A Chorus Line Play Report

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For this play report, I read A Chorus Line, with a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. What stood out to me the most was the structure of the play, and how the plot progressed throughout the show. Out the gate, it seemed like it would be a big, chorus-y classic musical, which was what I was expecting. Yet, after the first big number, the number of characters slimmed down, and the rest of the musical became a large stream of monologues and songs, woven together through the shared plot of the audition. I’m now dying to see it in person, since there are so many unique elements to this musical that would be amazing to see live. What most caught my attention in this musical were the monologues, the change in pace, and the weaving of music and dialogue. …show more content…

Most of the characters end up showing little relevance to the overarching plot, save for the fact that they’re participating in the audition, yet for just a moment, the readers are able to glimpse into their lives just a little bit, to see what makes them tick. Monologues such as Paul’s monologue about his homosexuality provide sad, more dramatic outlooks on the life of a struggling performer, while others, such as Val’s monologue about why she became a dancer, are more comedic. There’s a balance to the monologues, of which many are paired with songs or at least musical interludes, which weaves a narrative even though there’s not a whole lot actually happening, plot-wise. As a side note, I have chosen Val’s monologue for juries, as it stood out to me as something both comedic and poignant. Besides the beginning and end portions, much of the show consists of monologues, and this structure, in my mind, really helps the readers feel a connection with every character, even when they play much smaller roles in the

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