Review -- CHICAGO 6-3-03

[CJR]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 2:22pm

Chicago 6-3-03
Roxane Carrasco as Velma
Tracy Shayne as Roxie

Tuesday nights show... Roxane's opening night. Now I remember what made me love Chicago so much -- Roxane as Velma playing opposite Tracy as Roxie. There is a charisma, style and energy Roxane and Tracy bring to the roles which make me absoultely enthralled in their every move.

As Roxane ascended through the middle of the orchestra with her arm bent slightly over her head, I got chills. The audience applauded and yelled and so did I. It was a wonderful moment. Her All That Jazz was nothing less than phenomenal; both stunning and sultry at the same time and I was not disappointed. It's such a thrill for me to see Roxane back in a role she is truly worthy of. She is a talent to be prominently displayed for all to see... not to be held back in an ensemble role.

Tracy was the perfect combination of endearing and manipulative, letting us see and experience every emotion Roxie is going through. Roxie is both a little girl and a woman wise beyond her years, and Tracy's portrayal brings that to life. It's wonderful to see Roxie played in such a multi-faceted way. Tracy's Roxie truly wears her heart on her sleeve, and that's one of the many things which makes me favor her performance over the other Roxie's I have seen in the past. It definitely sets Tracy apart from the rest.

The ensemble was in perfect shape with Michelle DeJean back in the role of Mona after injuring her hip. The cast is so alive and fresh now, it feels to me as if it just opened.

At the end of I Can't Do It Alone was Roxane's signature move; her flying split. There was a collective and audible gasp from the audience as she landed on the stage, which was followed by a solid minute of applause and cheering. It was entirely well deserved and a wonderful surprise; especially for Roxane's opening night!

I'm dismayed to report that Angie Stone has not gotten any better in the role of Mama... She was losing both her singing and speaking voice throughout the first act, and by the time act two was set to begin she was gone -- literally. Thus came the announcement of the night:

"Ladies and gentlemen; For the remainder of this evening's performance the role of Matron Mama Morton will be played by Michelle Robinson."

Can we say HOT DAMN!? Michelle was a powerful Mama. Sassy, brassy, sexy and classy. When she sang Class with Roxane I was blown away. She is definitely another overlooked and underappreciated talent in the cast. Brava Michelle!

Nowadays/The Hot Honey Rag was absolutely superb and perfect in every sense of the word. A truly shining example of the statement "Two moving as one." I have never seen it performed with more grace, elegance and downright attitude -- and I probably never will.

I was visibly moved/touched at the curtain call when Roxane and Tracy took their bows together. As they came center stage, Roxane held her arms out to Tracy and the two hugged each other and then bowed, while waving and blowing kisses to the crowd. In my opinion it was a priceless and classic moment, and the perfect end to a perfect performance.

[Amneris]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 2:22pm

as you wrote this review i wrote a post asking how the show was hahah!!! thats awesome. what a wonderful review!!!! thanks for sharing. Updated On: 6/5/03 at 02:22 PM

[CJR]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 2:24pm

HAHHAHAA lol

Yeah, I went to the first 3 performances, but I'll spare you all reviews of the next two lol

All 3 shows were phenomenal and I wish I was going back tonight... is it Saturday yet?

[W3B]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 2:40pm

I'm am SOOOO jealous right now, sweetie!

I HAVE to see Rox and Trace together.

Now where's a nice millionare boyfriend when you need him to fly to New York. lol

[CJR]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 2:45pm

Yeah, I'm actually contemplating going back tonight.. I had to force myself NOT to cash my paycheck so that I WOULDN'T go back in tonight.. I need to rest up my WOOOOOOO!!!! for Saturday and Sunday. After 3 shows of cheering my ass off, my throat is BEAT!

[Deannaizme]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 2:46pm

I think you're a tad biased, CJR, but that's ok. :) I wish I could see this show with those two leads, and your review made that wish a little stronger.

~D

[CJR]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 2:49pm

I am biased.. I don't deny that. I have liked other people as Roxie and Velma.. just never to the same extent that I like Trace and Rox. Bianca Marroquin comes a close second for favorite Roxie.. but in actuality, I saw Trace and Rox perform in the show before I became friends with them -- and I thought the exact same thing then.

