Two of the more dramatic moments I have ever experienced at The Muny happen in the current production (their 7th) of “A Chorus Line.”
Photo courtesy of The Muny
The first is a scene between the characters of Cassie and Zach, played by Bianca Marroquin and Ivan Hernandez, as they sort out professional and personal quandaries while Cassie desperately tries to save her career as a dancer. Her number “The Music and the Mirror” is a true show-stopper.
The second is a scene where the character of Paul, played by Ian Paget, is standing by himself on stage and speaking with Zach (Zach is seated in the audience area…literally) and telling the heart-rendering story of his tortured life. Over 6,000 patrons were held spellbound by Paget’s performance during these moments. Never seen anything quite like it at The Muny.
Photo courtesy of The Muny
As they have in many shows, The Muny makes meaningful use of their light wall, particularly when they show photos of the cast member’s as kids. There are even children in the cast who sometimes perform parallel to their adult counterparts when the adults are telling portions of their stories.
Photo courtesy of The Muny
In finale number, the backdrop is a picture of The Muny backstage, a tribute to this show’s origins which had many performers who started at or worked at The Muny, including Nicholas Dante, who co-authored the book of the show.
Photo courtesy of The Rep
You don’t have to aspire to show business to admire the message of “A Chorus Line.” This splendid cast makes it all easy to grasp. What’s the use of a life without passion and a dream to pursue? It’s never really about money or personal gain. It’s about fulfilling your own personal mission in life. And deeper than that, the question we all have to answer at some point in our life.
What are we willing to do for love?
