A chorus Line

For any company to mount this extraordinary show is an achievement but for an essentially amateur company to do this with limited time and with most people working during the day is amazing. That it shoudl be so good and better than some professional versions I have seen is truly staggering. And it was. Our stage was just wide enough to have the line, and as designer I managed to keep the stage looking apparently empty until the finale, which needed to deliver, and we did, complete with orchestra going full tilt and a tsunami of gold costumes and wonderful lighting. Not detracting for anything but we were on to a winner with the piece itself, which is simply a beautifully constructed masterpiece and with a structure not dissimiliar to many great pieces – introduce a group of characters, then spend time with the individuals before a growing drama is then spectacularly resolved – thinking Cats here, Still Life at the Penguin Cafe, sergeant Early, ghost dances, Starlight express – a formula that works. And ours worked. Organised chaos backstage, and thrilling moment after thrilling moment on stage, and yes I can’t believe it is fifty years since this show strutted into my life. I can’t pick out individuals, and one shouldnt, but oh that final number, One, is brilliant and I’d always wanted to dance it. this is as near as I’ll ever get.