All That Jazz
(At Hyde)
San Francisco, CA 94102
+1 415 551 2050
http://www.chicagothemusical.com/
Tickets: $25-$85
Review © 2009, Wcities
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All That Jazz |
1192 Market Street (At Hyde) San Francisco, CA 94102 +1 415 551 2050 http://www.chicagothemusical.com/ |
Opening with a risqué dance number and the symbolic "bang" from Roxy Heart's (Michelle DeJean) gun as she kills her liaison, the audience is easily pulled into the story of love, greed, murder, and corruption. With an onstage jazz ensemble playing in front of a brick wall, and voices that chime with a Midwest accent, Chicago is brought to the Orpheum. This Tony, Olivier and Grammy award winning musical, with music by John Kandar and book by Fred Ebb & Bob Fosse, exudes fame, fortune and beauty. While it is covered in glam and glitz, every dance number is well choreographed, every dancer is precise in their movements and every voice is without flaw. The producers even have a few tricks up their sleeves, bringing today's famed Huey Lewis and Carol Woods (Law & Order, The Practice) onstage as Lawyer Billy Flynn and Matron "Mama" Morton. During an opening number by Huey Lewis, dancers dressed in skimpy black lingerie surround him with fluffy pink feathers leaving only his face peering out with a childlike innocence. This same goofy, ironic humor exists throughout the production. At one point Roxy becomes Huey Lewis' puppet when talking to the press. Her body becomes limber, eyes blank, as if she was made of cotton. Both Roxy and her man-killer rival Velma Kelly (Terra C. Macleod) jealously fight, but always with a comical undertone. With clowning dance numbers, this smart, outrageous play knows when it is ridiculous, and is able to tickle humor at just the right moments. Roxy's sweet nerd of a husband provides just the right touch of seriousness with his naïve undying love for his wife – even while she is committing murder, serving jail time, being unfaithful and mocking him throughout. In the end Roxy is acquitted after charming the press with her stardom. However, just steps away another Chicago style murder occurs, stripping her of her spotlight. She is again what she hates most, a washed up has been. Working on multiple levels, thanks to the performances by professional theater, TV and music stars, you will leave the theater questioning fame, life in showbiz, and superficiality vs. the law. You may even begin to question why it all matters anyway. Credits: Director Walter Bobbie; Producers Barry & Fran Weissler; Choreography Ann Reinking; Supervising Music Director Rob Fisher; Dance Music Arranger Pete Howard; Set Design John Lee Beatty; Costume Design William Ivey Long; Lighting Design Ken Billington; Sound Design Scott Lehrer - Erin Podlipink Tickets: $25-$85 Review © 2009, Wcities |
 Chicago (Orpheum Theater) Photo: wcities |
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