A Chorus Line tour at Birmingham Hippodrome

A Chorus Line is one of my favourite films from my childhood, and I’ve now seen it 3 times. Including this latest which was part of the A Chorus Line tour, where we saw it at the Birmingham Hippodrome on the last night of the run there..

I always wanted to see it on Broadway but failed because when I went, the Broadway strikes were on. Luckily I managed to see in in London about 11 years ago with my mum when she was ill. The last show we saw together before she died. And post Covid lockdowns I saw a student version at Warwick Arts Centre. I love the show, so when this UK tour was announced I was all over it. I was pleased to have a couple of friends come along as well so it was a nice evening with a good meal first, before the show.

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A Chorus Line

If you don’t know the story, it’s about auditions for a new show on Broadway in 1975. 17 shortlisted dancers are tested, and not just about dance, to make the cut to 8. It’s about following your dreams, and how the dancers have made it to this stage, all with different stories. It’s raw and emotional, with some great songs and dances.

This tour reprises The Curve Leicester original production, with Zach played by Adam Cooper (made famous due to his playing the lead swan of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake), and Cassie performed by Carly Mercedes Dyer.

In a Facebook theatre group I’m in, there have been mixed reviews of A Chorus Line. But I’d be surprised if anyone who doesn’t like musicals or dance, didn’t enjoy seeing a ‘behind the scenes’ view of the pressure of getting to be on stage. After all, the original premise of this musical follows interviews with real performance.

Birmingham Hippodrome

The Hippodrome is a lovely theatre. It’s modern from the outside, but has a traditional theatre feel inside. The seating (in the stalls where we sat anyway) is comfortable, roomy so you’re not squashed in, and has so much leg room. It’s bliss compared with other theatres (and so much cheaper than seeing the same show in London).

From our seats in the stalls, we had a great view of the stage. The rake is fine and the seats are well offset to see directly to the stage. If you had seats the other side on the left of the aisle, they would have missed quite a bit on that side of the stage. Some felt like it was happening behind the wings which I’d have been really peeved about if I’d sat there.

A Chorus Line show

The set was so realistic, you could just imagine it being the perfect set up for auditions. I liked the use of ipad by Larry (not quite 1970s style) which was beamed onto a panel on stage above the performers. It meant you could see individual performers as they’re auditioning, to help pick out who’s speaking. It gave the audience additional close up or side views.

I absolutely loved the show. It made me feel like I was really there. Zach’s director’s table is set up at the side of the stage, but he roams around – I couldn’t tell where his voice was coming from though, until I spotted him again at the other side of the stalls going up again onto the stage each time.

I couldn’t fault the musicians. I could see the reflection of the conductor in the mirrors and couldn’t work out where they were seated. But part way through the set was turned round during one number which was nice to see them.

If you’ve seen the movie I thought most of this cast were well matched either in looks, or getting the characters just right. I thought this Sheila was the best of the 3 shows I’ve seen, she really embodied the character well. I wasn’t sure about Don. He felt like a mismatched character to the rest, like he’d just wandered in off the street; he didn’t really fit in as the character I imagined.

I didn’t like that Ritchie was played by a woman. I felt it lost some of the character of Ritchie, and I don’t think the song is that great. Plus it means the ‘4 and 4’ meaning 4 girls, 4 boys didn’t work, as it was 5 girls picked in the end. 

For me, Jocasta Almgill as Diana was stand out. Her voice and solos were amazing, and Nothing is always one of the songs I come out singing and humming afterwards.

I though Adam Cooper made a great Zach. I wouldnt have recognised him with the longer grey hair, but he fits well with the character I imagine. And at the end we get to see a bit of him dancing while the dancers change for the final scene.

I thought Carly Mercedes Dyer as Cassie was a great dancer in the solos and her song The Music and the Mirror was good. But I didn’t think she stood out against the others in the way Cassie should be standing out from the chorus line uniformity. And I didn’t feel the past relationship between Zach and Cassie was that believable. As a star and director yes.

I don’t think I can get away from Alyson Reed in the film being my favourite though. Plus it help that I’m not a fan of The Music and the Mirror song. I prefer the film song instead which I feel works much better with Cassie talking about how she has to dance. The dancing on the stage show is amazing for those parts though.

Once the cast are back together on stage for the finale, it’s a spectacular. The rehearsals for the chorus line combinations were just perfect. The synchronisation, and the perfect, robotic chorus line with the different song arts and counts. Then followed by the brilliant sparkle, fireworks and glitter of the final ‘One’. It’s the perfect end to the show. And the audience really appreciated the performers with a long standing ovation.

This is one musical I’d happily see time and time again. Some parts make me a little teary, and how they come through stronger and able to talk about themselves as the audition goes on. Plus you see how the end of the show and the efforts in the audition ends up. I loved it, and would definitely recommend seeing the Chorus Line tour if it’s coming near you in the rest of 2024.

Now I’m off to find my soundtrack to listen to.