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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 6, 2020 16:39:54 GMT
Can’t believe we’ve never had a thread about this, and since watching Every Little Step on Amazon Prime (fascinating, watch it if you can) I’m finding myself thinking about the show a lot, and digging out bits and pieces from YouTube.
So I’d love to hear member’s experiences of the show, productions and casts. I saw it once on tour at the Lowry years ago, I enjoyed it but it wasn’t particularly memorable and I don’t know who was in it. And then I’m pretty sure a later tour got announced and went on sale, only to get pulled? Maybe that was because of the London revival with John Partridge? I really like the film, even though it seems generally unpopular.
So! Over to you. It’s in several of the top 10 greatest musicals of all time lists. Should it be?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 6, 2020 16:49:51 GMT
Can’t believe we’ve never had a thread about this, and since watching Every Little Step on Amazon Prime (fascinating, watch it if you can) I’m finding myself thinking about the show a lot, and digging out and pieces out from YouTube. So I’d love to hear member’s experiences of the show, productions and casts. I saw it once on tour at the Lowry years ago, I enjoyed it but it wasn’t particularly memorable and I don’t know who was in it. And then I’m pretty sure a later tour got announced and went on sale, only to get pulled? Maybe that was because of the London revival with John Partridge? I really like the film, even though it seems generally unpopular. So! Over to you. It’s in several of the top 10 greatest musicals of all time lists. Should it be? Just checked, it was 2010 and Drew McOnie played Mike. Drew who?😆 |
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Post by alece10 on Jun 6, 2020 16:54:05 GMT
One of my favourite musicals and one of the first I saw after moving to London in the late 70s. It was on at Drury Lane and I think I saw it 4 or 5 times. Always from the cheap seats as in those days it was all I could afford. Such a simply staged musical but also complex in its subject matter. I can still remember the finale with the mirrors and all those gold costumes.
Got to see it a couple of times at the Palladium with the revival. Thoroughly enjoyed it too and the music is something I often listen to.
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 6, 2020 17:00:36 GMT
One singular sensation, every little breath you take.
I agree it's pretty great, especially it's origins however it wouldn't even crack my top teno
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2020 17:18:48 GMT
I've never been all that keen on it, and I think that's probably because long before I had a chance to see it for myself I encountered an awful lot of cliquiness and pretentiousness about the show from its fans. When it threatened to be overtaken by Cats as the longest running show on Broadway its fans were up in arms demanding that something be done to prevent it and then they tried to pretend that Cats didn't qualify as a musical. Then there were all the theatrical types who claimed that it showed how performers were more dedicated to their work than anyone else and were just all-round better human beings than the rest of us.
So when I eventually saw it for myself I was distinctly underwhelmed. It was good, but so good it caused people to lose all sense of perspective? No.
I saw it a second time some time later and that production had an interval. It was very odd. It got to a certain point and everyone just walked off stage leaving the audience thinking "What?"
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 6, 2020 18:32:38 GMT
Didn’t the original have an interval then?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2020 19:49:06 GMT
I love the film, in a cheesy *it's terrible* way. But I showed it to my theatre-going-friend recently and she absolutely hated it. I've gone off it a bit since then. Never seen a stage version though.
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Post by ptwest on Jun 6, 2020 20:14:44 GMT
The only production I've ever seen was the one at Sheffield's Crucible back in 2003. Absolutely loved it, top performances (looking back at the cast included Josefina Gabrielle, Michael Jibson, Rachel Wooding, Nikki Belsher, Daniel Crossley) and superb direction.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2020 21:29:56 GMT
Coincidentally I've been wandering around the house singing various bits of the score all day, for no reason other than it brings me joy and I was reminded of it when I found the programme from the revival during a clear out this morning!
I'm too young to have seen the original productions, but I loved the London revival. Some beautiful songs and I love the concept.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 6, 2020 21:32:51 GMT
since watching Every Little Step on Amazon Prime (fascinating, watch it if you can) Thanks for the recommendation. Watched this evening and found it very interesting. I've seen A Chorus Line twice on stage, once at the Palladium, then again in 2018 in New York. Enjoyable and very ahead of its time, but it just doesn't seem to be able to draw modern audiences in. A large cast too, so difficult to present in anything other than large-scale productions. I think this one is ripe for some reinvention (if the licence terms allow). |
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Post by theatreian on Jun 6, 2020 22:17:16 GMT
This was my first Broadway show in 1987. I was on my solo tour around America on a budget as I was using Greyhound bus for most of the month. I remember going to the half price booth and getting tickets for A chorus line. Although I don't remember who was in it , I really enjoyed it. I remember seeing it at the Palladium with Scarlett Strallen too. However as my first Broadway show it has a special place in my theatrical heart!
