What would you do if you couldn’t dance anymore? This is the question that sits right at the heart of A Chorus Line. Willoughby Theatre Company’s production of the musical sensation not only answers it in spectacular fashion but does so with tenderness and care. With an unconventional structure, it hooks audiences with its stellar cast, but audiences will leave discussing the choreography, the musicality, and how the set went from sparse to spectacle so fast!
A Chorus Line opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway in 1975, directed by Michael Bennett and co-choreographed by Bennett and Bob Avian. It was an unprecedented box office and critical hit as it received twelve Tony Award nominations and won nine.
It went on to win the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical. With over 6,000 performances, it became the longest-running Broadway musical, until being beaten by Cats in 1997. It remains the seventh longest-running Broadway show ever.
That same ground-breaking show has made its way right to Sydney’s own backyard. Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theatre, the musical is centred on seventeen Broadway dancers auditioning for spots in a chorus line. The story 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.
Following his highly successful production of Cats in 2023, director Stig Bell makes his return to main stage directing for Willoughby Theatre Company. He structures the show masterfully. Act One flies by while Act Two slows down for poignant character solos and monologues. All of it leads to an explosive finale that had the audience up on their feet. Under Bell’s direction, the show is a masterclass in character, movement, and truth, offering a deeply human look at the sacrifices and resilience behind every performer’s journey.
Choreographer Stephanie Edmonds deserves all the awards. She manages to balance the seventeen dancers, giving them all personality and a unique style and stature. Her dynamic choreography, intimate storytelling and powerful ensemble moments are magnificent in the montage at the end of Act One. The concentric circles in alternating directions during ‘Mother’ are particularly pleasing to the eye.
Assisting her in making each character stand out is costume designer Nikole Music. Each character wears outfits that are distinct and represent them perfectly. It’s a true testament to the beautiful blend of casting, costume and choreography that every performer is memorable.
In saying that, Naisa Lasalosi as Richie is strong both physically and vocally, hitting the high notes with delicacy. Emily Newberry as Kristine is the pristine blonde in all the right ways; ditsy, dainty and delightful. Jacinta Roberston plays a sensational Shelia as she keeps the audience on their toes whenever she slowly struts forward to speak.
And, of course, Emily Dreyer as Cassie; the dream role for every woman to play in A Chorus Line. Her vulnerability and determination are alluring from the start. Her performance leaves the audience wanting more. They are rewarded in Act Two as she makes the most of her years of experience to bring both emotional depth and technical skill to the show’s most demanding number, ‘The Music and the Mirror’.
Musical Director Greg Larielle-Jones thrills with his emphatic, electric orchestra. The Concourse is always a great venue to host musicals because the sound fills the room, and the band becomes part of the show. Greg makes the most of each of the songs, bringing them to life with ferocity and finesse.
A Chorus Line invites audiences to experience the passion, pressure and humanity behind the pursuit of the spotlight. Celebrating 50 years since its original Broadway debut, Willoughby Theatre Company’s production of this musical theatre icon pulls back the curtain on the lives of dancers fighting for a spot in a Broadway chorus.
The themes of ambition, identity, and vulnerability are just as relevant today as they were 50 years ago. With no traditional set, no star and no traditional plot, this bold and honest production revolutionised my understanding of musical theatre. A Chorus Line remains just as powerful today as it did all those years ago.
A Chorus Line runs until 1 June at The Concourse Theatre, 409 Victoria Avenue Chatswood NSW 2067.
Tickets: https://aucentury.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent?ev=140102
Website: https://willoughbytheatreco.com.au/show/a-chorus-line/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/willoughbytheatreco/
Photo credits: Grant Leslie Photography
