-
Chicago has an iconic look that makes it instantly recognizable on stage. The mostly-black costumes, bare-bone staging and tortured choreography by the legendary Bob Fosse making the show live and die by its performance. Performance Riverside was smart enough not to touch the basic elements and Director Matt Neves was smart enough to cast first-rate talent.
-
The story of Chicago is sort of secondary to the social commentary on the celebrity of scandal and the manipulation of-and-by the media. Back in 1976 when the show debuted on Broadway it didn't do well but a revival twenty years later was well received by the public who had grown much more cynical. Even though the show is set in the "Roaring Twenties" the contemporary style and message strikes a chord with today's audience. The latest production by Performance Riverside sticks closely to the standards an pretty much got the look right. Yes, there were a few bits that weren't the best lit and it wouldn't be a performance at the Landis without some sound issues (but there were fewer than usual so I suppose I should count hat as a win).
-
Ayelet Firstenberg and Chelsea Emma Franko brought the brass as Velma and Roxie respectively but there was no subtlety in the performance. Still, both girls were good singers and dancers and were a lot of fun to watch. Kudos to both. Jason Webb in the role of Billy Flynn has an excellent voice, can dance and is a good actor: still, there was this weird Nathan Lane vibe in his performance that Robyn and I both noticed. Jamie Snyder (who got castigated in this blog for his rendition of Alfred Doolittle in the recent production of My Fair Lady) fares much better as Amos Hart: yes he had some accent issues (it went in and out--not to mention sounding like a NYC Jew for the most part) but he has a strong voice and brought a wounded-teddy bear quality to the role that made you want to jump on stage, give the poor guy a hug and say "there, there". Good job Jamie! As Mama Morton, Kami Martin Crump successfully navigated a tricky role that of "ball-bearing be-atch" with a heart of gold and made both aspects believable. Loved her! I won't reveal R.C. Sands big secret as Mary Sunshine (for the sake of those who haven't seen the show) but who knew that voice could come out of that body??? The Chorus danced and sang well (although one tenor kind of stood out from the chorus (and it's never a good thing when you can pick out an individual voice in a choral piece.) Still, they were up to the task and supported the leads wonderfully well.
-
Chicago has a special place in my heart: the show appeals to my cynical nature (and it was what got Robyn and I into regular theater attendance) and frankly I was terrified that Performance Riverside would screw it up royally. Thankfully, the didn't: in fact in enjoyed this performance better than the national touring production I saw a few years ago. This show is well worth seeing.
-
FINAL GRADE A-
No comments:
Post a Comment