Set in 1920s Chicago, the tale focuses on two women both accused of murdering their lovers and their insidious journey to freedom, justice be damned.
Roxie Hart (Katie Frieden) is having an affair, but once the man threatens to walk out on her, she acts in a fit of rage and shoots him. She is convicted and taken to jail, where she meets the infamous Velma Kelly (Kailin Brown). As Roxie’s notoriety continues to rise as her case gets more and more press coverage, she is determined to hold onto her newfound fame by any means necessary.
I have seen the movie adaptation of “Chicago” but never the famous Broadway musical…until now. I heard that the choreography, originated by Bob Fosse, is something to behold, and wow, it sure was. It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen the film, so I did forget part of the story. He is a huge reason why “Chicago” has resonated for so long. In fact, “All That Jazz,” a film about his life that Fosse directed, is one of my favorite films.
The show flew by, being a little over two hours long. The music, dancing, and performances consistently enthralled and impressed me. “Chicago” is more of an interactive show than usual Broadway fare. The audience was not afraid to hoot and holler.
The costuming, dancing, and plot may be too risqué for some. The cast wore all-black outfits that were sheer and short. You could see the ensemble’s underwear, or they showed a lot of skin. Roxie’s husband, Amos (Robert Quiles), was the only kind man in the show. He did get a lot of love from the audience. Prestigious lawyer Billy Flynn (Connor Sullivan) is charming yet greedy (though he claims not to be). But this is a story of women who murdered their male partners. Roxie and Velma take center stage, though Velma is slightly more of an inactive character than I remember.
“Chicago” is full of some iconic musical numbers, most notably “All That Jazz” and “Cell Block Tango.” However, I most enjoyed “We Both Reached for the Gun,” “Mister Cellophane,” and “Razzle Dazzle” in this live performance.
I will say that Katie Frieden is the standout in this production. In the film, I gravitated toward the character of Velma; here, Frieden, as Roxie, gets to play more with the audience. Even if her character is entirely selfish, she is alluring and charming. Even though you know she’s bad, you want her to become a star because you, the audience member, are so taken by her.
This showing of “Chicago” was only here in Dallas for a short time, but this ensemble was fantastic and worth checking out. I recommend checking out “Chicago” whenever it returns to Dallas.
“Chicago” played at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas April 4-6
