Munk re-visits CHICAGO, DRS, and PRODUCERS

I've been going around lately, checking up on some long runners just to see how they're holding up - whether I liked it the first time or not. So for those of you that care (and respect my opinion) about how these shows are playing out, here you go:

CHICAGO
Chicago has always been a favorite of mine, and this is probably around the tenth time that I've seen the show. What I find remarkable about this show is that each time I see it, it's like I'm seeing it for the first time. I'm always engaged, I'm always surprised, and I'm always in awe of the stellar ensemble cast. I'm seen some fantastic casts (Bebe Neuwirth, Karen Ziemba, Charlotte D'Amboise,) some pretty good casts (Deidre Goodwin, Wayne Brady, Billy Zane, Ute Lemper,) and some terrible (Melanie Griffith, Patrick Swazye.) This current cast falls no where near "pretty good" or "terrible," but just south of "fantastic."

Amra-Faye Wright, who looks remarkably like a blonde Bebe Neuwirth, has the look and the shart attitude (and surely the dance skills), but she lacks in vocal power. Not usually a problem in this show - if you can act the hell out of a song, what's coming out of your mouth is secondary. She was very on and off, up and down. She would get so close to nailing every number, but then kind of backed off. I wasn't satisfied one bit by her performance. Truth be told, she was the only weak link in the show. Weak, yes - but not a flaw.

Michelle DeJean is absolutely, brilliantly spectacular as Roxie. Just wonderful. She's now tied with Charlotte as my favorite Roxie ever. She's surely the funniest Roxie ever, and probably the sexiest. I can't recommend seeing her enough - her performance is astoundingly wonderful.

The fabulous Lillias White was a joy to watch in the role, but she never seemed quite connected enough with the action of the piece. She had no through line. Yes, it's a very scattered, untraditional show - but there still needs to be some sense of unity. You couldn't have asked any more from her as far as her singing is concerned - her "When Your Good to Mama" brought the house down - but her semi-frequent line flubs and all over the place delivery made her loose some points in my book. Probably just a bad night, because she's never disappointed before.

John O'Hurley is simply wonderful as Billy Flynn. I was very surprised - he's just fantastic.

So, to end this (it's already too long), it's very uplifting to see a show like this among all the dreck that's playing around the neighborhood. It's wonderful to see a bare-bones show with classic, and the brilliant choreography. CHICAGO is capable of transporting me into the Cook County Jail using merely chairs and lighting - and that's far more effective than being transformed into Oz via dazzling costumes and a giant, pointless dragon. Oh, how I long for when things were simpler...and THAT is what CHICAGO means to me, and that is why I believe CHICAGO deserves to be on Broadway in such jaded times.

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THE PRODUCERS

I hate this show. I always have. Strangely enough, I loved the movie. So, I decided to give the show a third chance.

Immediately, there are sound issues. The sound is turned up too high - up to a point where you can tell that the ensemble is singing, you just couldn't make out a word if you tried. They could have just been singing "peas and carrots" over and over, I wouldn't have known the difference. It was very irritating.

I truly loved John Treacy Egan in the role of Max. Entirely fulfilling and funny in every way, shape and form. I enjoyed his performance of Max more than I enjoyed Lane's (on stage, of course - Lane shined in the film.) He is wonderful.

It took me a while to warm up to Hunter Foster, and it seemed to take him a scene to warm up to Leo Bloom. She started off with the typical Broderick nasal dreck, but quickly dropped it for his natural, actually pleasant voice. He was wonderful the entire show - better than any Leo I've seen - except he couldn't make the initial blanket bit work. It was truly bizzare. Broderick couldn't make it work, and the others that I've seen couldn't make it work. I suppose I'll just have to accept it as a moment that should have been toned down five years ago.

The entire supporting cast couldn't have been better, especially Angie Schworer as Ulla - who is 100x better than the near-talentless Cadie Huffman, who originated the role and was undeservingly awarded the Tony for it. She was fantastic. It's also great to see Gary Beach back, although it's time for time to move on before he continues to get type cast.

The show is in good shape, considering that it's THE PRODUCERS. Take that for what you will.

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No. I was talking about like, the 14,0000 review of WICKED.

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I'm starting to feel more and more that DRS just isn't meant to be seen multiple times. I know it has its fans that will see it over and over again, but the first time I saw it, I loved it--the second time I saw it, I was bored to tears. The charming novelty of it had worn off, I think. I don't know, I still get a kick out of listening to the recording, but it certainly isn't one of those shows that gets better the more you see it.

I was getting kinda irritated by them too, especially because they all say the same thing. If somebody has something new to say about this Sweeney then by all means, but if not, you are relieved of your duty to review for now.

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Well, then why did you read timote's ST thread? And then post a nasty message to him?

You are at least getting respectful discourse from me.

I think what it really boils down to is that you think your opinions are superior and thus WORTHY of any thread you deem, while others are not.

And to that, I say, "SCHMEH!"

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Thanks munk, always love reading your reviews.

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I've also enjoyed reading Munk's reviews. I find them savvy, articulate and well considered. I had no trouble with revisiting these shows as it's interesting to hear how they've fared over time, and with cast changes.
Sidebar: I'm fine with all the various reviews. BWW is a very diversified and dynamic site. I think there is pretty much room for everyone. I don't read every thread, by any means, but it doesn't bother me in the least that they're there.

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I think The Producers has gotten a bit sloppy. The last couple times I ushered it, there was a lot of shouting over punchlines, particularly in the scene where Franz returns to shoot Max and Leo. Things just aren't as clean. I also HATE the pauses they've put in after some of the jokes to indicate to the audience that they are jokes... particularly after "It's good to be the king" and "gay...but straight."

Michelle DeJean rocks my world!

Good one Grizzabella.

I kind of want to see Dirty Rotten again, I liked it. I haven't seen Chicago in years. I dunno. Maybe one of these days if they say it's closing or something.

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3 wonderful reviews, thanks for sharing.

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I found "DRS" to be just the oppposite. Liked it a lot the 1st time around, but LOVE it now. It has just grown on me more, and
Gleason and Jbara have REALLY grown on me, and have just gotten better and better !!