By the end of the evening, the audience has gotten to know all of them as people, which makes their Finale appearance in identical traditional Broadway razzle-dazzle costumes both disorienting and gratifying - a sort of high kick apotheosis. In the show, the dancers slowly reveal themselves as they undergo a grueling audition for a new musical. The original production exploded into the conscience of the theater community and the nation, first at Joseph Papp's Public Theater, and then on Broadway, at the Shubert, in 1975. It was a celebration of the individuality behind the sameness, imposed by the conventions of the chorus with their identical costumes and their need to sing and dance in unison to back the star.
The play was devised by Michael Bennett and his collaborators out of a series of structured interviews and group reminiscences done by Broadway gypsies, the itinerant singer/dancers that make up the chorus of musicals produced in New York. Those of you not old enough to remember the time called the 70s may be unfamiliar with A Chorus Line and its genesis. As I huddled there amidst the faux Ottoman splendor of my home theater, my eyes grew wider and wider at the carnage unfolding on screen.
Not only is the movie inferior to the play, but it's also one of the most rancid products ever to emerge from the Hollywood studio system.
After an absence of fifteen years, I am pleased to announce that we were wrong in our initial assessment. We both passed judgment at that time that the movie was far inferior to the stage work. I had seen this movie many years ago, when it was first released I went in the company of my dear friend Larry Blum, who played Greg in New York for years. A dear friend, knowing of my status as the reigning diva of musical movies, sent me a copy of the film version of A Chorus Line to enjoy. Dear Celeste has already arranged her fitting for a Skimbleshanks.Īs life has been looking up, I decided to pop a good old-fashioned musical treat into the home theater. Original couture based on the costumes from Cats. Gloria DeHaven and Celeste Holm both wanted something similar so Bob and I are going to start a little business venture – GlamourPuss Gowns. She thought the diamante and sable would make a spectacular statement. Nurse Tameka suggested I wear my Bob Mackie Grizabella gown from the commercial shoot. Yesterday evening, I was invited to a very exclusive Hollywood soiree on short notice and had absolutely nothing to wear. There is some interesting news on the horizon. Norman suggested that I have the local Girl Scouts take it around the neighborhood with their cookies I’d be afraid, however, that some of the neighbors would crumble Samoas into the cat bowl and pour Meow Mix for their children and I wouldn’t want the negative publicity As I have a few bills to pay to my fashion consultants and my private interior designer, I will entertain offers for autographed boxes of this delectable treat. My opponent might have been able to use them for some nefarious purpose. I wasn’t going to just leave them behind, after their fateful appearance at my last political debate. Patrick, my highly exceptional tabby cat, has barely made a dint in the stacks of Meow Mix boxes I had shipped to Chateau Maine. ONE SINGULAR SENSATION – FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS " Quite possibly the worst film adaptation of a stage musical ever"Ĭolumbia Pictures took the stage classic of the 70s and trashed it into unrecognizability in this moribund film adaptation, directed by Richard Attenborough, who seems never to have viewed a film musical in his life.