***** If you’re reading this, chances are that I’m not going to share anything about Chicago that you don’t already know. As the opening line goes, it’s “a story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery, and treachery.” Oh, yes – all that jazz. The musical takes us back to late 1920s Chicago. It’s full of sizzle and swagger and it’s all happening at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee now through January 19.
This national touring cast is fantastic. They possess immense talent and seem (somehow) to have energy to spare. Many musical numbers in Chicago play as character sketches and allow these brilliant performers to showcase their capabilities. “When You’re Good to Mama” from the first act and “Mister Cellophane” in the second stand out in this regard. Neither of those numbers require elaborate choreography, but they are the exception in this show. The choreography, in fact, is what the audience seemed to buzz about the most during intermission.
The audience was in on Tuesday night. There were a few minor slips early on – a line or two that just didn’t land quite right and some laggy followspots – small gaffes that seem typical in a first performance of a touring show at a new stop (or, in this cast, might be chalked up to the tour’s opening night), but nothing that truly interfered with the audience’s obvious enjoyment. “Cell Block Tango” got the first big response of the night and the house was rolling by “We Both Reached for the Gun.”
The orchestra got the love they so rightly deserved during the Entr’acte. There was applause, laughter, and actual hoots and hollers. Even the curmudgeon behind me, who had a surprising number of things to complain about before the show even began, noted that he really liked that the orchestra was on stage. “That’s kinda cool!” he told his date during intermission. It was pretty cool.
If Chicago isn’t enough to heat you up on yet another bone-chilling midwestern night, I don’t know what is. You have through Sunday to catch this show in Milwaukee. It’s the closest this touring production gets to for actual Chicagoans. Check out chicagoontour.com/schedule for the entire schedule. Otherwise, get your tickets at MarcusCenter.org, by calling 414-273-7206, or by visiting the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 North Water Street, Milwaukee. Tickets start at $41.
★★★★★
Chicago plays at Uihlein Hall at the Marcus Performing Arts Center (Milwaukee) and runs through January 19.
Wednesday – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday – 7:30 p.m.
Friday – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday – 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday – 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sign Language Interpretation: January 18 at 2:00 pm
Chicago runs 2 hours and 30 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
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