” However it is his expertise with the dramatic moments that stand out especially the confrontation scene between Cassie and Zach, which is riddled with tension leaving you breathless at its impact. Also stellar is the emotionally draining “What I Did For Love” sequence that tugs at your heartstrings, giving this musical the dramatic backbone to satisfy the audience. Alex Tirrell supplies the musical direction, leading a twelve piece orchestra while playing lead keyboards and having taught the songs to the cast. He obtains a terrific harmonic blend from the cast especially in “What I Did For Love.” The choreography by Jennifer is spectacular, too.
This talented cast is led by Randy Elkinson as Zach, the choreographer/director of the show within the show. His physical presence onstage with the danceers and his strict omnipresent control of them is excellent. He handles the comic and dramatic moments beautifully especially the confrontation scene with Cassie and the consolation scene with Paul. I last reviewed him as Leo in “The Producers” at Turtle Lane Playhouse. Beautiful blonde Kristen Arsenault plays Cassie excellently. Cassie is Zach’s ex-girlfriend and he can’t comprehend why she’d want to return to the chorus after ten years. When Zach confronts her about it, she explains why in her mesmerizing show stopping number “The Music and the Mirror.” This number displays Kristen’s strong vocal and dancing skills. Her standout acting scene occurs when Cassie stands up to Zach’s bullying of her during the first version of “One.” Kristen is spectacular in this role. She and her real life husband, Joseph do a ballet dance during “At the Ballet” number. Meghan Sawicki plays Zach’s assistant choreographer in the show, leading the cast in many of the numbers.
Chantal Arraial does a marvelous job as the sympathetic, Diana. She has two dynamic numbers including the comic song “Nothing” about her unsympathetic improvisation teacher, Mr. Carp and the emotional anthem of the musical “What I Did for Love” where the harmonic blend of chorus soars. Troy Wheeler is splendid as Paul. He delivers a tear jerking monologue about being molested at the movies eventually becoming a drag queen at the Jewel Box. This is where his father finally accepts him after all these years and tells the producer to take care of his son.
Kyle Clark does a terrific job as Mike where he displays his dancing prowess in the first solo number “I Can Do That” where he tap dances all over the stage. Heather Santos shines as the gutter mouth, Val. She sings and dances up a storm in her tits and ass number called “Dance Ten, Looks Three” where she displays her belting voice. One of the most comical performers is Stef Rodgers as Sheila, the bitchy 30 year old diva. She has some of Neil Simon’s best biting and cutting one liners, obtaining many laughs while doing so. She, Delita Getzoyan as Bebe, Aleksandra Donato as Maggie sing the poignant “At the Ballet” where they sing about their tough family life while growing up and how they escaped from it at the ballet. Both Delita and Aleksandra possess strong soprano voices in this number. The married couple, Al and Kristine are well played by Anthony Rinaldi and Rachel Teceira. Their song “Sing” is where the audience finds out Kristine can’t sing and Al must sing for her with hilarious results.
Other comic roles include Joseph Arsenault as Don, the married dancer who tells a story about Lola Latours, a stripper with big boobs, Lionel Lafleur as Bobby who tells anecdotes about spray painting his friend silver paint, breaking into houses and rearranging the furniture, Tom Lavalle as Greg, who changed his name because he was Jewish and went through high school with a hard on, Judy played by Destinee DelBonis who looses her number at the start of the show and Mark played by Connor Buonaccorsi who tells a funny story about thinking he had gonorrhea. I didn’t recognize him, having reviewed him as Louie in “The King and I” a few years ago. Two other talented cast members include Marcus Evans as Richie, the basketball player who is a teacher-to-be and Helena Medici as Connie, the shortest member of the line. Marcus displays his strong tenor voice throughout the show and especially in “Hello Twelve” while Helena does a comic dance during the tap section. The chorus number of “Hello Twelve” stops the show with their expert singing and dancing prowess. So for a marvelous rendition of this award winning show, be sure to catch “A Chorus Line” before they dance their way out of town.
A CHORUS LINE (2 to 4 March)
The Stadium Theatre, 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket, RI
1(401)762-4545 or www.stadiumtheatre.com
