I see why this play was such a big hit on Broadway as it is not only "close to home" - Broadway is the source. However, listening to others as we left the theatre, and in talking to my daughter, it seemed to be the general consensus that although the acting, singing and dancing was good, there was nothing special or bedazzling about the play. The entire cast wore the same dull warm up costumes throughout the two hours - except for the finale (where the colourful sparkling costumes were like eye candy after the previous two hours). I think it would be quite simple to jazz up the performance to the spectators by simply finding a way to either have the actors change costumes when they're "re-living their pasts" - or to throw in a couple of actual "chorus line demos" during the historical monologues (for example by adding in costume demos of Cassie's Hollywood acting scenes, or that of the drag queen description). Scenes like this could serve to add colourful performance to the play and become more appealing to the audience.
Not to take anything away from the cast, I think it's mostly the story line that fails the play - especially playing to audiences away from New York or theatre cities. I remember my father seeing the show on Broadway back in the late 70's or early 80's and I seem to recall him saying there was hardly a story line that it was just watching open auditions. When you compare this play to others such as "Phantom" or "The King and I" where the music, costumes, characters and plots are full of interactive vibrancy and colour, then unfortunately this play hardly warrants the cost of the tickets.
