"Chicago"- Heats up Broad Street

There was a familiar excitement at the Merriam in Philly. Many of these loyal theater fans had been "razzle-dazzled" before. And by the early applause and cheers were about to enjoy another two hours of seduction, greed, murder and great choreography!

So here's the inside scoop. Chicago's True Story: He really did have it coming! Chicago is based on a true story. The year was 1924 where Mrs. Beulah Annan (Roxie) was accused of killing the " intruder" Harry Kalstedt while Belva Gaertner (Velma) was charged with murdering her husband. Both murders became front-page news and especially interested reporter, Maurine Watkins, who covered the trials of Beulah & Belva extensively in the Chicago Tribune press. Watkins play Chicago was derived from newspaper reports. Originally a comedy that premiered in New York City in 1926, the first film production by DeMille was released in 1928.

The second film of the play was called Roxie Hart and starred Ginger Rogers in 1942. Moving into 1975 when it debuted on Broadway with Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera as a musical choreographed by Bob Fosse, Chicago became the only certified real life court drama to become smash hit on the Great White Way.

This delightfully naughty tale of two merry murderesses intrigues and captures the audience. Brenda Braxton (Tony nominee in 1995 for Smokey Joe's Café) is this production's Velma, the part that won Bebe Neuwirth a Tony and Catherine-Zeta- Jones an Oscar. Braxton plays this role with silk, sass, and seduction. An athletic, toothy smile that reeks of power and greed, Ms. Braxton slithers around the stage like she knows exactly what she's doing …and she does! Her "All That Jazz" is as sexy as they come. Bianca Marroquin (soon to be returning to the Roxie role on Broadway) is a dynamic Roxie Hart. Though she starts out with a weak "Funny Honey", she soon wins your attention and heart with a vibrant, pouty, pixie-like, non-stop performance. A cross between a young carrot topped Shirley MacLaine and a comedic, very young Carol Burnett, Marroquin pulls out all the stops with her cutesy and well executed "We Both Reached For the Gun" puppeted by Gregory Harrison as Billy Flynn. Harrison's portrayal of the girls' slick money grubbing- lawyer is vocally strong but his acting is rather bland. He possesses little charm to make you like him, or enough of a snide character to make you dislike him.

This veteran heavy cast includes Carol Woods as Matron "Mama" Morton. Woods is delightful and soulful in her delivery of " When You're Good To Mama" and a tongue- in-cheek duet with Velma called "Class", a song that was not in the recent block buster film. Ray Boukhour plays Amos, Roxie's always- there- yet- invisible husband. Boukhour, a mix of Addams Family's Uncle Fester and The Stooges Curly Joe, offers a heartwarming and funny version of "Mr. Cellophane". R. Bean, draws the giggles as Mary Sunshine with a twist in the end. 

The well -drilled company carries the Fosse movements with lots of legs and gyrations to keep the temperature well above normal. The titillating "Cell Block Tango" is a big crowd pleaser and this rendition is no exception. The onstage orchestra conducted by Vincent Fanuele is superb in re-creating this smokey, racy, jazzy Kander and Ebb music. Company member, Dante A. Sciarra offers an outstanding performance of versatility and comedy as the "Jury". 

Book by: Fred Ebb & Bob Fosse, Music by: John Kander, Lyrics by: Fred Ebb, Based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Original production directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse. Directed by: Walter Bobbie 

Chicago- plays at the Merriam Theater, Philadelphia, Pa through December 7^th

For tickets and information: call 215.732.5446 or visit www.broadwayaccrossamerica.com

Photo credits: Bianca Marrowquin website

 

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