I am back from the City of San Francisco and have reentered the rut of my life.
There is, however, renewal of energy and spirits and an exaltation that comes from a fantastic night in the theater.
"A Chorus Line" IS BACK! And it's brilliant, scintillating, breathlessly paced and a magnificent entertainment.
This show is nearly perfect. I say nearly because there is one lull that betrays itself when it occurs...it's just prior to "What I Did For Love". Zach asks Diana and the others what they would do if they couldn't dance. The stage is peopled with dancers...and each has something to say. It's not uninteresting, but nothing is really said that is momentous or uplifting. It seems this show has gone for 1 hour and 50 minutes at a breakneck pace and someone pulls it to a screeching halt to say, "Hey! Let's take a break before THE BIG NUMBER."
"What I Did for Love" is a very nice song...and leads beautifully into the selection of the "four and four". And then there's that finale....absolutely spectacular in all respects.
Several times during the show, the applause was prolonged and lusty, with cheers, whistles and shouts of "Bravo" and "Brava"!
This led to one other grievance -- I had no idea that when the curtain closed there'd be no opportunity for a standing "O" -- one the show richly deserves.
Apparently, if you don't do it within the final kicks (24? 27? Someone told me how many, but I forget), it won't happen.
Should I ever see it again...I will attempt to lead the charge. Don't know if I can find a ticket for next Saturday or not. But if I can, I will be there.
For those going to see it in a month or so....YOU ARE GONNA BE THRILLED.
The cast is marvelous...Charlotte d'Amboise is amazing! Every cast member acquits herself/himself beautifully...often brilliantly.
I've never felt such energy emanate from a stage!