Review: A Chorus Line (Sadler's Wells/UK Tour)

Review by Daz Gale

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The annual summer musical at Sadler’s Wells has become a highlight for myself and many other musical lovers, as each year a classic show has an extended stop there as part of a UK tour. Recent years have seen incredible productions of 42nd Street and South Pacific, and this year is the return of an old favourite as London audiences finally get a chance to see Curve’s acclaimed production of A Chorus Line. Having adored the production when I saw it in Leicester in 2021, I jumped at the chance to experience it again. Would it blow me away just as much years later?

Just one year shy of its 50th anniversary, A Chorus Line debuted in 1975, initially holding the record for the longest-running Broadway musical ever, and remaining as the seventh longest-running one to this day. West End audiences got their first chance to experience it in 1976 with revivals on both sides of the Atlantic in the decades since, as well as a movie adaptation in 1985. This production was first seen at Curve Leicester in 2021 and now embarks on a tour around the UK, including a summer season at London’s Sadler’s Wells. As the title suggests, it focuses on 17 Broadway dancers auditioning to be part of a chorus line for a new show. As the choreographer interrogates them, we learn what made each of them want to become a dancer, getting a glimpse into each individual's lives and personalities.

James Kirkwood Jr and Nicholas Date’s book beautifully explore the varying factors that shape each individual and draw on their own experiences with Broadway in different parts of their careers. Feeling like a love letter to Broadway, the story doesn’t shy away from the more troublesome parts of the industry and their own lives, with insecurities and trauma forming part of the narrative. It is this rich and varied range of stories that have made A Chorus Line such an enduring success for the best part of 50 years, and one that has resonated with so many people, whether or not they have experience with the industry. At the heart of this is a story of humanity, tapping into the raw essence of people as they aim to follow their dreams and often question how they ended up where they are. Feeling every bit as relevant and relatable in 2024 as it did in 1975, this show feels timeless in its nature.

It is Marvin Hamlisch’s music that has kept A Chorus Line on many a musical lover’s playlist for multiple generations, with Edward KIerban’s lyrics creating some of the all-time classics. Numbers such as the iconic ‘One’ and ‘What I Did For Love’ have managed to transcend beyond the stage, with my first personal experience with A Chorus Line involving ‘The Music And The Mirror’ in the TV show ‘Ally McBeal’ (showing my age). With these songs having flown their wings to an extent and appearing in different aspects of life, seeing them back where they started in the context of the show feels incredibly special, bringing more meaning to each song with the context of their appearances.

That explains why A Chorus Line has been a well-loved favourite in all these decades but what is it about this production that wowed me in 2021 and wowed me again this time around? Nikolai Foster’s direction is a work of genius, with the high standard associated with Made at Curve productions perfectly demonstrated here in what I consider to be one of their best. Through inspired choices, Foster ensures the stage explodes with life and each moment is beautifully realised to give maximum impact.  His direction works meticulously with Ellen Kane’s stunning and elaborate choreography to create pure theatre magic, particularly in the sensational ‘The Music and The Mirror’ sequence and the iconic finale ‘One’.

The design elements are equally impressive in this production with Grace Smart’s set design replicating a bare stage but with several tricks up its sleeve. The real star of the design elements is Howard Hudson’s exquisite lighting design. As a moment of the show talks about every element in the production dancing, including the lights, this proves to be a premonition for a jaw-dropping finale where the ever-increasing and glorious lighting rig becomes scene-stealing in its own right.

Each member of the 17-strong chorus line gets a well-fleshed-out character – truly impressive in its consistency and execution given the sheer number of them. The exceptionally talented cast equally matches this with consistently strong performances that speak to their capabilities both individually and as an ensemble – a fitting metaphor for the need to never pull focus in a chorus line, though they each do in their own right. Joshua Lay and Katie Lee form a fantastic double act as married couple Al and Kristine, with their big number ‘Sing!’ a highlight in the show. Redmond Rance is an early favourite with his ‘I Can Do That’ while Chloe Saunders is a comic highlight as Val Clarke, giving a charismatic turn in her memorable number ‘Dance: Ten; Looks: Three’. Amy Thornton, Lydia Bannister, and Imogen Rose-Hart deliver a mesmerising performance in ‘At The Ballet’ showcasing phenomenal vocals, particularly in the case of understudy Imogen Rose-Hart.

Manuel Pacific delivers the emotive heart of the show with a speech about his upbringing and dealings with his own identity, while Adam Cooper gives a commanding turn holding the action together as choreographer Zach. The two standout performances in the show belong to Jocasta Almgill as Diana Morales and Carly Mercedes Dyer as Cassie. Almgill gives the best vocal of the night with a rousing and note-perfect ‘What I Did For Love’ while Dyer’s ‘The Music And The Mirror’ is a thrilling showstopper of a performance, once again confirming this triple threat performer as one of the most accomplished and exciting in UK theatre today. This is a show where every cast member is worth their weight in gold and more than proves this whenever they are on stage in one of the strongest ensemble casts I have seen to date.

This production of A Chorus Line perfectly exemplifies how to take a well-loved classic and modernise it while not taking anything away from the original. Captivating at every turn, every element comes together to create pure theatre magic. A reminder of why theatre is such a beautiful art form, even when things are less than ideal backstage, A Chorus Line ticks every box, ensuring that this production truly is one singular sensation.

A Chorus Line plays at Sadler’s Wells until 25th August and continues touring until 5th October. Dates and tickets at https://www.achoruslinetour.com/

Photos by Marc Brenner