Seamless performance
of ‘Chicago’
delights sell-out audience at
The Fabulous Fox in St. Louis
By Daniel Hines
Publisher
TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com
The musical hit
‘Chicago’ now playing at The Fabulous Fox Theater in St. Louis is a bit
like its namesake city—dark, hip, and confident in a way that befits the
city itself.
It’s also smooth,
hip and cool.
And therein lies a
major distinction from the movie of the same name. Whereas the movie
featured big name talent and elaborate, almost overstaged (although
great) production qualities, this ‘Chicago’ is more understated, making
the statement that the show, the music and the choreography are quite
enough, thank you, to provide a seamless evening of entertainment.
The story is likely
familiar to most people by now: Murdering wives in long-ago Chicago who
rise to fame for the notoriety of their crime either against husbands or
lovers, but who are secure in the knowledge that no woman has ever been
executed in Cook County—at least to that point in time.
The two female leads
and sometimes protagonists in the show—Velma Kelly, played by Brenda
Braxton, and Roxie Hart, played by Bianca Marroquin—offer just the right
blend of leggy looks, outstanding dancing and deft comedy touch that
remind us that, although based on some real-life events, the show really
is nothing more than fantasy.
Each has a number
that highlights this mix: Ms. Braxton opens the second act, singing ‘I
Know a Girl’ perched serpent-like high on a ladder to stage right. The
number reflects Velma’s jealousy over Roxie’s success in swinging public
opinion, this time with a false pregnancy that gains her wide public
sympathy.
Ms. Marroquin teams
with lawyer Billy Flynn, a corrupt defense lawyer interested only in his
$5000 fee and winning each case because he enjoys the fame as much as
the murderesses he represents, in a hilarious plotting of Roxie’s
defense in which Ms. Marroquin is the ventriloquist’s dummy, albeit a
funny one, in which Flynn, played by Gregory Harrison put the words in
her mouth.
Harrison provides a
deft touch with “Razzle Dazzle’, our personal favorite song from the
show.
One of the surprise
highlights was Roxie’s long-suffering husband, Amos Hart, played to
perfection by Ray Bokhour. This guy is funny, and probably every man in
the audience that has ever punched a clock, been abused by a boss, taken
for granted by family, could related to ‘Mister Cellophane’ in which
Amos bemoans how everyone looks right through him.
As to emphasize the point, Billy swaggers on stage, past Amos and then
turns and says “Hi Andy…” I had to wonder if anyone wondered about the
mixup in names likely based on the old ‘Amos and Andy’ radio show.
Roz Ryan is
appropriately hot and hippy and busty as the I can get it for you jail
matron singing ‘When You’re Good to Mama (Mama’s good to you)’, the key
to living well in the Cook County Jail. ( I hope Martha Stewart has seen
this show.)
Add to this
ensemble, some truly great dancers for whom their numbers come as
natural as breathing, and the result is a performance that merits
attending by anyone who wants to see really top-notch musical theater.
"Chicago"
When: Through Nov. 21, with performances at 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 and
8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday
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