Rare, beefy dance is served up with all the trimmings in a dinner-theater version of Chicago that's close to, but more intimate than, what audiences have long been enjoying in New York and London. Especially in the dance, the quality's there in electrifying performances by Charlene Clark and Jillian Godfrey as murderesses who aim to use their notoriety to become stage stars. Presented as a raunchy vaudeville with slinky, black-clad gangsta gals n' guys shaking, slithering and slanting in often-tilted Fosse fashion. Chicago posits that celebrity can cause the scales of justice to weigh scandal lightly.
As lawyer Billy Flynn, motivated by money to "get the girls off," Chris O'Brocto suavely shows how "Razzle Dazzle" works in and out of courtrooms. A major contrast with Roxie's husband, is "Cellophane Man" Amos (properly pathetic Michael Bajjaly). Newspapers' complicity with pumping up the wages of sin is exemplified by sob sister Mary Sunshine, played by C. Thomas with operatic fervor.
Heading corruption in the Cook County jail is the matron who urges being good to "Mother" to get good out of her. Roberta MacDonald (who originates, then will turn over the role to Judith Ann Davies) is able to reconcile greed and some sympathy toward her charges (albeit with a weaker-than-usual voice). Even ailing, however, she holds her own with Clark in a silly duet bemoaning the disappearance of "Class."
Director Robert Turoff skillfully weaves ensemble members into providing support for the principals (particularly the women as prisoners) and narrative bridges (both as choruses and dancers). A standout among the men, Brad Wages sets the show's tone and themes in beginning scenes. At Roxie's trial, a major production, Wages then distinguishes among all the members of jury, ditzy to sleazy. Musicians on stage hold their own in punctuating the episodes in Velma and Roxie's story. Finally, the gals appear energetically singing and dancing "Nowadays" in front of a curtain of strips of gold, shimmering like the show.
Opened:
November 16, 2004
Ended:
January 16, 2005
Country:
USA
State:
Florida
City:
Sarasota
Company/Producers:
Coastal Theater Productions (Robert Ennis Turoff, producer)
Theater Type:
Regional
Theater:
Golden Apple Dinner Theater
Theater Address:
25 North Pineapple Avenue
Phone:
(941) 366-5454
Running Time:
2 hrs, 30 min
Genre:
Musical Comedy
Director:
Robert Ennis Turoff
Review:
Parental:
adult themes, profanity
Cast:
Charlene Clark (Velma), Jillian Godfrey (Roxie), Chris OBrocto, Roberta MacDonald, Michael Bajjaly, C. Thomas, Judith Ann Davies, Belinda Allen, Samantha Barrett, Kari Constantine, Elizabeth Palmer, Catherine Randazzo, Kyle Ennis Turoff, Brad Wages, Jared Walker, Berry Ayers, Dewayne Barrett, Eric Berkel, William St. Stewart; Musicians: J. Visser, Don Sturrock, John Januszewski, Marty Rein, Vic Mongillo, Dave Baugas
Technical:
Choreography: Charlene Clark; Set: Michael Newton-Brown; Costumes: Tim Beltley; Hair: George Staten; Stage Mgr: Jeremy Jones; Tech. Dir: Trez Cole
Other Critics:
SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE Jay Handleman+
Critic:
Marie J. Kilker
Date Reviewed:
November 2004
