| Chicago Review and First Hand Account 12-29-01 Matinee Courtesy of SupremeDiva Online This has all the classic signs of a cold Chicago rush day in the Shubert Wind Tunnel... Although this time, we were in the front row! We pulled it off, and were front row, almost center. Of course, right in everyone's line of sight. Yay Roxane! So at the crack of crack, and in the world's MOST UNCOMFORTABLE shoes, I set out with "J-Little" and "Unavailable Unavailable" (better known as Jenifer and Sarah, respectively) to rush both Chicago and Rocky Horror at the same time. Rocky is another story entirely! The usual excitement mounted as the overture began... and that's when I saw it. Roxane glances across the stage, not even 6 seconds into the overture, and spots me right away! It was the whole double take, wide eyed, ohmygod, hey I know her and SMILE! I was dying! Gotta love Roxane! Overall, the entire cast was very good. They were extremely on today, and I was quite impressed with (almost) everyone. But there is one exception: Mr. George Hamilton. However visually appealing he may be, the man with the eternal tan is tone deaf and one dimensional. Now maybe I perceive him this way because he is not the first Billy Flynn I have seen; he is the 4th. I have to give him the benifit of the doubt with that one. But, I have seen so much more done with the role that it upset me to see Billy played like this. Don't get me wrong, he didn't spoil the show for me in any way (I have sat through bad Billy's as well as other character's before!) but he was just painful to watch and listen to. I really wanted to tell him he should lipsync the rest of the show to me singing the Billy parts! He ran his lines like one big run on sentance which he was speaking to a brick wall. Good god, shoot me now. Okay, well maybe he wasn't that horrible... I am still capable of writing this, so that is a good sign! Just kidding all! No hate mail!!! Roz Ryan as Mama; I don't even think there are words to begin to describe her performance! Oh, here we go: "WE LOVE ROZ!!!" Roz has this way of involving the audience more than any other Mama I have seen! And of course, she is one of my favorite tour people so that kicks everything up a notch too! ;) Her performance was phenomenal and an absolute joy to watch as always! Do I hear Marcia's permanent replacement? I was very impressed with Nana Visitor in the role of Roxie. She reminded me a lot of Charlotte d'Amboise, Tracy Shayne (we love Tracy!), and Belle Calaway all rolled into one. She was a pleasure to watch, and BOY did I ever get a kick out of her. By far the most emotional Roxie I have ever seen, but she gives new meaning to the phrase "spastic little pixie." *Don't worry, Trace! You're still my favorite spastic little pixie!* Donna Marie Asbury was in the role of Velma. She gave a phenomenal powerhouse performance, from her first "Diva pose" to her final "all that jeaaaayyyyyzzzze." And she can still send chills up my spine at the closing of Act One! - Only one complaint though... What happened to the cartwheels at the end of the Hot Honey Rag? :) Of course, I have to talk about Roxane! What kind of girl would I be if I didn't? She was amazing and then some! But then again, Roxane NEVER ceases to amaze me! I love watching all the various adlibbing she does, especially when sitting on the side with Roz. It's cool to be able to so clearly pick someone's voice out of a chorus! It's also fun to randomly have cast members smile at you throughout the show *coughROXANEcough* hee hee. Now on the the really fun stuff! We were supposed to jet straight up to the Circle In The Square Theatre for RHS right after Chicago, but it got out a little earlier than we had anticipated. Using the time wisely, of course I HAD to go talk to Roxane! We get to the stage door and Leon asks who we are there to see. I replied "Roxane Carrasco. She knows I'm here." Roxane pops her head out the door 5 mintues later and grabs me. Sorry Jen and Sarah! We talked for a little while and she informed me (while asking me when I was coming back because it's so good to see me there) the she will be taking over the role of Velma (with Belle starring opposite as Roxie) beginning January 14th. I said "Oh my god really? Rox, I am SO there!!!" Stay tuned for another review of Chicago to come soon. Actually, don't be surprised if there are a few because I have shown up a few times to see Roxane (my favorite Velma!). |