All That Jazz

Lets “Razzle Dazzle ‘em” with Broadway’s revival of the musical, “Chicago”: a sharp-edged tale of ”murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery”.

One doesn’t even know where to begin with “Chicago”, from the stage setup to its minimalist wardrobe. When the audience thinks BROADWAY, they think flashy lights, special effects, dazzling costumes, sound effects, and the whole nine yards yet this reincarnation of the musical defies all traditional Broadway standards. With just the right mix of music, actors, dancers and singers, the musical doesn’t fail to grasp the audience’s attention and love despite its dark, irresistibly egotistic tone. Right at center stage is the orchestra in a giant courtroom jury box, which becomes the musical’s main prop and stage-setup. The actors and dancers use the orchestra box as a prop for their musical numbers as well, such as when Roxie Hart (played by Charlotte d’Amboise), a ditzy housewife turned celebrity murderer, slides down the slanted side of the box. A notable aspect is its choice in costume design and style because it evokes the 1950s era film noir mood coupled alongside a simple yet provocative wardrobe of sheer black and white. The edgy costumes almost compliment the slinky and seductive dance routines performed by the dancers throughout Chicago.

At the heart of this musical is a disillusioned Chicago of the 1920s enamored by its femme fatale criminals. Roxie Hart (Charlotte d’Amboise) is a somewhat useless housewife who gets in over her head with the fame and attention that comes after she murders a straying lover who meets her match in a former vaudevillian, Velma Kelly (Brenda Braxton), who is also in jail as a result of a crime of passion. Kelly and Hart are both represented by Chicago’s star lawyer, silver-tongued Billy Flynn, through which we see the truly corrupt nature of the 1920s justice system. Bold Velma Kelly seductive yet ice queen-like presence initially juxtaposes just how different the two women are but as the story moves along, we see Velma’s character serve as a model for Roxie Hart’s own transformation into a fame-crazed seductress/murderess. Without spoiling the end,

Don’t let the musical’s dark theme and in-your-face style scare you off because while its nothing like the “razzle dazzle” of typical Broadway musicals, Chicago will excite and keep drawing you in. As someone who watched the movie version before the musical version, I personally enjoyed the raw sensation of watching the cast create the same electrifying atmosphere (I got from the movie) out of pure talent and minus the smokes and mirrors of fancy-schmancy movie studios.