Chicago returns for encore performance
Reviewed by Joe Blenkle/Sacramento Stage & Theatre
Left to right, Gary Kilmer, Belle Calaway and Jack Heyes in the six time Tony-Award winning musical CHICAGO playing through Apr. 18 in Sacramento. Photo by Carol Rosegg
    After stopping in Sacramento just last year, the National Tour of CHICAGO made a return visit April 13-18, 1999 in the next-to-last offering in this season's Broadway Series. Winner of six Tony Awards, CHICAGO is set in the late 1920s and the story revolves around Roxie Hart (played this year by Belle Calaway), a singer who murders her lover after he threatens to leave her. Amos (Bruce Winant), Roxie's loving, but not-too-bright husband confesses to the crime, but there are so many holes in his story, the truth finally comes out and Roxie admits that she is the killer.
    Roxie goes to jail where she finds herself awaiting trial and in the middle of a media circus as the newspaper and radio reporters switch their attention between whoever has the most sensational story at the moment. This week it's Roxie - last week it was Roxie's fellow jailbird, Velma Kelly (Deidre Goodwin). Both have enlisted a charming, smart, and media savvy lawyer - Billy Flynn (Adrian Zmed). For $5,000, Flynn can get almost anyone off - no matter what the charge. He loves the limelight, however, and goes for whichever case catches the fancy of the media and public at the moment.
CAST:
 Velma Kelly - Deidre Goodwin
 Roxie Hart - Belle Calaway
 Fred Casely - Mark Bove
 Sergeant Fogarty - Lloyd Culbreath
 Amos Hart - Bruce Winant
 Liz - Sharon Moore
 Annie - Tamara Jenkins
 June - Sally Mae Dunn
 Hunyak - Krissy Richmond
 Mona - Michelle DeJean
 "Mama" Morton - Carol Woods
 Billy Flynn - Adrian Zmed
 Mary Sunshine - J. Roberson
 Go-To-Hell-Kitty - Angie Schworer
 Harry - Shawn Emamjomeh
 The Doctor - Lloyd Culbreath
 Aaron - Terrence Clowe
 The Judge - Shawn Emamjomeh
 The Baliff - Ron Kellum
 Martin Harrison - Gary Kilmer
 Court Clerk - Ron Kellum
 The Jury - Jason Gillman
    A master of manipulating reporters, Flynn uses the sensational nature of his clients' crimes to steal the spotlight. His attention switches from Velma to Roxie when he sees Velma fading from media interest and Roxie being the "star" on the rise.
    This year's edition of CHICAGO (at least on opening night) didn't seem to capture the fancy of the Sacramento audience the way the 1998 production did. Oddly enough I found myself liking some of the cast members of this year's CHICAGO better than last year's - and in some cases I liked last year's better. In any case, while appreciative of the performance, the crowd only responded with a partial standing ovation at the end - and even that came late.
    CHICAGO features some great songs and music, including "All That Jazz," "Cell Block Tango," and "When You're Good to Mama." Carol Woods as the hefty jail matron "Mama," did a fine job. This is one of those characters who is a crowd pleaser and its hard to go wrong no matter who plays the role.
    Belle Calaway did a great job as Roxie - even better than Charlotte d'Amboise's portrayal last year. Calaway made her Broadway debut in THE WILL RODGERS FOLLIES and appeared as Irene Roth in the National Tour of CRAZY FOR YOU.
    Deidre Goodwin's Velma was also outstanding and both dancers closed the show with a real crowd-pleaser in "Hot Honey Rag."
    This year's Billy Flynn was played by Adrian Zmed who was one of the real bright spots of the production. He was...well, charming! Possibly best remembered from his role in TV's T.J. HOOKER (and even farther back - DANCE FEVER), he demonstrated some singing talent and didn't miss a beat the whole night. He looks the part of a slick lawyer and played the part well. Zmed recently starred in the American premiere of CHILDREN OF EDEN and starred in GREASE both on Broadway and in the National Tour as Danny Zuko.
    CHICAGO is a treat to see, but bringing it back only a year after it played in Sacramento may have been a little too soon. It's too easy to compare performances after such a short time and the Sacramento audience didn't seem to appreciate the '99 version of the show as much.
    CHICAGO runs Apr. 13-18 at the Sacramento Community Center Theater, located at 1301 L Street. Tickets are $10-$60 and are available at the Broadway Series box office, 1419 H Street (557-1999); the Community Center box office, 1301 L Street (264-5181) or and BASS ticket location (766-BASS).
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