BWW Reviews: A CHORUS LINE at University Of Central Oklahoma is an Honest and Riveting Production

"Nothing runs for ever," says Mike, played expertly by Michael Russell in A Chorus Line. Maybe not, but the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line ran 6,137 performances, receiving 12 Tony Award nominations and winning nine as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama. A 1975 version of a reality show, A Chorus Line is a groundbreaking musical which gives the audience a snapshot of the inner workings of the audition and more importantly into the psyches of the dancers.

Director Steven Smeltzer's incredibly satisfying production makes great use of the amazing Mitchell Hall at the University of Central Oklahoma, creating an intimate and dynamic intensity throughout the production. Smeltzer, along with assistant choreographer Hui Cha Poos create energetic and evocative choreography which seem to flow evenly throughout the production. Mariann Searle, music director, leads the orchestra effortlessly through the extremely varied Marvin Hamlisch score.

The story, with lyrics by Edward Kleban and book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, is loved by performers everywhere for its honest depiction of the real lives of performers. These dancers are not stars. Their stories are not sensationalized. It's real! This is the working class of Broadway performers we refer to as the chorus.

The director Zack, a dynamic Garrett Haley, settles in with a final group of 17 dancers for what ends up being personal interviews. The dancers step forward one by one to tell their stories. The monologues often become songs like, "At the Ballet" beautifully sung by Sheila (Bailey Maxwell), Bebe (Rachel Conn), and Maggie (Emily Pace). Eventually the personalities emerge as we meet the cute and fun Connie (Caitlin Jones), Judy (Annie Guy), Kristine (Alex Altshuler), and the very funny Val (Emily Hornsby). We also meet the guys, like the amazing talent Richie (Willie Hill), energetic AL (Duncan Barrett Brown), Don (Quinn Herron), Greg (Cody Dent), Bobby (William Herndon), Mark (Joey Harbert) and Larry (Ian Cummings).

Three places stand out as exceptional in this show. The first is the opening of act 2 featuring Abbey Fitzjarrell as Cassie with the show-stopping solo, "The Music and the Mirror". Ms. Fitzgarrell breathes life into Cassie allowing a very real vulnerability to emerge in her character. The second, is the phenomenal Phoebe Butts (Diana) as we experience her heartfelt words of "What I Did for Love." The final stand out is Matthew Herdman's captivating, fragile, sensitive portrayal of Paul. As I looked around me, numerous patrons were wiping their eyes. The air was still and a complete silence permeated the room as Herdman told the story of his parents discovering a secret he's kept hidden, the confusion of his teenage years and finally his mother and father's unexpected acceptance of him.

As Smeltzer so eloquently wrote in his director's letter, A Chorus Line is described as the musical for everyone who has ever put it all on the line in pursuit of their dreams. Well, this cast expertly puts their performances on the line and gives us reason to believe they will one day accomplish their dreams. Once again, UCO shows they are more interested in creating artists than simply performers who can mechanically do what's asked of them. Unfortunately, the show only ran October 2 - 5th,, 2014. If you missed it, it's your loss.

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