A Chorus Line
Thu, 24 Jan 2002, 10:55 amWalter Plinge4 posts in thread
A Chorus Line
Thu, 24 Jan 2002, 10:55 amThe title "A Chorus Line" immediately grabs your attention, whether you are familar with the musical or not. To be truthful I have never seen it performed before, never watched the movie and knew only a handful of it's classic songs from the days when I was three and my mum forced (and I use the word FORCED) me to go to tap lessons. However in saying that it was a show I could not miss for several reasons... in my local area... close friends in the cast... never been to the Old Mill and heard so much about it... and was going to audition but too chicken. It is now apparent why because of the amount of talent involved in this show.
It started as any audition does, with a lot of crazy actors, only this time it was worse because these actors could also dance!
I realise it's very early in the season and as JB always says 'I should get it right... by the last night' but please watch the lighting. It was the downfall of this marvellous production and really made me chringe as an actor because I know what it's like up on stage when the spotlight is going haywire. When the character's were talking to the director Zach it didn't have to be as tight but when each character was going back into memories is should have been clean and exact. The lighting designer made the spotlight suit one of Sheila's opening lines so a big thumbs up for that.
The set was perfect for "A Chorus Line", simple but effective. The use of mirrors definately gave me the feeling that there were a lot more actors on stage than there really was and it was classic watching the actors use them to create a natural edge in their performance.
The opening scene had a great young energy level but could have been less obvious which dancers would be picked for the final cull. The leads shone through, knowing every step (with the exception of the two lads! Hilarious!) and the others appeared to not have a clue. Was this done on purpose? I'm not sure but I would have liked to have seen a harder audition process where the audience is blown away by the amount of talent there is on stage and definately in Broadway. All dancers could have blended together with the leads then starting to emerge. In saying this the singing and choreography was spot on. As the musical progressed I got sucked in more and more and kept thinking 'so this is why people rave about it'. Loved all the songs sung in chorus and the group mixed well together vocally and on stage. With regards to solos I feel the sound could have been adjusted for those with weak but definately beautiful voices.
Both actors in the main 'Cassie' scene I felt were very believable and passionate but the scene dragged on with no real climax. While the music drowned out the scene and the dance was neither elegant nor upbeat, Cassie's character gave the audience an insight into the difficulties of a real life dancer.
Special mention must go to the brilliant talents of all-rounders Chris Dodson and Claire Hopper, the singing talents of Sherry-Anne Hayes and Avril Robertson, the dancing talents of Shane Collard and delight of watching little 'Bebe's' face light up! The team up of Georgina Williams and Danny Ellefsen was well cast and the two were very compatible together. Every actor in this play should take example from the constant level of attention and character portrayl of the tall Jewish male dancer who wears the Freshjive tee (Sorry my mind's gone blank on your character's name!). He was wonderful to watch throughout the entire play especially in the end cull. What a primadonna!
Support this young vibrant cast and the Old Mill by definately booking yourself in for a wonderful night at the theatre. I guarrantee you'll come out singing 'One'.
Emma
It started as any audition does, with a lot of crazy actors, only this time it was worse because these actors could also dance!
I realise it's very early in the season and as JB always says 'I should get it right... by the last night' but please watch the lighting. It was the downfall of this marvellous production and really made me chringe as an actor because I know what it's like up on stage when the spotlight is going haywire. When the character's were talking to the director Zach it didn't have to be as tight but when each character was going back into memories is should have been clean and exact. The lighting designer made the spotlight suit one of Sheila's opening lines so a big thumbs up for that.
The set was perfect for "A Chorus Line", simple but effective. The use of mirrors definately gave me the feeling that there were a lot more actors on stage than there really was and it was classic watching the actors use them to create a natural edge in their performance.
