Phillyist Reviews... Chicago: The Musical

Photo by Flickr user OnMyWayTo

Wednesday's opening performance of Chicago: The Musical at the Academy of Music had it all: Signature Fosse moves, an infectious soundtrack, a little razzle, a little dazzle, and of course... Springer.

However, I dare say that Wednesday's performance at the Academy was at least as good, and probably better, than the one I saw on Broadway proper years ago.

Let's start with the obvious: Jerry Springer. He was good, but not great, and I'm almost certain they adjusted some of the songs so the chorus handled it rather than him. However, I was still pleasantly surprised. His singing was better than anyone probably expected, and when he wasn't singing, Springer was on-point as smarmy, money-grubbing lawyer Billy Flynn. (I'm pretty sure if you spend all that time hosting a talk show like Springer's, you get pretty adept at dealing with the shadiest humanity Earth has to offer.)

Bianca Marroquin's portrayal of fame-seeking murderess Roxie Hart was fabulous, and Carol Woods' Matron Mama Morton blew the crowd away.

I felt like Terra C. MacLeod didn't quite measure up to the Bebe Neuwirth/Catherine Zeta-Jones performances of Velma Kelly. She was good, of course—MacLeod has played Velma in several productions over the years. I'm not sure if it's just that MacLeod wasn't miked properly, but her voice often didn't have the power that I've come to expect in the role. (And to be honest, I fear that Catherine Zeta-Jones' performance in the movie adaptation may have ruined me for all other Velmas.)

Tom Riis Farrell was absolutely spot-on as Roxie's milquetoast husband Amos Hart. Strong voice and understated acting, Tom Riis Farrell made the character his own, and got rousing applause from the crowd with his rendition of "Mr. Cellophane."

Chicago: The Musical puts on a great show without being too showy. There are no complicated sets, no crazy costumes, just a group of incredibly fit singers/dancers/actors decked out in black, working minimalism for all it's worth.

The show runs through Saturday at the Academy of Music. Go forth, Philly, and get a little of that razzle dazzle.

Chicago runs through September 20 a the Academy of Music.