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 4:54pm

Wow! What a great review. It makes me want to book a flight to New York to see Chicago.

[Deannaizme]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 6:14pm

Like I said, I think the bias is ok. I'm a lot like Rex, wanting to go to New York to see this show (and Cabaret again, and Nine, and Gypsy, and Hairspray, and, and, and). Your review made that more true. :) But I think I'll see the Chicago tour (and maybe try to see Wicked) when it comes through San Francisco and be happy with that!

~D

[CJR]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 6:39pm

You'll love the tour -- Bianca is a PHENOMENAL Roxie. She definitely comes a VERY VERY close second to Trace for me... Then again, I'm quite biased to Beebs as well.

[Deannaizme]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 11:33am

I'm getting a little excited. I'm working on getting my tickets now for the tour when it comes through San Francisco in August. (A friend of mine has a "Best of Broadway" series subscription, so she's getting tickets at her cut rate for us. They're good seats, too!)

I can already hear "All That Jazz." :)

~D

[CJR]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 11:36am

Hahha :) YAY! Really, you'll loooove the show. Brenda grew a lot in the role of Velma and I hear she's fierce now up in Syracuse. And Bianca is just well.. she's the sh!t :) Loooove her. A lot of people said she couldn't pull off Roxie because she's so young (she's 26) but she brings something very entertaining and endearing to the role. And she loves her fans -- so definitely try to meet her after the show. She's such a sweetie!

[AndrewClay]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 11:46am

What's your Chicago viewing count up to now?

Andrew

[CJR]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 11:48am

Hahhaa -- seeming as I already have tickets for this weekend... by Sunday night I'll be up to 36

[AndrewClay]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 11:49am

And double wow! At what number do you stop keeping count?

Andrew

[CJR]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 11:50am

I dunno.. I have a friend up to 105.

In all honesty when Trace finishes her run as Roxie probably the only thing to get me back to that theatre would be Rox as Velma.

[Deannaizme]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 12:44pm

I think you said that there were three Billy Flynns rotating into the role? Are they rotating by performance -- one Saturday, one Sunday matinee, one Sunday evening? Or are the rotating in different cities? I ask because I hope we get to see Michael C Hall. I like his work quite a bit from "Six Feet Under" and would love to see him on the stage.

Deanna

[CJR]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 12:46pm

Different cities as far as I know. It wasn't announced in the press release because, well why WOULD they announce it. I don't know the exact dates when they change but I can try to find out for you.

CJR

[Deannaizme]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 1:10pm

That would be great. Thanks, CJR.

Deanna

[CJR]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 1:14pm

No problem.. I'm happy to help. It might take me a week or two seeming as they're opening in Syracuse tonight, but I'll see what I can find out.

[Deannaizme]

Posted: 6/11/03 at 2:14pm

Well, I got my tickets to this show -- very happy about the seats. We're in orchestra row H, dead center stage. Hurry up, August 10, get here! :)

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 6/11/03 at 2:19pm

Michelle Pawk was an AMAZING Mama Morton. Stole the show when I saw it.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 6/11/03 at 2:45pm

two of my favorites in the leads are Deidre Goodwin as Velma (she was June in the movie) and believe it or not Sandy Duncan as Roxie. Sandy had a lot of the same qualities you described in your review for Roxie, which I think really enliven the part. I'm not sure Duncan has played NYC in it, just the road. And Deidre is, in a word, fierce as Velma. Another really interesting Velma is Jasmine Guy. And I would have loved to have seen Chita as Roxie in Vegas.

[CJR]

Posted: 6/11/03 at 3:20pm

I saw Sandy Duncan... I think it's insulting to Tracy to compare the two.

Yes, Michele was an AMAZING Mama -- and hey, if you saw her as Mama, that means you saw Rox as Velma :) Rock on! lol

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 6/11/03 at 3:23pm

I didn't see Roxanne...can't remember who I saw. She wasn't one of the better known Velmas (for obvious reasons.) I know Belle Calaway was Roxie and she was sensational.