The opening scene had a great young energy level but could have been less obvious which dancers would be picked for the final cull. The leads shone through, knowing every step (with the exception of the two lads! Hilarious!) and the others appeared to not have a clue. Was this done on purpose? I'm not sure but I would have liked to have seen a harder audition process where the audience is blown away by the amount of talent there is on stage and definately in Broadway. All dancers could have blended together with the leads then starting to emerge. In saying this the singing and choreography was spot on. As the musical progressed I got sucked in more and more and kept thinking 'so this is why people rave about it'. Loved all the songs sung in chorus and the group mixed well together vocally and on stage. With regards to solos I feel the sound could have been adjusted for those with weak but definately beautiful voices.
Both actors in the main 'Cassie' scene I felt were very believable and passionate but the scene dragged on with no real climax. While the music drowned out the scene and the dance was neither elegant nor upbeat, Cassie's character gave the audience an insight into the difficulties of a real life dancer.
Special mention must go to the brilliant talents of all-rounders Chris Dodson and Claire Hopper, the singing talents of Sherry-Anne Hayes and Avril Robertson, the dancing talents of Shane Collard and delight of watching little 'Bebe's' face light up! The team up of Georgina Williams and Danny Ellefsen was well cast and the two were very compatible together. Every actor in this play should take example from the constant level of attention and character portrayl of the tall Jewish male dancer who wears the Freshjive tee (Sorry my mind's gone blank on your character's name!). He was wonderful to watch throughout the entire play especially in the end cull. What a primadonna!
Support this young vibrant cast and the Old Mill by definately booking yourself in for a wonderful night at the theatre. I guarrantee you'll come out singing 'One'.
Emma
Walter PlingeThu, 24 Jan 2002, 10:55 am
The title "A Chorus Line" immediately grabs your attention, whether you are familar with the musical or not. To be truthful I have never seen it performed before, never watched the movie and knew only a handful of it's classic songs from the days when I was three and my mum forced (and I use the word FORCED) me to go to tap lessons. However in saying that it was a show I could not miss for several reasons... in my local area... close friends in the cast... never been to the Old Mill and heard so much about it... and was going to audition but too chicken. It is now apparent why because of the amount of talent involved in this show.
It started as any audition does, with a lot of crazy actors, only this time it was worse because these actors could also dance!
I realise it's very early in the season and as JB always says 'I should get it right... by the last night' but please watch the lighting. It was the downfall of this marvellous production and really made me chringe as an actor because I know what it's like up on stage when the spotlight is going haywire. When the character's were talking to the director Zach it didn't have to be as tight but when each character was going back into memories is should have been clean and exact. The lighting designer made the spotlight suit one of Sheila's opening lines so a big thumbs up for that.
The set was perfect for "A Chorus Line", simple but effective. The use of mirrors definately gave me the feeling that there were a lot more actors on stage than there really was and it was classic watching the actors use them to create a natural edge in their performance.
The opening scene had a great young energy level but could have been less obvious which dancers would be picked for the final cull. The leads shone through, knowing every step (with the exception of the two lads! Hilarious!) and the others appeared to not have a clue. Was this done on purpose? I'm not sure but I would have liked to have seen a harder audition process where the audience is blown away by the amount of talent there is on stage and definately in Broadway. All dancers could have blended together with the leads then starting to emerge. In saying this the singing and choreography was spot on. As the musical progressed I got sucked in more and more and kept thinking 'so this is why people rave about it'. Loved all the songs sung in chorus and the group mixed well together vocally and on stage. With regards to solos I feel the sound could have been adjusted for those with weak but definately beautiful voices.
Both actors in the main 'Cassie' scene I felt were very believable and passionate but the scene dragged on with no real climax. While the music drowned out the scene and the dance was neither elegant nor upbeat, Cassie's character gave the audience an insight into the difficulties of a real life dancer.
Special mention must go to the brilliant talents of all-rounders Chris Dodson and Claire Hopper, the singing talents of Sherry-Anne Hayes and Avril Robertson, the dancing talents of Shane Collard and delight of watching little 'Bebe's' face light up! The team up of Georgina Williams and Danny Ellefsen was well cast and the two were very compatible together. Every actor in this play should take example from the constant level of attention and character portrayl of the tall Jewish male dancer who wears the Freshjive tee (Sorry my mind's gone blank on your character's name!). He was wonderful to watch throughout the entire play especially in the end cull. What a primadonna!
