By Sarah M., Cappies Reviewer
The girl in the blue, standing stage left? All her life she’s been told she’s ugly. The lady in the sweater had an unloving father and the man in the baggy slacks used to dance in drag. As “A Chorus Line,” powerfully staged at Wakefield High School, opens, the performers are only faceless hopefuls. By the time the final curtain falls, each one might be considered an acquaintance, or even a friend.
First produced off-Broadway in 1975, “A Chorus Line” was inspired by a series of interviews with veteran dancers. It went on to win nine Tony Awards for the Broadway production, with music by Marvin Hamlisch and direction and choreography by Michael Bennett.
The musical, a quintessential ensemble piece, opens at an audition for chorus roles in an unnamed Broadway show. After putting the contenders through a number of dance tryouts, director Zack asks them to tell him about themselves - not just age, height and prior experience, but their life stories. What follows is an energetic, emotionally fraught exploration of what lies beneath glossy headshots.
As a dance-based show, "A Chorus Line" naturally relies on strong footwork, making Wakefield High School’s feat in pulling it off all the more impressive. Led by the exceptionally skilled Karina Carlson, the cast of “A Chorus Line” nailed their routines, allowing the show’s lengthy choreographed sequences to both anchor and enliven the plot.
Yet in such an anecdote-based piece, every performer must match dancing feet with strong acting chops; the company at Wakefield met the challenge. As Cassie, a failed star in search of a second chance, Jocelyn Magsumbol boasted convincing acting and well-projected vocals, especially during “The Music and the Mirror.”
Brenda Nascimiento’s portrayal of Val, the looks-conscious singer of “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three,” was rich with vivacity and poise; Lintle Dee Motsoasele put in a bravura performance as the aging, hardbitten Sheila. Ana Pinto’s bubbleheaded Judy and Irene Casey’s charismatic Bobby added a dash of humor to the proceedings. And Yazzy Boiragee, taking on the demanding role of erstwhile-drag queen Paul, rendered the character’s climactic monologue with extraordinary emotion and grace. Some actors suffered from murky diction, while others periodically strayed off-pitch, but the charisma and commitment of performers never faltered.
Of “A Chorus Line’s” technical aspects, perhaps the most memorable was the work of lighting designer Viktor Steury. Steury’s often-harsh palette and judicious use of spotlights, particularly in one chilling scene, highlighted the story told onstage. The set - composed of five rotating panels - was properly minimalistic, and sound was relatively glitch-free, though individual mics would have aided performers with softer voices, as well as enabling the audience to better hear the off-stage piano. Some transitions could have been better organized, but Wakefield’s tech crew did generally commendable work.
In an age defined by its sense of alienation, it is easy to forget the souls behind the bodies onstage. Yet with the aid of nimble dancers, poignant acting and a hardworking tech crew, Wakefield High School’s “A Chorus Line” paid vibrant homage to the anonymous faces of show business.
"A Chorus Line" will also be performed this weekend, May 8 and 9 at 7:00 p.m. Don't miss it.
The author of this blog entry is a Cappies student reviewer. For more information about Cappies, go to www.cappies.com.