My tour by the way started in New York and by memory included New York ,Chicago, Toronto, Niagra Falls, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Hollywood, San Diego, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, El Pao, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale and Washington DC. All I has was a greyhound bus pass and my first accommodation booked in New York. I remember sleeping 16 out of 30 nights on the bus overnight! I like a bit more luxury now!!
Sorry to veer off from the topic!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2020 22:22:49 GMT
My favourite part of Every Little Step is the women trying to audition for Maggie, hearing them attempting to belt her section of At The Ballet, and then Mara Davi comes in and nails it. I had the pleasure of seeing the production that Every Little Step was casting in San Francisco, prior to Broadway and it blew me away. I love the recording of that production.
Unfortunately the London production at the Palladium left me cold and only ran 6 months.
Some of it feels very dated now, the stories don't have the impact they once did.
The film version feels very different to the stage production, the same way as Cabaret does on film on stage.
I once saw an amateur production of A Chorus Line. Suffice to say it's definitely not a show that every amateur group should try if you haven't got the talent or right number of men/women/ethnicities.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 7, 2020 5:32:34 GMT
I found this very amusing
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Post by buckybear on Jun 8, 2020 9:19:37 GMT
My favourite part of Every Little Step is the women trying to audition for Maggie, hearing them attempting to belt her section of At The Ballet, and then Mara Davi comes in and nails it. I had the pleasure of seeing the production that Every Little Step was casting in San Francisco, prior to Broadway and it blew me away. I love the recording of that production. Unfortunately the London production at the Palladium left me cold and only ran 6 months. Some of it feels very dated now, the stories don't have the impact they once did. The film version feels very different to the stage production, the same way as Cabaret does on film on stage. I once saw an amateur production of A Chorus Line. Suffice to say it's definitely not a show that every amateur group should try if you haven't got the talent or right number of men/women/ethnicities. Completely agree, the Palladium revival left me utterly cold too. It felt as if the cast were just going through the motions, no connection with the audience or the work. A huge disappointment, no surprise it didn’t run. |
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Post by sf on Jun 8, 2020 10:24:06 GMT
Didn’t the original have an interval then? No it didn't. |
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Post by impossibleprincess73 on Jun 8, 2020 16:03:17 GMT
I absolutely LOVE A Chorus Line, but I definitely prefer the movie to the stage show. I'm not sure why that is. I've watched the movie too many times to count and I've seem it twice on stage (London and Broadway revivals) and have also appeared in a production myself playing Maggie. The songs are sublime and the cheesy 70s/80s dancing and music is to die for. BurlyBeaR is right, Every Little Step is essential viewing. It's been sitting on my Sky+ box and years and I've watched it over and over, to this day I still don't agree with some of those final choices. LOL!
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Post by jaqs on Jun 8, 2020 16:40:36 GMT
I loved the film as a kid, watched it as often as Mary Poppins and Oliver. A lot of it went over my head and I had no internet so had no idea about the hatred for it.
Watching Every little step this afternoon, been a while since I watched it.
It would be quite fun if there was a reimagined version, where the reality tv types are met with suspicion, the number of social media followers gives them all angst and the seasoned pro is replaced by a YouTuber at the eleventh hour.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 8, 2020 17:13:34 GMT
I absolutely LOVE A Chorus Line, but I definitely prefer the movie to the stage show. I'm not sure why that is. I've watched the movie too many times to count and I've seem it twice on stage (London and Broadway revivals) and have also appeared in a production myself playing Maggie. The songs are sublime and the cheesy 70s/80s dancing and music is to die for. BurlyBeaR is right, Every Little Step is essential viewing. It's been sitting on my Sky+ box and years and I've watched it over and over, to this day I still don't agree with some of those final choices. LOL! The guy who got the role of Paul (Jason Tam?) is fabulous in the audition but a friend of mine saw the revival and said he was nothing special 😲 And, as you’ve been in it impossibleprincess , can you confirm whether the poses they stand in behind the line, for example Paul’s hands deep in pockets, are written into the script? |
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Post by impossibleprincess73 on Jun 8, 2020 18:31:50 GMT
Nope, the poses weren't scripted, the only thing specified in the script was the order of the line - except our director had no creative vision and basically just copied everything from the film version. I did enjoy Jason Tam's performance in the revival and also Mara Davi's, they were definitely the two standouts for me.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 8, 2020 19:21:02 GMT
What did we think of this?
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Post by danb on Jun 8, 2020 20:03:00 GMT
Pleasant, but nothing outstanding.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 9, 2020 6:07:13 GMT
The dialogue bits are dreadfully hammy. I like it! 😆
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Post by theatreian on Jun 9, 2020 13:36:19 GMT
I love What I did for love.
A couple of my favourite versions:
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Post by danb on Jun 9, 2020 16:46:55 GMT
I love What I did for love. A couple of my favourite versions: Groban! 😍😂 seriously the Stages concert was one of the best things I ever did see. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 9, 2020 17:55:19 GMT
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