A celebration of Bob Fosse's choreography. [yasr_overall_rating]
The plot
In 1920s Chicago, glamorous vaudeville star Velma Kelly murdered her husband and sister after finding them in bed together. Roxie Hart dreams of being a vaudeville star and she kills her lover after finding out that he was never going to make her famous. The two are incarcerated in Cook County Jail among other murderers. Enter lawyer Billy Flynn, whose goal is not only to acquit his clients, but to make them famous. Yet there is only room for a legend in the headlines ...
A little bit of history
Chicago is based on a 1926 play of the same name written by Maurine Dallas Watkins. The play describes criminal investigations of the time. It was the duo John Kander and Fred Ebb who adapted the piece into a musical. The original production opened in 1975 on Broadway with staging and choreography by Bob Fosse. Bob Fosse also holds the record number of 8 Tony Awards for his choreographies (Pippin, Sweet Charity, ...).
Chicago was resumed on Broadway in 1996 and production has been played continuously for 22 years (a record after The Phantom of the Opera for 30 years on Broadway).
Our opinion
For this production, the text and lyrics have been fully translated into French and it works very well. We lose some iconic lyrics from Kander & Ebb. During the songs, we sometimes miss a few words that we hear or do not understand, but overall it's very successful.
The most impressive is the choreography. American Ann Reinking respects the airy style of Bob Fosse to the letter and adds subtle French touches. The dancers' bodies are showcased in hypnotic and incredibly technical movements.
The choreography is helped by a minimalist setting which does a lot of good (although the dancers are only 3 meters wide of the stage). We enjoy moving bodies and dazzling music.
The orchestra is sensational and it sits in the middle of the stage. It will be necessary to wait for the second act so that there is a real harmony between the dancers and the orchestra. In this second part he is really in the spotlight.
There is also a very important play on the color black which dominates the scene. There are few sets and accessories apart from a few pink feathers and a golden curtain. It gives the impression of a black and white film from the 20s. It also allows the subject of the murders to be dealt with without being too raw.
We will remember the performances of Carien Keizer in Roxie Hart, all perfectly hilarious.
Marianne Orlowski interpreted Velma Kelly the night I went there and who had a perfectly mastered technique. She was perfect in every way: in dancing, singing and playing, and it's a joy to see her on stage.
Pierre Samuel interprets Amos and his “Mr. Cellophane” and at the same time very funny and touching.
The set is fantastic and really carries the show.
Finally Jean-Luc Guizonne is very good in musical moments, charismatic and charming.
The show is played until June 30, 2019 at the Mogador Theater. You can reserve your places here!