Like most things in our lives, what once was old can be new again (looking at you wannabe fanny packs). But some things can stand the test of time and find a resurgence, not to be duplicated but merely rediscovered by a new generation. A Chorus Line, now playing at the Drury Theatre, is just the thing that proves that, without duplication or manipulation, the themes exuded throughout the musical and its numbers speak across generations and stand the test of time and political correctness.
In A Chorus Line, hundreds of hopefuls congregate at a cattle call for Broadway dancers. A sour director and his assistant whittle down the ranks until they're left with 16 dancers (“head up, headband!”). All tell their life stories -- some tragic, some comic -- and explain their love of dance. Tension mounts when Cassie, once both a big star and the director's lover but now desperate for a part, auditions. But Zach must choose only the best for his show.
So what is it about A Chorus Line that gives it such staying power?
Maybe it’s the relateability of putting yourself on the line; working for years and years for a single moment, a single audition. The opening sequence of the musical “I Hope I Get It,” performed by the ensemble cast, brings the audience into the electrifying, heartpounding, anxiety-inducing audition. Aren't we all auditioning for the chorus? From job interviews to dating, we are always putting our best foot forward hoping against all the odds someone chooses us. We can prepare for years, memorize the steps, not miss a single beat, and still not get the part. With each hopeful cast member singing “I really need this job. Please God, I need this job. I've got to get this job,” resonates throughout the audience, and hits hard no matter the decade.
Perhaps it's the theme of understanding where you have come from to accept where you are today, no matter your background. As Zach interviews the cast, we begin to learn about the backgrounds of each hopeful auditioner, as they recall hilarious experiences and share embarrassing details such as “I really couldn't – Sing! I could never really – Sing! What I couldn't do was– Sing!” While recounting where they were, we learn that everyone on that stage dreamed of something bigger than them and we see an homage to youth and overcoming those awkward and challening years with "Hello twelve, hello thirteen, hello love!” Nostaligia can be sweet and innocent or bitter and sad, but they are our formative years. The number really highlights the humor, awkwardness, and tribulations of youth and celebrates it as the necessary path toward becoming who we are today.
It could be the relatability of fighting imposter syndrome, believing that you aren’t good enough. Or when we’re slowly unmasking, realizing you were being encouraged andpushed towards a life and dream that you didn’t really want. When Cassie takes the stage and expresses her only love was not to be a star but to dance, and as she dances her heart out in “The Music and the Mirror” we feel every kick, every headsnap, every spirit finger of emotion. For a single moment we’re all Cassie, wanting to just do what we love without fear, or judgement, or interpretation. To just dance and be allowed the freedom and autonomy to do just that.
For me, it’s the simple honesty of knowing that you tried; regardless of the outcome and if you never truly make it, at least you put yourself out there, and tried. “What I Did for Love” is the perfect balance of bittersweet gratitude, not regretting what you did in pursuit of a dream. It’s this theme that is the most prominent throughout the musical from the opening audition to the closing, glittering kick line.
Drury Lane is quickly becoming my favorite theatre in the Chicagoland area. It continues to deliver incredible performances under the glittering chandeliers of their venue and their 2023 line up is sure to draw even more suburban theater goers to Oak Brook instead of Chicago. A Chorus Line runs through March 19th, get your tickets today at https://drurylanetheatre.com/a-chorus-line/.
