A Chorus Line (Review)

A Chorus Line (Review) Music Circus dances out in
style with A Chorus Line
Reviewed by Joe Blenkle/Sacramento Stage & Theatre

CAST OF "A CHORUS LINE" Bobby - Danny Bergold; Al - Richard Bulda; Tricia - Susan Bustamante; Maggie - Charlene Carr; Sheila - Paula Legget Chase; Connie - Jennifer Cody; Roy - Romar DeCalro; Cassie - Kathi Gillmore; Tom - Kevin Hawke; Butch - Noah Hayes; Mark - Michael McGurk; Val - Mia Price; Larry - Bob Richard; Diana - Vonnie Roemer; Don - Grant Rosen; Frank - Rome Saladino; Zach - Blane Savage; Kristine - Megan Sikora; Judy - Trina Simon-O'Steen; Greg - Aaron Douglas Smith; Bebe - Valerie Jane Smith; Lois - Sunny Staton; Mike - Alec Timerman; Paul - Luis Villabon; Vicki - Nikki Williams; Richie - Christopher Windom. .

    Sacramento's Music Circus wraps up its 49th season this week with the production of A CHORUS LINE. Like three other productions this season, this marked the first time I had seen A CHORUS LINE and it was really a pleasant and interesting surprise.

    A CHORUS LINE follows a group of dancers as they audition for eight spots in the chorus line of a Broadway show. As they are slowly eliminated during rehearsals, the audience gains insight into their lives, hopes and dreams in an interesting character study that goes by altogether too fast.

    At the center of the show is Zach (Blane Savage), the director of the production, who holds the fates of the two dozen dancers who start the auditions in his hands. He rules with an iron fist and dashes many of the young dancers' dreams in an instant. Complicating matters, one of the hopefuls is his ex-lover Cassie (Kathi Gillmore), who is hoping to make a comeback in the show and who Zach rides especially hard due to hidden resentments about their breakup.

    The wonderful thing about A CHORUS LINE is its even pace which affords you a chance to get to know the characters on stage. Each is given a turn to tell something about themselves and as a group, they sing and dance to their hopes and fears about whether or not they will get the job, beginning with the opening number, "I Hope I Get It."

Vonnie Roemer

You probably won't be humming a lot of the tunes the next day, but several are very recognizable, particularly, "One," and "What I Did For Love." Marvin Hamlisch wrote the music for these delightful songs, with Edward Kleban penning the lyrics. Vonnie Roemer who played Diana really won the audience over with her rendition of "Nothing," and the lead on "What I Did For Love." She last came through Sacramento several years ago as Anita in the National Tour of WEST SIDE STORY and her voice was absolutely beautiful on opening night.

Blane Savage

    Blane Savage was outstanding as Zach, after playing the role in a European Tour of the production. He last appeared at Music Circus in 1981, playing Riff in WEST SIDE STORY and was in the original Broadway production of Bob Fosse's DANCIN'.

    The MC's dancing ensemble turned in another outstanding performance. The 1999 cast could be the most talented to ever appear under the tent. A number return from past seasons and as a group they show tremendous ability and talent.

    After Sunday's performance, the 1999 season will be a wrap. It ended all too soon and now SLOA fans can look forward to the 1999-2000 Broadway Series which opens September 28 with SUNSET BOULEVARD at the Community Center Theater.

         A CHORUS LINE performs in the Music Circus tent on the corner of 15th and H Streets through August 29, Monday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $23-$40. For ticket information call (916) 557-1999 or (916) 923-BASS, or visit the Music Circus box office at 1419 H Street.

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