Originally choreographed by Fosse, the musical opened on Broadway in 1975 but didn’t become a hit until its 1996 revival, which won five Tony Awards, followed by an Academy Award-winning film in 2002 starring Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones. While there, she meets a slew of crooked female criminals including Velma Kelly, who competes with Roxie to hire lawyer Billy Flynn, who turns their incarceration into a media frenzy. The musical tells the story of Roxie Hart, who dreams of being a vaudeville star in 1928 Chicago but is sent to the Cook County Jail after committing a crime of passion. “It’s dark and sexy yet sparkly and buoyant at the same time.” “The score (by John Kander) is so strong, the book (by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb) is so funny and tight, and there are opportunities to dance,” said Jones, who is based in New York. He said “Chicago” is beloved to audiences, and it’s a show that many actors want to be in. It’s a safe space.”Īdapting the second-longest running show in Broadway history into a production exclusive to the Maltz wasn’t a difficult task for Tony Award-nominated director-choreographer Denis Jones, who starred in the revival in 2006. “I feel free to explore and try new things. “They take such good care of us,” she said. However, actress Samantha Sturm already feels like the Maltz is home. The 20-member cast has been rehearsing six days a week from 10 a.m. Six words that will make much more sense after seeing “Chicago,” opening at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre on Jan. No wonder it’s said to be the longest-running American musical in Broadway.Īnd that, guys, is how you end the year on a high note.Pop. I was definitely razzle-dazzled and impressed by this production. MacLeod rocked the roles of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly respectively, and so did the actors who played Billy Flynn, Amos, and “Mama.” I enjoyed how the cast interacted with the orchestra, especially with the conductor and how they broke the fourth wall at times. Now, that’s talent. Bianca Marroquin and Terra C. It amazes me how the cast managed to pull off those moves and stunts while singing at full voice and, for some of them, wearing heels to boot. Apart from the clever storyline and the riveting music, there are the crazy-good dance sequences. That’s the perfect word for Chicago: entertaining. Sadly, we still see this going on today-criminals and lawyers toying with the public to get out of a rightful sentence. Though I’d seen the film, it was only when I watched the live production that I fully realized the genius behind John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse’s creation. I loved how the lights were utilized to give the illusion of prison cells and to highlight the glitz and glamor that masked the alarming truth behind the musical. The stage was smaller than I’d expected, but the American performance company made excellent use of it, with the cast maximizing every inch of space that wasn’t taken up by the orchestra. The upside for us was that we were able to switch seats and get a much better view. I’m guessing people were busy with Christmas parties and last-minute shopping. Surprisingly, the newly opened Theater at Solaire was far from full, at least in the balcony where we were seated. We caught one of the last shows in Manila. I hadn’t planned on watching Chicago live since I’d already seen the movie, but my sister asked for tickets to the show as my parents’ gift to her, so I ended up happily accompanying her. I’ve got a lot to share with you guys, but for now, I’ll start with the end…the end of my 2014 theater exploits, that is. So my blogging streak has been interrupted once again, this time by the holiday madness.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |