6th Street Playhouse’s “A Chorus Line” continues through Sept. 28 in Santa Rosa. (Photo by Eric Chazankin via Bay City News)
By Woody Weingarten, Bay City News
If you think the half-century-old dramatic musical “A Chorus Line” might be a little stale by now, think again.
The current 6th Street Playhouse production proves that the show, which goes behind the scenes at intense auditions for a musical, is as effervescent, touching and funny today as it was in its 1975 debut and record-breaking 8,137 Broadway performances that followed.
Bottom line: The Santa Rosa show, onstage through Sept. 28, is good entertainment for geezers and Gen-Zers alike.
Yes, parts of the storyline don’t have the same impact now, including some “big reveal” moments by characters whose backstories involve coming out of the closet or suffering abuse as a child.
But the classic tunes by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban (the songs ar bouncy and/or heartbreaking) could fit the voices of Audra McDonald or Taylor Swift.
The large multi-ethnic cast of performers with varied body types does better than OK with vigorous unison singing and synchronized dancing. Choreographer Hannah Woolfenden nicely coordinates the diverse group.
Director Lorenzo Alviso makes sure the timing is near-perfect, emulating original triple-threat director Michael Bennett, who conceived and choreographed the Pulitzer Prize, Tony and Obie-winning show.
The two-hour show begins with the company messing up requisite dance steps for laughs and voicing anxiety about making the cut in “I Hope I Get It.” It’s quickly followed by “I Can Do That,” a tricky novelty number by Mike (Diego Rodriguez), who displays great dancing chops.
Tracy Hinman’s eye-catching costumes and Noah Hewitt’s mood-changing lighting choices are notable. The seven-piece band in the pit under the direction of Ginger Beavers successfully captures the characters’ moods, only occasionally playing a bit loud, muffling a vocal or two.
Monique Borses plays Cassie in 6th Street Playhouse’s “A Chorus Line.” (Photo by Eric Chazankin via Bay City News)
Special solos include “The Music and the Mirror” sung poignantly by Cassie (Monique Barses); “What I Did for Love” and “Nothing” by Diana (Reilly Milton); and the angst-filled “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three by Val (Anna Vorperian).
Kudos also go to Sashas Holton, an understudy, as Sheila.
Tajai Jaxon Britten is consistent as Zach, the troubled director who must select four males and four females, from twice that number who are trying out.
If there’s a flaw in the production, it’s that it’s difficult to keep track of the numerous characters, a carryover from the original book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante.
Imperfections, however, shouldn’t keep patrons from thoroughly enjoying this classic show. It has the trademark tall, movable mirrors at the back of the stage; slapstick bits like the wannabe who relates his childhood difficulties hiding frequent erections; and, of course, the delightful tap, ballet and jazzy dancing that characterize every chorus line.
6th Street Playhouse’s “A Chorus Line” runs through Sept. 28 at 52 W. 6th St., Santa Rosa. Tickets are $33 to $55.95 at 6thstreetplayhouse.com.
This article was first published on LocalNewsMatters.org, a nonprofit site supported by Bay City News Foundation http://www.baycitynews.org/contact/.
Sherwood “Woody” Weingarten, a longtime voting member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle and the author of four books, can be contacted by email at voodee@sbcglobal.net or on his websites, https://woodyweingarten.com and https://vitalitypress.com.
