‘Chorus Line’ kicks up storm at playhouse

Tom Titus

When most people think of “A Chorus Line,” the operative image is the

gold-glitter finale in which the chosen few, as well as the dancers

rejected in the opening segment, hit the stage in full tilt, kicking up

their heels and pointing their hats skyward.

But the heart of this tribute to Broadway’s “gypsies,” those dedicated

dancers seeking to make the most of the 10 or 12 career years allotted

them, lies in the back story -- the events in each dancer’s life that

motivated him or her to strive for excellence in this most competitive

world.

At the Huntington Beach Playhouse, where these compelling stories

unfold intermingled with some top-notch performing talent, “A Chorus

Line” is simply terrific. Director-choreographer Michael Lopez, backed by

musical director Bill Wolfe, gives us the best of all three factors --

dancing, singing and acting -- in an outstanding ensemble effort.

As the stern director-choreographer Zach (Edward Bangasser) drills the

hopeful auditioners through torturous routines, their personal stories

take center stage, particularly the director’s own failed personal

relationship with one of the dancers, on whom he’s the most demanding.

Their moment crowns a succession of stories, some comical, some traumatic

-- culled by creator Michael Bennett from real-life experiences of the

original Broadway cast.

Zach’s former girlfriend, Cassie, beautifully interpreted by Leah

Seminario took a crack at stardom, largely due to Zach’s intervention,

and failed. Now she wants to rejoin the line over Zach’s fervent

objections. Bangasser and Seminario bring this conflictto a full boil and

Seminario’s “The Music and the Mirror” solo dance radiates her passion

and determination.

This story, however, is only one of several that comprise the colorful

and often conflicted pattern of “A Chorus Line.” One of the most

affecting comes from Sharie Nitkin as Diana, a Puerto Rican dancer with

an attitude, who hits both comic and dramatic high notes in her number,

“Nothing,” about the frustrations of studying in a “method” acting class.

Nitkin also renders a poignant rendition of the show’s anthem, “What I

Did for Love.”

Megan Sullivan struts beautifully in the show-stopping number “Dance

10, Looks 3” (better known as the “T & A” song), offering a paean to

plastic surgery as a career enhancement. Cassi Presson is a hoot as

Kristine, the dancer who can’t sing to save her soul.

The show’s most involving scene belongs to Aristotle Ibasco as a gay

youth recalling his initiation into show business and his struggle to

hide his shame from his parents. Garrett Minniti revels in the role of

Mike, who kicks off the show with his solo, “I Can Do That.”

Not all of the performers are blessed with a spotlight number. Geryl

Anderson excels as Richie, Jocelyn Jolley is a memorable Judy and Dennis

Dean Hart shines as Don in short, to-the-point character studies, while

Kelly Todd’s caustic Sheila makes a strong case for dancers with a few

extra miles on their odometers (and gleans the show’s biggest laughs

inthe process).

Easily the most accomplished of the ensemble numbers is “Hello 12,

Hello 13, Hello Love,” in which individual company members sketch their

stories in an intricate choreographic pattern. Lopez has this piece honed

to a fine point.

“A Chorus Line” is one of the trickiest musicals to stage,

particularly in community theater (the costume change for the finale must

be a killer), but when it succeeds as splendidly as this one does, there

is cause for rejoicing. This production is the “One.”

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent. CUTLINE: Edward

Bangasser is the director and Megan Sullivan, an artificiallyenhanced

performer, in “A Chorus Line” at the Huntington Beach Playhouse.CUTLINE:

Leah Seminario struts her stuff as Cassie in “A Chorus Line,” atthe

Huntington Beach Playhouse.

WHAT: “A Chorus Line”WHERE: Huntington Beach Playhouse, Central

Library Theater, 7111 TalbertAve., Huntington BeachWHEN: Thursdays and

Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m.,Sundays at2 and 7 p.m.

through Feb. 3COST: $14-$17PHONE: (714) 375-0696