A Chorus Line

Based upon the stories about the lives and experiences of Broadway dancers, A Chorus Line brings together those “unsung heroes’ of the theatre” - The Chorus – as they audition for a part in a Broadway show.

Having had my own personal experience dancing the finale ‘One’ combination many, many years ago (too many to put in print), it was a trip down memory lane to be able to review this production of a childhood favourite musical.

The Spotlight Theatre Company, celebrating their 10th year, are a theatre school providing opportunities to experience drama, dance, singing and technical theatre. The hard work and dedication that comes from loving your trade is apparent in this production.

Set around 1975 a group of young hopefuls’ audition for Zach, a choreographer and director, looking for a small group of “4 and 4” (4 boys, 4 girls) for an upcoming Broadway show. Zach is notorious for his hard audition style, keeping dancers from the early to the wee hours until he finds his perfect combination and Liam Hall, portrayed Zach’s serious no nonsense attitude really well. Spending most of the time off stage, his voice carried well.

Bethany Wear was hilarious as the ditzy Kristine Urich, very believable and natural in the comedic role, in contrast to Matty Collins’ emotional playing of Paul San Marco, a shy dancer struggling with his identity.

The dance routines and lyrical numbers were full of meaning and power. Ellie Monterosso, as Diana Morales, performed a moving ‘What I Did for Love’ which brought in the rest of the ensemble and was a standout number in the production. The harmonies and timing of this number were tight and the emotion of the audition and the life of a performer rang out.

The production and sound, whilst a little off at times, didn’t deter from the performance and the band did a brilliant job playing the memorable array of music and timings.

The iconic finale routine was done as the closing ‘Bows’ and gave the audience the chance to applaud the individual actors, who all deserved the cheers and whistles.

There has been some serious graft put into this show and it’s amazing to see such talent coming out of our Notts!

“A Chorus Line” by Spotlight Theatre Company

Nottingham Playhouse

Centred on seventeen Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line, the musical is set on the bare stage of a Broadway theatre during an audition for a musical. A Chorus Line provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers.

The show opens in the middle of an audition for an upcoming Broadway production. The director Zach (Liam Hall) and his assistant choreographer Larry put the dancers through their paces.

Every dancer is desperate for work. After the next round of cuts, 17 dancers remain. Zach tells them he is looking for a strong dancing chorus of four boys and four girls. He wants to learn more about them, and asks the dancers to introduce themselves. With reluctance, the dancers reveal their pasts.

This whole cast are a great team who work so well together. No surprise because I know what brilliant ensemble actors these lot are.. The show is secondarily about dance and who better to choreograph this show than Jessica Royce. Several dance styles covered but, for me, the tap section was superb. I know that some of the actors profess not to be the best dancers, but for all their protestations this didn't show, Classy and tight.

The cast are like a who's who of local theatre performers and having met and spoke to many of the cast, I have an idea of their strengths and the hard work that they all put into a show such as this. A cast of 33 filled the Playhouse stage and to mention them all by name would fill the next two paragraphs, so I won't, but you need to know that 110% was given by every single actor on stage.

I will however single out just a few.....

Ellie Monterosso, as Diana, got the goosebumps going in her perfect version of "What I Did For Love" as well as "Nothing"

Matty Collins played Paul San Marco, emotionally relives his childhood and high school experience, his early career in a drag act, coming to terms with his manhood and his homosexuality, and his parents' ultimate reaction to finding out about his lifestyle. Paul breaks down and is comforted by Zach. I can't remember seeing Matty play a role like this before, which shows a more mature side of his acting abilities.

In the weekend start of Pride, stories and characters like this are so important to remind us how far the gay community, and even more so, the straight community has come.

Maya Thompson's streetwise character Sheila,added more class with her "At The Ballet" sequence.

Patrick McChrystal raises a knowing smile with his character,Mark's revelations of his first experiences with pictures of the female anatomy and his first wet dream,

Charleigh Hurst gave us an interesting insight in how to get on in auditions with Valerie's silicone valley experiences in "Dance Ten, Looks Three"

Ella Greenwood plays Cassie who has previous experience of Zach, who does everything to deter Cassie from trying out for a part in the chorus as this is taking a step backwards from the featured role he had given her previously. Then he turns back the years to question her on why she left him years before. An emotional scene with both Ella and Liam.

Ella also gives a showcase of a performance in her featured dance segment in "The Music And The Mirror"

Liam, as Zach shows a softer more vulnerable side as he opens his heart just a little. His harder, business like exterior melts a bit in this scene as well as he did with Paul.

Just a few of my favourite highlights, of which there are so many in this musical

There are some wonderful musical pieces that will be well known to most people. “I Can Do that”, “Nothing”, the big glitzy number to close “One” and of course “What I Did For Love”. Behind the almost continuous score is MD Mitch Gamble and the 11 piece orchestra which complemented the vocals without once drowning them.

