A Chorus Line: High School Edition
at Bordentown Regional High School

Reviewed on March 3, 2018

Lionel McCulloch
PA Leadership Charter School's Center for Performing & Fine Arts
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 1

Artful arabesques, Broadway belting and caustic characters merge to provide the A-B-C's of a professional dancer in Marvin Hamlisch's award winning A Chorus Line. The High School edition, performed at Bordentown Regional High School doesn't miss a beat as it turns a spotlight on the desperation, euphoria and flaws of theatrical casting.

Honest storytelling told through believable, emotional monologues, songs and most of all, dancing, A Chorus Line High School Edition embodies living on the line. Based on the conception of choreographer Michael Bennett, the musical highlights the idea that in a tough industry, one mistake means it's all over. The search for love, an identity and a chance at success is strikingly performed by a well-matched and very talented cast and design team.

The sixth longest-running Broadway musical, A Chorus Line describes the intensity of being a broadway dancer while providing a small glimpse into the world of unappreciated artists. The show begins with a cattle call crowd of desperate dancers looking for their big shot, and the controlling director who wants to unmask them before casting his show.

BRHS displayed a professional level of talent. Every student lifted each other's performance, with their close to perfectly matched skills. Both dance ensemble, and solo dancers alike were outstanding.

With such a strong ensemble it's hard to pick out standout performances. Auditioner Cassie Fergusson played by Abigayle Harnum and the director Zach played by Jack Ashfield were incredibly believable. Early in the play it was clear they knew each other, but it wasn't clear how. The actors subtle, but precise acting choices revealed much more than the words the characters said, showing a strong chemistry and understanding of the depth of the character's relationship. "I Can Do That," the story of Mike Costa, performed by Jon Domenech, acrobatically explored his transition into the world of dance from mesmerized little brother to professional, stealing the show early on. Varun Andrews monologue performance as Paul's bravely explains the power he felt when he played women, and how his parents saw him because of it, was also a standout.

Within every scene A Chorus Line delves deeper into the thoughts of each character. The lighting was a critical element to this exploration. A blinding institutional wash during chorus "auditions", shifts to character specific colors and moods during confessions. The institutional lighting shows the characters as their stage selves, when they provide their stories via lies, routines, and emotional masks. Lighting designer Peter Heberling expertly lights the dark and hidden thoughts of the soloists as they finally reveal their true selves.

Due to fantastic design and the excellence of the cast, the lights and the ensemble of BRHS's Chorus Line were "one singular sensation."

John Viggiano
PA Leadership Charter School's Center for Performing & Fine Arts
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 2

A Chorus Line at Bordentown Regional High School was one singular sensation. The show tells the story of chorus dancers auditioning for a Broadway show. Along the way, their stories emerge and as the audition goes on, the stakes get even higher to book this show.

Bordentown's production brought a new energy to a show that so many people know and love. The cast was able to maintain the energy throughout the whole production, which in this case, is not an easy task. The show requires heavy dancing during the whole course of the show. It was refreshing to see that there was not a weak link in the show, but rather that everyone was consistent with each other, which is what this production requires.

The cast as a whole, brought a fun and excited energy to the production, however, a few members of the cast really stood out among the line. Hannah Vliet, who played Sheila Bryant, brought a powerhouse presence to the sassy, yet sophisticated role. Isabella Mayo and Annissa Richard, who play Maggie Winslow and Diana Morales, respectively, blew us away with their different, yet equally amazing voices. Numbers like "At The Ballet," and "Nothing," really showcased their voices. Varun Andrews, who played the role of Paul San Marco, was able to really connect with the strong, but fragile character well, and was able to deliver Paul's iconic monologue with great truthful moments. Cassie, played by Aibgayle Harnum, brought great energy to the famous number "The Music and the Mirror," dancing and singing her way all around an empty stage, with just her on it.

The technical elements of the production were also very consistent. The lighting brought a very retro, 70s' look to the production. During numbers such as "Montage Pts. 1-4," and "At The Ballet," the use of color and angles of light really made the cast pop on the stage. The sound was consistent most of the time, everyone could be heard clearly, however I would have loved to see a little more balance between cast mic levels and orchestra levels. The orchestra was also for the most part consistent, however there were some moments that were a little out of tune or off beat. Overall, however, all of these technical elements were of good quality.

