Thought this was largely a very successful showing for Encores. Issues with the direction and use of space, the set works but particularly the bedroom set for the final confrontation is too close quarters and shoved upstage right. The lighting also could be used to better effect, there is so much happening at any given moment onstage (which makes sense, this is a wild party after all!) but with the lights up on the whole stage, the eye sometimes doesn't know where to look. More than once I thought, "Who is singing right now?" And had to look at each person's face to figure it out.
BUT the show is electric and the cast is almost uniformly excellent.
Jasmine Amy Rogers is a star, point blank and period. There is an attack and a recklessness and a fearlessness with which she takes on this material and it is just thrilling. It would have been very easy for her to rely simply on Boop-isms with a different makeup design, and while there are hints of Betty shining through, they are used appropriately and feel true to the era and her take on Queenie. She is a dynamite singer, a killer dancer, and a committed actor. It feels like a true honor to get to watch someone of this caliber at the start of her career.
This is the best I've seen Jordan Donica. I've always found him very good, here he ascends to the next level. He is sexy and terrifying and funny and charming and sly and everything in between. It is a phenomenal performance he matches Jasmine step for step.
Adrienne Warren has shaken Tina Turner off at long last and delivers an excellent performance. Vocally exquisite, but she shows all Kate's sides in very exciting and subtle ways.
Jelani was the one of the 4 leads I was least impressed by. He made little to no impact. I didn't understand what drew Queenie (or Kate) to him. Yes, he's incredibly handsome, but there was a spark and charisma I found very lacking. Vocally hit or miss.
Tonya Pinkins acquits herself decently, though I do find her almost fundamentally miscast. As others have said, Earth Kitt is heard in every line, note, and lyric of that role, and it seems almost impossible to do it without some semblance of an impression, which Pinkins does a couple of times. But more than that, Kitt had an innate sensuality to her, a feline energy that crackled the second she appeared onstage or on screen. Pinkins is a towering presence, for sure, but I'm not sure she has that same sensuality, or if she does she seems almost afraid to lean into it. Still, she is a living legend and looks and sounds fantastic. It's always a treat to see her.
Elsewhere, I though Claybourne Elder was wonderful (and just absolutely gorgeous), though I agree the show lets the character down a bit with his sudden change near the end of the show. The Chicago actors made a wonderful impression, as did KJ Hippensteel and Andrew Kober. Lesli Margherita's voice was not in great shape, but her humor and energy suited the role well.
Overall, a really wonderful evening at City Center. Would love for this exact cast to do the Lippa version and LaChiusa version in rep.
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