Imagine it’s the 1920s in Chicago, Illinois. Jazz, vaudeville and high skirts are in. Now imagine you are a background performer aspiring to lead and perform your own shows — this is the case for Roxie Hart, the lead character in Chicago the Musical. The story follows her through being caught in infidelity, murder and then freedom. all carried through 14 musical numbers accompanied with lavish and extravagant dances. This classic story has been brought from a play in the early 1920s to a book, musical, then the 2002 movie adaptation. While there’s many versions that critics can rely on, for this review I will be comparing the 2002 movie to the current Broadway adaptation live performance.
I’ve been involved with OHS’s theater program both in and out of school and have even watched or have been a part of the two musicals we have produced thus far (“Seussical the Musical” and “The Addams Family the Musical”). In enjoying theater, I have never actually been to a proper theater until this show, which I saw on Nov. 30. To say I was breathtaken would be an understatement. From getting photos in front of the Fabulous Fox Theatre, to exploring the inside, to finally being engulfed by the expansive and intricate stage — It was a delightful experience. I plan on going back as soon as I can.
The movie adaptation is what initially got me interested in this story in the first place, and those who I’ve talked with tend to share similar sentiments. I fell absolutely in love with the music. Already being a fan of swing and jazz, it just clicked — this musical really fit into the perfect hole in my Spotify wrapped and in my heart. The live production of this show included every song from the movie and did really well. The singers were well balanced for their parts but included more of an opera-esque interpretation, which I came to appreciate. Many of the performers were rolling, jumping and even climbing great heights around the stage while performing their songs; this was so engaging to me, I couldn’t help but have my jaw on the floor with a smile on my face. The set was minimal to say the least, but yet it worked — it relied on ensemble to create elements that the performers interacted with like it were a lively set.
There was very little about this show that I either didn’t like as much as the movie, or just even in general. This may seem backhanded, but I feel there were some shortcomings in the music itself (granted I’ve never seen a live performance before), but I knew going into the show it would fall differently than the studio recorded one. This feeling struck me as soon as the opening overture transitioned into the opening song, “And All That Jazz.” In both versions, the intensity grows throughout the song, but the live interpretation just didn’t have the same punch as the movies. This is also the case for my favorite song from the show called “Roxie” where it lacked the same energy that the performers just couldn’t deliver. I still did very much enjoy both of the previously mentioned examples, though.
This experience has deepened my understanding and appreciation for musical theater as a whole. Before I would just find one song from a show and that’s all I’d listen to, but since then, I love trying to piece together the story through the songs until I’m able to fully enjoy them by watching it. If I could, I would watch “Chicago” over again in a heartbeat, and I highly recommend it to anyone who’s even remotely interested in musicals due to how catchy it is; the little things that I did get caught up on definitely get passed because I was very impressed and immersed with the overall experience. It’s like Billy Flynn said: “How can they hear the truth above the roar?”