Bordentown Regional's A Chorus Line was one the most unique shows for a high school to do, and the cast, crew, and production team were not just able to pull it off, but do well with a production of this level.

Allegra Greenawalt
Harriton High School
Submitted for publication to GPC Website Review 3

With high kicks, top hats, and double pirouettes, Bordentown Regional High School's production of A Chorus Line: High School Edition proved that all you need is "The Music and the Mirror" to convey pure artistry and technique.

Written by Nicholas Dante and James Kirkwood Jr., A Chorus Line is one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time. With an original run of 6,137 performances, over the course of fifteen years, the musical enjoyed intense popularity. Set during an audition in a Broadway theater, A Chorus Line tells the stories of seventeen dancers as they vie for the coveted spots in the chorus of a show.

Although A Chorus Line may be best known for "One" singular sensation, Bordentown Regional High School's cast featured many sensational actors in this demanding ensemble piece. From their synchronized kick lines in the glitzy dance numbers to their evident camaraderie in the emotional group scenes, the ensemble as a whole showed incredible chemistry and synergy. Together, they created some of the most memorable moments of the performance, most notably the inspiring anthem "What I Did for Love".

As the veteran performer Cassie, Abigayle Harnum commanded the stage with her powerful vocals, sharp dancing, and well-developed character. Clearly a seasoned actress, Harnum was a standout, constantly engaging the audience during her many featured moments. Alongside her was the aggressive and rather impatient director Zach, played by Jack Ashfield. While he was an offstage voice for the majority of the show, his booming volume and impressive range of vocal expressions made his presence known even when he was not in the spotlight.

Among the supporting cast, Hannah Vliet shone as the sassy Sheila. She demonstrated tremendous acting skill in her ability to convey both the harsh and softer sides of her character. Also noteworthy were Varun Andrews as Paul and Annissa Richard as Diana. Andrews' delivery of his character's heartfelt monologue was authentic, and Richard's soulful vocals were extraordinary.

The technical aspects of the show were equally as impressive. Peter Heberling did a fantastic job with the design and execution of the lighting, combining vibrant reds and cool blues to enhance the mood of certain scenes. While there were a few issues with volume on some of the nineteen body mics used in the production, these problems were only an occasional distraction. The entire crew showed remarkable professionalism behind the scenes.

From the top of the show all the way through to the final harmony, Bordentown Regional High School captivated audiences with their rendition of A Chorus Line: High School Edition this weekend, and truly spoke to the aspiring star in each of us.

Zoe Hunchak
Springfield High School
Submitted for publication to GPC Website Review 4

"A Chorus Line" was originally conceived, directed, and choreographed by Michael Bennett; it was recently performed by Bordentown Regional High School. The musical follows a group of "young" performers at an audition. One by one they each tell their story, explain why they pursued theater, or almost anything else relating to their lives. The most interesting aspect of the show is of course, the dancing. The dancing that the auditioners performed was exquisite, and some of it was actually the original Broadway choreography, which made the intensity of the audition even more realistic.

The core group of auditioners was an integral part of the show, and it was evident in their performances that they put a lot of work into their characters; each one was unique and had a story to tell, and the stories they told were truthful and realistic. One standout performance was Isabella Mayo, who played Maggie Winslow. Mayo's voice matched her stellar intuition and each moment she was on stage she told her story and captivated audience members. Another great performance was Hannah Vliet who Sheila Bryant; Vliet was the show's comedic relief and she did it very well. Her character was bitter, sarcastic, and rude, but it was never forced and appeared that she worked hard to perfect her acting.

On the other end, the technical aspect of the show matched the onstage energy. The lights were flawless and matched every scene without a hassle. The lighting set the mood really nicely and was a great way to differentiate between the "audition room" and a "flashback". The sound, although some minor setbacks, helped the auditioners be heard and for the most part they blended really nicely.

Overall, the cast worked really well together and played off each other in a way that made the show interesting and kept audience members intrigued the whole time, which could have been a challenge since there was no intermission, however they pulled it off nicely. They executed dance moves well and looked like they had put a lot of work into making their show as good as it was.