Chicago is just the suburbs
Rating: 2
Chicago: The Musical
City Theatre of Independence
This was a poor production of a great script. Apparently the available talent for this theatre should have stopped or made the board think twice before selecting this progressive show. The show lacked a smooth flow; sound was overpowered with a weak pit, a lot of immature voices and murdered by poor direction, bad casting and choreography that was poorly executed. There is potential that the show will be better 2nd weekend if the pace is picked up and actors learn their lines, lyrics, music cues and dance steps. Also it would be helpful for the actors not to telegraph their many mistakes to the audience.
Dead silent scene changes were just show killers. What did the director think that the audience was going to applaud for a minute and a half while they move to the next scene? In case you didn't know, you're allowed to play a couple bars of transmission music between scenes. It was also so much fun to hear the conductor count off for the start of most songs. I was really happy that someone told me when the music was going to start. And a 1 and a 2 and a 3… I guess he wanted to make sure the audience knew he was there. I almost booed him at the top of Act II when he took his conductor bow. The pit had its problems and for that size stage they could have cut down a couple people. Also, why clutter the small stage even more with a baby grand?
Casting must have been a problem but I am not going to blast the actors. Most did a good job and were working hard on stage. I didn't agree with or understand some of the character interpretation which often was very inconsistent. They were taken in many wrong directions and given awkward movements and moments on the stage. If staging was bad, the choreography was even worse. A group of what appeared to be non-dancers trying to dance and failing badly. It was comical watching them looking around at each other for the steps. All the guys looked so uncomfortable in their dance numbers and under-rehearsed. Roxie moved well but the final dance with Roxie & Velma ….. Well someone should have gotten 20 to life for that mess. I was in shock during the finale of how…. less than good…it was.
Originality and adapting to talent, stage size and audience is what was really missing from this show. Along with energy, it didn't feel young, fresh or sexy, just actors walking from scene to scene. Just because everyone was scantily clad doesn't mean they look sexy. Unless you have a body that is toned and fit don't show it to an audience, especially shirtless guys with modern tattoos, and a desperate need to visit a tanning bed. You can't copy everything from professional productions or movies unless you have the talent and resources to back it up and when you copy you will be compared. I hope the director realizes she only achieved a good production and CTI deserves more. I believe it may disappoint a lot of people (like myself) who were looking forward to seeing this show done in community theatre.
read the review at KC Stage
Chicago: The Musical
City Theatre of Independence
This was a poor production of a great script. Apparently the available talent for this theatre should have stopped or made the board think twice before selecting this progressive show. The show lacked a smooth flow; sound was overpowered with a weak pit, a lot of immature voices and murdered by poor direction, bad casting and choreography that was poorly executed. There is potential that the show will be better 2nd weekend if the pace is picked up and actors learn their lines, lyrics, music cues and dance steps. Also it would be helpful for the actors not to telegraph their many mistakes to the audience.
Dead silent scene changes were just show killers. What did the director think that the audience was going to applaud for a minute and a half while they move to the next scene? In case you didn't know, you're allowed to play a couple bars of transmission music between scenes. It was also so much fun to hear the conductor count off for the start of most songs. I was really happy that someone told me when the music was going to start. And a 1 and a 2 and a 3… I guess he wanted to make sure the audience knew he was there. I almost booed him at the top of Act II when he took his conductor bow. The pit had its problems and for that size stage they could have cut down a couple people. Also, why clutter the small stage even more with a baby grand?
Casting must have been a problem but I am not going to blast the actors. Most did a good job and were working hard on stage. I didn't agree with or understand some of the character interpretation which often was very inconsistent. They were taken in many wrong directions and given awkward movements and moments on the stage. If staging was bad, the choreography was even worse. A group of what appeared to be non-dancers trying to dance and failing badly. It was comical watching them looking around at each other for the steps. All the guys looked so uncomfortable in their dance numbers and under-rehearsed. Roxie moved well but the final dance with Roxie & Velma ….. Well someone should have gotten 20 to life for that mess. I was in shock during the finale of how…. less than good…it was.
Originality and adapting to talent, stage size and audience is what was really missing from this show. Along with energy, it didn't feel young, fresh or sexy, just actors walking from scene to scene. Just because everyone was scantily clad doesn't mean they look sexy. Unless you have a body that is toned and fit don't show it to an audience, especially shirtless guys with modern tattoos, and a desperate need to visit a tanning bed. You can't copy everything from professional productions or movies unless you have the talent and resources to back it up and when you copy you will be compared. I hope the director realizes she only achieved a good production and CTI deserves more. I believe it may disappoint a lot of people (like myself) who were looking forward to seeing this show done in community theatre.
read the review at KC Stage
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