London Palladium
Reviewed on Tuesday 26th February 2013
This is the first time A Chorus Line has been seen in the West End since the original London production which opened in 1976 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The show simply takes a behind-the-scenes look at 17 hopefuls auditioning for just eight places in a new Broadway musical. With no interval, A Chorus Line is two hours of 'proper', intense musical theatre. Some have questioned the decision to not have an interval but I cannot image the show with an interval. A Chorus Line is in real time so to have a gap in the middle would be strange and all the tension would be lost.
A Chorus Line is the ultimate ensemble show, the entire cast perform Baayork Lee's slick choreography to perfection, it really is quite a spectacle. The musical delves into the lives of the various characters meaning everyone has their time to shine. There are some very witty one-liners as well as a few heart-felt, emotional scenes. Unfortunately, I felt part of the middle section began to drag slightly and the structure of each character telling the Director their history became too repetitive and predicable.
After a long stint in Eastenders, John Partridge has finally returned to the West End where he belongs! At the start of the show John reminds us just what a talented dancer he is. John plays Zach, the tough, no-nonsense directer who is casting the show. I think it would be easy for an actor to play Zach quite shallowly but John's portrayal is very three dimensional. He delves into the character and gives a strong, sincere performance.
After recently seeing Scarlett Strallen's world class performance as Kathy Selden in Singin' in the Rain at the Palace Theatre I was intrigued when it was announced Scarlett would be taking on the role of Cassie in A Chorus Line. Throughout the opening of the show Scarlett stays in the shadows of the stage. However, about half way through her moment to step into the spotlight to perform The Music In The Mirror arrives and oh my goodness... it was absolutely faultless! Scarlett is almost too talented, not only does she have the most stunning voice, but when she acts she has the power to pull on an audience's heartstrings at any given moment and she dances so elegantly and effortlessly. Last month Scarlett left Singin' in the Rain and went straight into A Chorus Line. I hope she continues to go from musical to musical for the rest of her career as it would almost be cruel to deprive the West End of her talent.
Stand out performances also came from Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, her rendition of What I Did For Love at the end of the show was truly heart warming, and Gary Wood whose portrayal of Paul was very moving.
The finale of A Chorus Line is spectacular, showcasing musical theatre at its very best. The cast quickly change into dazzling costumes and sing a reprise of the show's iconic number, One. A Chorus Line left me feeling incredibly inspired and reminded me why I originally created West End Frame - because I love theatre. If you love theatre you must see this show.
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Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins
Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan
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