I can see this show providing the already multi award winning Director, Amanda Hall with another NODA next year.

Great sound (Rob Kettridge) and lighting (Tom Mowat).

This musical will make you smile, it'll also make you think with some of the stories that are related. But you will enjoy the sheer class and quality of this musical incite into casting.

“A Chorus Line” is only on until Saturday 8 July 2017 at the Nottingham Playhouse so you only have “One” more chance to get tickets. Don't miss out!

The hit musical A Chorus Line began as an intensely work – shopped play built up from anecdotes and experiences of Broadway dancers transcribed and, initially, containing hours of dialogue, it only had one song. This was way back in 1974-5. The creative process was overseen by choreographer, director and show visionary, Michael Bennett. Joseph Papp of Off-Broadway Public Theater borrowed $1.6 million to produce the eventual musical. The libretto was eventually assembled by former dancer Nicholas Dante and author James Kirkwood. The songs we hear in the musical today were written by award winning composer, the late Marvin Hamlisch (1944- 2012), and lyricist Ed Klebhorn.

The concept that emerged was a single set staging of a dance audition in which songs and dialogue overlapped into a multi-layered whole. The rhythmically supple score encompasses various styles from classic Broadway to contemporary soft rock. Whilst the big production number ‘One’ is certainly very catchy there was an original creative concern that the show needed a commercial hit and thus was born ‘What I Did For Love’ which became a pop hit in its day.

In any production of A Chorus Line, be it professional or amateur we, the audience, need to believe that the ‘auctioning dancers’ represent the real thing and, given the musical nature of their often sung confessions, we need to feel we are emotionally investing in them as characters. After all they are often giving out their innermost feelings and are vulnerable in their expressions. A Chorus Line is more than a bit of theatrical fluff with dance and music.

The show’s songs are well known amongst musical theatre goers and include Hope I Get It, At The Ballet, Sing!, Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love, Nothing, Gimme The Ball, Dance Ten – Looks Three, The Music and The Mirror, One, What I Did For Love. Above all, the final number, One (reprise) should make our hearts leap for joy apropos the dancers who have finally come through the audition process to be cast in the Broadway show and dance professionally for a living. They should look like real troupers and show off their style that makes them stand out as winners.

This is quite a preamble but essential knowledge and pre-thinking that this reviewer considers important prior to watching this piece of musical theatre currently playing for two nights at Nottingham Playhouse 7-8 July 2018. A Chorus Line is presented by Spotlight Theatre Company and directed by Amanda Hall.

The nineteen strong youthful principal cast are as follows: Liam Hall (Zack), Georgia Hodgett Young (Larissa), Patrick McCrystall (Mark), Grace Hodgett Young (Richie), Sophie Petruccio (Judy), Ellie Monterosso (Diana) Madi Smith (Connie), Matty Collins (Paul), Charleigh Hurst (Val), Joseph Smith (Don), Eva Shepard (Maggie), Stan Cook (Bobby), Maya Thompson (Sheila) Beth Wear (Kristine), Alex Tilley (Alan Deluca), Euan David (Gregory), Poppy Cook (Bebe), Ella Greenwood (Cassie) and James Murray (Mike Costa). The Spotlight Theatre Company production also uses additional performers from the school in certain numbers to great effect. They shine particularly in the ballet sequence and in the song ‘Nothing’ where they show great visual focus.

The Spotlight Theatre Company production is musically directed by Mitch Gamble with choreography by Jessica Royce. Lighting comes courtesy of Tom Mowat and the sound designer is Rob Ketteridge.

In the story that attends upon a nerve-wracking round of auditions for a forthcoming Broadway show the dancers are encouraged to open up about themselves but some are reticent whilst others are more extravert this is done through a fascinating mix of dialogue, song and dance. Unseen but heard choreographer Zack (Liam Hall) is in full command yet less arrogant than in some productions.

The whole show is very professional in every respect and this reviewers concerns that some of the cast might be too young to play the demanding roles was blown out of the water. Each and every performer play their part with confidence and maturity. The songs are given full welly by the entire cast. The movement and dances are performed with energy and control. The direction by Amanda Hall is exemplary and Mitch Gamble’s live band accompanying the show are brilliant.

Ella Greenwood’s expressive rendition of ‘The Music and The Mirror’ is one the great song and dance highlights of this complex and dazzling show. Also the company vibe of ‘One’ is terrifically well done followed by a super tap routine and Ellie Monterosso’s ‘What I Did For Love’. In the first act the company as a whole should be commended for their handling of the complex number ‘Hello Twelve’. The musical has some great witty lines and once again Ellie Monterosso as Diana nails the comic – tragic song ‘Nothing’ big time. As Mike Costa, performer James Murray does a terrific job with the song and dance number ‘I Can Do That’.