Just a few days ago, the Broadway revival of Chicago The Musical celebrated its 17th anniversary making it the longest running American musical in Broadway history. Opening night of this national tour began atAustin‘s Bass Concert Hall on Tuesday, November 19 and will run daily through November 24th.
Murder. Greed. Corruption. Violence. Exploitation. Adultery. Treachery. Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago The Musical is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who maliciously murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.
The Austin production stars Anne Horak as Roxie Hart, Terra C. MacLeod as Velma Kelly, Carol Woods as Matron “Mama” Morton and Todd Buonapane as Amos. John O’Hurley is an award-winning actor best known as “J. Peterman” on “Seinfeld.” O’Hurley plays corrupt lawyer Billy Flynn and delivers in a big way. With all the bawdiness around him, his performance in Chicago proves him to be much more than a one-dimensional sitcom actor. He is both an accomplished singer and dancer. Carol Woods, who plays the warden matron “Mama” Morton, rules over the Cook County Jail and wows on this national tour. “My Mama Morton is strictly a business woman, but she is also a fun-loving woman,” Woods says. “It’s a musical, but it’s also called a play, and I love to play! I just have fun with this show.”
Set design and costumes are quite simple but Chicago The Musical remains super sexy and sultry because of the storyline and music. The cast is fairly small but all contributed to giving the Austin audience a powerhouse performance. The two murderesses, Roxy and Velma Kelly win over the audience with their astounding high kicks, killer legs and sultry voices. The orchestra, a touring core of musicians supplemented by local professionals, was top-notch, playing the Jazz age musical styles with flair and dirtiness all their own.
Chicago The Musical is a production not to be missed. And all the reviewers agree. Time Magazine calls it “A Triumph,” Newsweek raves “Smashing” and Entertainment Weekly sums it up by calling CHICAGO “Broadway’s Most Electrifying Show.”
