Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Welcome to the 1920’s with the final musical at Theatre by the Sea’s 85th season. Director Bob Richard and his wife, Diane Laurenson, the choreographer transports the audience to the prison atmosphere needed for this musical “Chicago.” Kander and Ebb’s 1975 vaudeville type show is based on the 1926 play by Maurine Watkins. The 1997 musical version won six Tony Awards and the 2003 movie version won the Academy Award. In roaring twenties Chicago, married chorine Roxie Hart murders her faithless lover, Fred Casely, and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap for her. That is until he finds out he has been duped and turns on her. She and fellow murderess, Velma Kelly, both on death row, vie for the headlines and spotlight, hoping the publicity will launch them to fame, freedom and successful stage careers with the help of slick lawyer, Billy Flynn. The story is a satire on the corruption of criminal justice system and logic of “celebrity criminal” and works perfectly in the current day situation of this country of fake news and reality TV shows. Keep them off balance and they won’t realize what is really going on. It also worked much better in the late 1990’s after the OJ trial travesty which was a lot like the circus like atmosphere of Chicago in the 1920’s. Bob blocks the show beautifully and Diane creates wonderful choreography. Both of them bring out the best in their talented cast members.
Once again owner and producer Bill Hanney spares no expense in bringing this incredible show to his enthusiastic audience members. This rollicking musical is musically directed by Peter Leigh-Nilson who obtains strong vocals from cast members especially in group numbers “Cell Block Tango”, “Reached for the Gun”, “When Velma Takes the Stand” and “Razzle Dazzle” which could be the theme song for current day America. He also plays lead keyboards as he conducts a brilliant 9 piece orchestra. Diane’s dance numbers include the Charleston, jazz, soft shoe, shimmie, and other physically demanding ones with the chorus in unison. They also use colorful costumes of that time period for various characters. Costumes are by Paula Peasley-Ninestein, scenic design by Kyle Dixon and the brilliant colorful lighting design is by Jose Santiago.
The show opens in a nightclub setting where Roxie is seen with Fred Casely. Playing Roxie is gorgeous, statuesque Jessica Wockenfuss clad in a blonde wig. She returns to TBTS, having been an intern here in 2008. Jessica has a pretty singing voice, strong acting skills and accomplished dancing.Her vocal numbers are “Funny Honey” which sings about her dumb husband, Amos, “Roxie” when she wants to be famous and get her name in the papers, which is a dance number backed up by her boys who lift her, “My Own Best Friend” with Velma, “Me and My Baby” where she fakes being pregnant while she dances with the girls and “Nowadays” where she proclaims things are going to change in 50 years or so. I last reviewed Jessica last year in “42nd Street” as Peggy Sawyer at NSMT. Roxie’s fellow inmate Velma is wonderfully played by Michelle Alves. She makes the part her own with her singing voice, her strong acting skills and her accomplished dancing. Michelle and the cast open the show with a sizzling “All That Jazz” is a double entendre for sex and murder. She then leads them in a show stopping song and dance with chairs to “Cell Block Tango” where they all explain how they killed their husbands and significant others. Her mesmerizing solos include “I Can’t Do It Alone” where she tries to convince Roxie to join her act and in “When Velma Takes the Stand” where Velma tells Billy how she will act during the trial and Michelle’s backed up by the chorus. Her duets are the hilarious and uproarious “Class” with Momma which left the audience in stitches and “Nowadays” dance with Jessica which closes the show.
Matthew J. Taylor is fabulous as the money grubbing lawyer, Billy Flynn who gets $5000 for getting his clients off the hook whether guilty or not. He delivers a marvelous performance in this role. His first entrance stuns the audience with a strong “All I Care About”, with the girls dancing with huge feathers,his best number is “Both Reached for the Gun” where he uses Roxie as a puppet on his lap singing her alibi to the newspaper reporters while alternating between his own voice and a higher pitch voice as Roxie as well as hooking her up to ropes like a marionette and in “Razzle Dazzle” where he explains just keep them all off balance and you can get away with anything at all, up to and including murder. This one has the best harmonic balance in the show. I saw Matthew in March of 2017 in the National Tour of “42nd Street” as Julian Marsh and I reviewed him last November in “42nd St.” at NSMT. Tarra Conner-jones is excellent as the matron, Momma Morton. She enters with a flourish and gives the role the gusto it needs. Tarra is the biggest scene stealer in the show as Momma tries to entice each of the girls during her song. Tarra is strong actress and her fabulous voice sells “When You’re Good to Mama” winning much laughter and applause. She stops the show in its tracks with her powerhouse voice. She also does “Class” her duet with Michelle while lamenting the lack of morals around the country. It kind of sounds familiar doesn’t it? I last reviewed her in “Ain’t Misbehavin” earlier this summer.
The sob sister reporter, Mary Sunshine is hilariously played by M. Hougland, dressed in drag. His falsetto soars in “Little Bit of Good” and makes the part his own. The most sympathetic character is Amos Hart played terrifically by Kevin Loreque. The audience loves him from the first time they see him confessing to a crime he didn’t commit, taking verbal abuse from others and finally not getting his exit music at the end. His “Mr. Cellophane” number is fantastic and his portrayal of this schlep from start to finish is dynamite, too. Kevin’s Al Jolson moves at the end of it are brilliantly performed. I last reviewed him in “Drowsy Chaperone” here back in 2011. Maverick Hiu plays the hapless, Fred Casely whom Roxie shoots for walking out on her. He does a great job in this scene and in the second act when she distorts the facts at her trial. The singing and dancing chorus are astounding as they perform their steps in perfect unison. Also terrific as the jury members is Matthew Pashley-Rowland who plays a woman, a drunk and a blind juror hilariously during the trial scene.I have fond memories of this show, having seen the original musical with Chita Rivera and Jerry Orbach on Broadway back in 1976. Bravo to one and all on a topnotch job on this energetic musical. Make sure you get to the box office before it’s sold out for good. Theatre by the Sea’s next season shows are “Love and Other Fables”, an original musical, “Singing in the Rain”, “Newsies” and “Saturday Night Fever.” This is my 46th summer of coming to the historic Theatre by the Sea.
CHICAGO (15 August to 9 September)
Theatre by the Sea, 364 Cards Pond Road, Matunuck, RI
1(401)782-8587 or www.theatrebythesea.com
