This version of A Chorus Line, brilliantly directed and choreographed by Amy Cambell, has it all. Energy, enthusiasm, dedication, raw emotion. It is full of show stopping, gut wrenching, titillating – yes there’s even a song about tits – numbers. In fact the line-up auditioning for a role in this chorus is matched by the line-up backstage who got the job already and gave their roles everything they had to give.
From the musical director, Damon Wade to lighting designer Peter Rubie, the show sizzled from the get go. The lighting, in particular, both illuminated and reflected the dancers as they moved in front of the mirror baring their souls with every step.
As for the casting set up, who can say how difficult it would be, to choose from such a line-up of talented dancers? It is equally as difficult to single out the talent when writing a review as each of the dancers brought, his/her own unique style and personality to the character they played. Angelique Cassimatis as Cassie, the dancer too good for a chorus line, certainly proved with her jawdropping solo, that she has what it takes. Others that stood out were, Ryan Ophel as Greg, with his wonderful singinging voice and Tony Oxybel as Richie, who’s acrobatic moves had the audience enthralled. Mariah Gonzalez too, whose story and song with the lyrics, “So I dug right down to the bottom of my soul to see what I could find and I felt nothing”, explains the struggle of everybody who’s trying to be somebody in this world.
The finale is something else again. Style, class, pizazz. A Chorus Line has everything with great disco lighting to boot.
Until March 6. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point. $110-$170+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com
