By Kimberly Rau
Theatre by the Sea opened its 2024 season with Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line,” kicking things off on a dazzling note and setting a high bar for the rest of the summer.
Until “Cats” came along, “A Chorus Line,” which opened in 1975, was the longest-running show on Broadway, and with good reason. Through the construct of an audition for –you guessed it– a spot in a chorus line in a Broadway show, we get to learn who the hopefuls behind the resumes really are, as they bare their souls for director Zach. The characters and their recollections are based on actual people, who met with Bennett and told their stories about life, dancing, and becoming the people who would stand, time after time, on the audition line, hoping for their shot at stardom. The result is an often emotional, sometimes self-indulgent, but always entertaining theatrical experience.
The show comes to life in Matunuck under Josh Walden’s direction and choreography, with a beautifully diverse and uniformly great cast. Some singers are stronger than others, but that’s to be expected in a dancer-first show. And there’s a lot of phenomenal dancing in the two hours of “A Chorus Line.”
Notable performances include a hilarious “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three” by Jessica Minter, who plays Val, the once-shy and unremarkable dancer turned bombshell; “What I Did For Love,” led by Erica Peréz-Gotay, a powerful singer who plays Diana, a dancer who struggled to find her place in the theatrical world; and “The Music and the Mirror,” the sensational song and dance number by Cassie, the once-rising star who is now desperate for a job. Cassie is played beautifully by Cassidy Stoner, a true triple-threat who’s a joy to watch and listen to. The actor who plays Paul is tasked with giving a heart-wrenching monologue towards the end of the show, and it is well-performed by Luciano Castaldo.
And, of course, the end is as spectacular as you could want.
Overall, this is a timeless show that offers a gritty look at the inner workings of show business, highlighting how precarious it can be to follow your dreams, even when the door shuts in your face, or your spirit (or body) is broken. But when hard work and luck come together and you get your big break, the payoff is well worth it, and so is this show. Catch it before it closes.
“A Chorus Line” runs through June 22 at Theatre By The Sea, 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield. Tickets may be obtained at the box office, online at theatrebythesea.com or by calling 401.782.8587. Some content may be inappropriate for younger viewers. “A Chorus Line” is recommended for ages 13 and up.
