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| Allison F. Rich as Velma Kelly leads the ensemble in "All That Jazz." |
From the very first song to the last, San Jose Stage
Company’s production of “Chicago” is absolutely terrific.
It’s a great show to start with, thanks to the catchy
music by John Kander, the clever lyrics by Fred Ebb and the quirky characters
in the book by Ebb and Bob Fosse.
And then director Randall King has assembled a
top-notch cast and design team to create a great theatrical experience.
As the title implies, the story is set in the Windy
City in the 1920's, when lurid headlines dominated local newspapers.
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| Roxie Hart (Monique Hafen Adams) celebrates her new fame. |
When a married chorus girl, Roxie Hart (Monique
Hafen Adams), kills her lover, she’s arrested and sent to jail to await trial.
There she gets advice from the matron, “Mama” Morton
(Branden Noel Thomas), who sings “When You’re Good to Mama.” Roxie also encounters
a potential rival, Velma Kelly (Allison F. Rich).
After that, she hires a slick defense attorney,
Billy Flynn (Keith Pinto), who helps her deal with the horde of reporters and
photographers eager to hear her story. Among them is sob sister Mary Sunshine
(Kyle Bielfield).
Lost in the shuffle is her clueless but loving
husband, Amos Hart (Sean Doughty), an auto mechanic.
He has one of the show’s most poignant songs,
“Mister Cellophane.” He laments that no one notices him. Even when he moves
about the stage, the spotlight doesn’t follow him.
The show opens with the rousing “All That Jazz,”
sung by Velma and the ensemble.
Some other show-stoppers are “Cell Block Tango,”
sung by Velma and the women’s ensemble; “Razzle Dazzle,” sung by Billy and the
company; and “Class,” sung by Velma and “Mama.”
These are just a few, but virtually every song is
enjoyable.
Something that distinguishes this production from
others that have been seen in the Bay Area, starting with the Broadway touring
production in San Francisco in 1978, is that it has few of the elaborate scenic
elements that are possible in larger theaters.
No matter. King, along with set designer Robert
Pickering and lighting designer Michael Palumbo, keeps things simple, relying
on the music and talented cast to carry the show.
Likewise, Tracey Freeman Shaw’s choreography has the
signature movements from Fosse’s original despite the small stage.
Although every principal and cast member deserves
accolades, special mention must be made of Rich when her Velma sings, “I Can’t
Do It Alone.” Trying to convince Roxie to join her in the act that she and her
sister once did, Velma demonstrates athletic, limber moves while singing –
quite a feat.
Rich does double duty as the show’s vocal director.
Also noteworthy is the small onstage band led by
music director Benjamin Belew from the piano.
In short, this is one great show.
“Chicago” will continue through March 15 at San Jose
Stage Company, 490 S. First St., San Jose.
For tickets and information, call (408) 283-7142 or
visit www.thestage.org.
Photos by Dave Lepori