Support this young vibrant cast and the Old Mill by definately booking yourself in for a wonderful night at the theatre. I guarrantee you'll come out singing 'One'.
Emma
It started as any audition does, with a lot of crazy actors, only this time it was worse because these actors could also dance!
I realise it's very early in the season and as JB always says 'I should get it right... by the last night' but please watch the lighting. It was the downfall of this marvellous production and really made me chringe as an actor because I know what it's like up on stage when the spotlight is going haywire. When the character's were talking to the director Zach it didn't have to be as tight but when each character was going back into memories is should have been clean and exact. The lighting designer made the spotlight suit one of Sheila's opening lines so a big thumbs up for that.
The set was perfect for "A Chorus Line", simple but effective. The use of mirrors definately gave me the feeling that there were a lot more actors on stage than there really was and it was classic watching the actors use them to create a natural edge in their performance.
The opening scene had a great young energy level but could have been less obvious which dancers would be picked for the final cull. The leads shone through, knowing every step (with the exception of the two lads! Hilarious!) and the others appeared to not have a clue. Was this done on purpose? I'm not sure but I would have liked to have seen a harder audition process where the audience is blown away by the amount of talent there is on stage and definately in Broadway. All dancers could have blended together with the leads then starting to emerge. In saying this the singing and choreography was spot on. As the musical progressed I got sucked in more and more and kept thinking 'so this is why people rave about it'. Loved all the songs sung in chorus and the group mixed well together vocally and on stage. With regards to solos I feel the sound could have been adjusted for those with weak but definately beautiful voices.
Both actors in the main 'Cassie' scene I felt were very believable and passionate but the scene dragged on with no real climax. While the music drowned out the scene and the dance was neither elegant nor upbeat, Cassie's character gave the audience an insight into the difficulties of a real life dancer.
Special mention must go to the brilliant talents of all-rounders Chris Dodson and Claire Hopper, the singing talents of Sherry-Anne Hayes and Avril Robertson, the dancing talents of Shane Collard and delight of watching little 'Bebe's' face light up! The team up of Georgina Williams and Danny Ellefsen was well cast and the two were very compatible together. Every actor in this play should take example from the constant level of attention and character portrayl of the tall Jewish male dancer who wears the Freshjive tee (Sorry my mind's gone blank on your character's name!). He was wonderful to watch throughout the entire play especially in the end cull. What a primadonna!
Support this young vibrant cast and the Old Mill by definately booking yourself in for a wonderful night at the theatre. I guarrantee you'll come out singing 'One'.
Emma
NormaThu, 24 Jan 2002, 12:09 pm
RE: A Chorus Line
Thanks Emma for a thoughtful revue, we appreciate your comments and the reasoning that went into them. As one who has the job of publicizing this show I can tell you that a review gets more bums on seats than any amount of posters etc!
Having said that the final week is filling VERY fast. Last two nights are just about booked solid. Seatrs left for Wed 30/1 and Thus 31/1, but not many
Best best in Sunday Matinee January 27th 2 pm.
Book on 9367.8719 sorry it' the dreaded answering machine but I do access it very frequently, from home,the middle of a shopping centre, the gym and god knows where else!
Having said that the final week is filling VERY fast. Last two nights are just about booked solid. Seatrs left for Wed 30/1 and Thus 31/1, but not many
Best best in Sunday Matinee January 27th 2 pm.
Book on 9367.8719 sorry it' the dreaded answering machine but I do access it very frequently, from home,the middle of a shopping centre, the gym and god knows where else!
Walter PlingeSun, 27 Jan 2002, 08:33 pm
RE: A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line -
A great show and a very talented cast. Do see it!!!
A great show and a very talented cast. Do see it!!!
NormaMon, 28 Jan 2002, 10:49 am
RE: A Chorus Line
Last week of A Chorus Line, but almost SOLD OUT.
Few seats left for Wednesday & Thursday this week, Friday full, Saturday 3 odd seats
Few seats left for Wednesday & Thursday this week, Friday full, Saturday 3 odd seats