Last Sunday my sisters and I, along with my mother and my Aunt Patie went to see Chicago at the PAC. I did not walk in having high expectations, and I was blown away. I thought it was fabulous! Like with anything there was need for improvement, however, over all it was amazing!
Let me give you a quick run down of the play.
In the mid 1920s in Chicago...
Roxie has killed her lover and convinces her husband Amos that the victim was a burglar, and Amos cheerfully takes the blame. Roxie expresses her appreciation of her husband's thick skull. However,it's not long before Amos detects the truth and realizes that Roxie has been fooling around on him. Roxie is arrested. She is sent to the women's block in Cook County Jail, inhabited by Velma and other murderesses The block is presided over by the corrupt "Mama", whose system of mutual aid perfectly suits her clientele. She has helped Velma become the media's top murder-of-the-week and is acting as a booking agent for Velma's big return to vaudeville.
Velma is not happy to see Roxie, who is stealing not only her limelight but also her lawyer, Billy Flynn. As Roxie's fame grows, Velma's notoriety is left in the dust and in desperation, she tries to talk Roxie into recreating the sister act, but Roxie turns her down, only to find her own headlines replaced by the latest sordid crime of passion. So Roxie pull a little trick out of her hat, and creates the lie that she is with child. Getting her back on the head lines.
Amos continues to help Roxie excited about becoming a father. The trick works. Roxie is found not guilty and wins her case. Amos extends his hand for Roxie and her unborn child to come home, that is when Roxie comes clean and Amos finds out there is no baby.
Fast forward to the future, Roxie and Velma team up for a duo act.
Review
I loved it! I think I enjoyed the show equally as much as I loved watching my mother and Aunt Pattie giggle all through the show. Especially their reaction to the roll of Mary Sunshine, played by Sam Briggs. He was amazing! The rest of the lead cast was great too.
Roxie - played by Blythe Nelson. She did a good job. Vocally she was wonderful. I just felt like she was missing some edge.
Velma - played by Sara Wilemon. Sara was maybe lacking some vocal experience, however what she lacked vocally she made up with stage presence. Plus she had the best costumes of the show. She was my favorite!
Mama – played by Mattece Mason. She was not in as many scenes as the two mentioned right above, but she also was fantastic. Her voice was on point!
Obviously there was more to the cast, but these were my favorites. Like I said before there are some areas needing improvement, Velma's vocals, some of the choreography was shaky at best, and the boys.... Where do I begin with the boys. As some of them were talented, I just left the theater with the impression that casting had slim pickings with casting these rolls. These men were supposed to be HOT and they were more like luke warm. No shade! I am just calling it like I see it.
Over all it was a great show!
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