Despite being on Broadway and various tours around the world for 50 years, the musical “Chicago” still endures. Written in 1975 with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, the latest incarnation of “Chicago” is still a razzle dazzle hit musical, playing only this week at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami through Sunday, June 22.
What is most appealing about “Chicago” is the compelling story of corruption, greed, murder and treachery in Chicago of the 1920s, all told in the musical through creative dancing, costuming and songs.
Based to a degree on a true story of two women (fictitiously named Roxie and Velma in “Chicago’) accused of murdering their lovers, original choreographer Bob Fosse teamed with Kander and Ebb in creating “Chicago” as a musical set to an upbeat jazz score and structured as a vaudeville revue. The format allowed each choreographed song and dance to tell the story of the two women and the lawyer they hired as acts in a variety show. The musical garnered six Tony Awards through the years as well as an Oscar for best picture (2002) in the musical film that starred Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere.
The current production of “Chicago” at Arsht Center, directed by David Hyslop and choreographed by Gregory Butler, is based on the 1992 restaging of “Chicago” with the orchestra on stage and minimal sets and sleek costuming.
From the opening scene, the Arsht Center production is as captivating as all of the prior “Chicago” productions due to the versatility of its talented cast of dancers and singers. Taylor Lane as Velma and Ellie Roddy as Roxie shined both in their choreographed dance production numbers and songs.
Actress Elle Ruddy as Roxie performs “Me and My Baby” with the cast in the musical “Chicago”, running now through Sunday, June 22 at Arsht Center in downtown Miami.
Lane and the 22-member cast all danced fluidly while Lane sang in the opening scene “All That Jazz”, the most memorable of the 21 songs performed in “Chicago”. Given that musical segments of “All That Jazz” were performed several times in the musical, it becomes the song that resonates most in the show.
The storyline and music focus on the merits and distinguished features of each of the characters in establishing what was a 1920s style of life in Chicago, with the celebration of scandal and murderers.
Ellie Roddy interprets Roxie as a cunning woman who seeks as much attention as possible irrespective of whether she is found guilty of murder. She especially shines singing in the solo “Funny Honey” as well as dancing in the choreographed “Roxie” and “Me and My Baby” choreographed production numbers.
As Velma, Lane proves to be equal to Roddy musically in her songs “I Can’t Do It Alone” and “I Know A Girl”. Velma becomes jealous of the attention given to Roxy but also bonds with her plight. Both Lane and Roddy shine in their duets “My Own Best Friend”, “Nowadays” and the song and dance production of “Hot Honey Rag”.
Also starring in “Chicago” is Connor Sullivan as shrewd defense attorney Billy Flynn and paces himself well in the musical as both dancer and singer. He especially shines in the song “All I Care About Is Love” and the dance production number “Razzle Dazzle”.
Actor Connor Sullivan as Billy Flynn sings “All I Care About Is Love” with the cast in the musical “Chicago”, running now through Sunday, June 22 at Arsht Center in downtown Miami.
Also standing out among the cast is Illeana Kirven as the prison guard Matron “Mama”. Kirven especially shines in her solo number “When You’re Good to Mama” and her duet of “Class” with Lane.
One of the more comical characters is Roxy’s husband Amos played by Andrew Metzger. Amos is constantly ignored by both Roxy and all the characters, but shines singing in his testimonial “Mister Cellophane” lamenting his invisibility to others.
Along with director Hyslop and the choreography of Butler, the other off-stage personnel that made the production exciting from the opening scene to the finale are scenic designer John Lee Beatty, lighting designer Ken Billington and costume designer William Ivery Long.
The Broadway in Miami production of the musical “Chicago”, originally created in 1975 by John Kander and Fred Ebb, is running now through Sunday, June 22 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in downtown Miami. Performances are at 8 p.m. through Saturday, June 21. Matinee shows are on Saturday at 2 p.m. and on Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets range from $35-$155. For tickets and more information, go to arshtcenter.org or call 305-949-6722.
