‘A Refrain Line’ spotlights particular person expertise of pupil actors

The fervour inherent in these devoted to the performing arts was clear on Sunday as Ram’s Head placed on its ultimate efficiency of “A Refrain Line” in Roble Health club.

The 1975 musical facilities round a bunch of Broadway dancers auditioning to be within the refrain line for a brand new musical. The characters within the present are primarily based on the true lives {of professional} dancers from the Nineteen Seventies. As every character makes their case to the director, Zach (performed by Henry Cargill ’26), for why they deserve the function, the tales of their lives — some humorous, others determined, many tragic — shine by way of. 

The bodily area of the present — Room 133 within the Roble Arts Health club — was virtually self-referential because it was a dance studio itself. The straightforward set included the dance flooring, a studio mirror and the dance luggage of the characters thrown to the aspect of the stage. Chairs have been arrange proper in entrance of the stage, enabling the viewers an intimate view of the characters as they carried out.

Following the considerably lackluster opening group variety of “I Hope I Get It” — the titular “it” referring to an element within the refrain line — the present transitioned to particular person performances. Going through the viewers on a naked dance flooring and backed by the mirror, dancers are referred to as upon by Zach to inform him one thing about their lives that goes past their resumes. The frequent thread all through their tales is how they turned performers and what dancing means to them. 

For instance, the gender-bent function of Mikey Costa (performed by Mack Jones ’26 on Sunday, however normally by Katie Baik ’25), delivered the primary solo of the present, “I Can Do That.” Jones carried out a formidable self-choreographed faucet dance whereas singing concerning the character’s dance expertise that was found at age 4 when watching her sister go to bop courses.

As a bunch, the corporate’s efficiency felt free and out of sync at instances, which was disheartening for a musical so centered on dance. Nonetheless, the expertise and sheer ardour in every of the person performances was placing. The actors exhibited a really actual connection to their dedication to efficiency. 

This theme was demonstrated most prominently within the penultimate tune of the musical, “What I Did For Love.” The tune is sung by Diana Morales (performed by Stella López ’26) as she laments what her future will maintain as soon as dancing is now not an choice. 

The refrain joins in as Morales sings, “love isn’t gone/ as we journey on/ love’s what we’ll keep in mind.” It was probably the most well-executed group quantity for Ram’s Head’s present. Past the assorted shifting elements of the dance that would go awry at any second, the quantity gave the forged an opportunity to replicate on one thing that carries deep significance to each them and their characters.

Not all the characters’ tales have been absolutely fleshed out by the manufacturing. The character of Maggie Winslow (performed by Katie Savage ’26) was by no means really revealed. Regardless of Savage’s unbelievable vocals, her strains peppered all through the present have been hidden within the background and her character was by no means capable of fully develop, to my disappointment.

The connection between the director Zach and an auditioner, Cassie Ferguson (performed by Rachel Weiss ’26), was a mysterious story that in the end felt underwhelming. It’s revealed through the second act that Cassie is Zach’s ex-girlfriend who had left him to satisfy her goals in Hollywood, however returned after realizing that she didn’t have what it takes to be an actress. 

Weiss and Cargill construct the stress all through the present, culminating in her efficiency of “The Music and the Mirror,” wherein Cassie begs Zach to let her into the refrain line. He’s initially reluctant as a result of he believes she is supposed for greater than only a refrain function (although in the long run, she will get the half). Weiss’ solo and dance quantity have been fascinating, however the message of the tune goes again to a performer’s dedication to bop, which felt considerably redundant by this level within the present. 

The ultimate musical quantity — “One (Reprise)” — got here after Zach selected the eight auditioners to be within the refrain line, sending the remainder house. Although this tune isn’t as viscerally passionate because the one proper earlier than it, “What I Did For Love,” the dancing was energetic and left the viewers with a reminiscence of gold sequined blazers and excessive kicks to complete off the present.

“A Refrain Line’s” atypical showstyle — highlighting the person skills of the forged members — allowed for some really memorable performances from Ram’s Head firm. 

Editor’s Word: This text is a overview and consists of subjective ideas, opinions and critiques.