* REVIEW "Come on Babe, why don’t we paint the town?" Those are the inviting lyrics that open the musical "Chicago," which made a mid-week pit stop in Springfield at the Sangamon Auditorium.

This is the second time we’ve had a professional company of "Chicago" perform in town. The last time was in April of 2000, before the 2002 movie version won an Academy Award for "Best Picture," breathing new life into the franchise.

Based on the audience reaction Tuesday night, the franchise can expect to continue for years to come.

While popular with theater fans, the original 1975 production of "Chicago" never received the success it deserved, having the misfortune of opening in the same season as "A Chorus Line."

That slight was rectified in 1996, when "Chicago" was revived on Broadway with a smash hit production that is still playing today.

The show is not remotely sympathetic or romantic (don’t even try to find a love song...unless you count the love songs that some of the characters sing to themselves), but it is blessed with one of the best musical scores ever written for the theater and a satiric book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse which is still so relevant today, it could have been "ripped from the headlines" of the morning newspaper.

"Chicago" opens to the electrifying vamp of the number, "All That Jazz." 1920's good-time girl Roxie Hart (think Paris Hilton with a temper) shoots her lover in a jealous rage. Realizing that she could hang for her crime, she enlists the aid of slick-as-oil lawyer, Billy Flynn, who is able to parlay her notoriety into celebrity, making her an early 20th century "reality star."

Michelle DeJean stars as the merry murderess Roxie Hart. Some folks might have been lucky enough to catch her performance as Roxie the last time the tour played here (she understudied the role, and went on at the performance I caught). She was great then and is even better now.

She is a triple threat performer (talented dancer, singer, actress), with a mop of flaming red hair that takes on a life of its own during the dance numbers.

DeJean is a gifted physical comedian who bears more than a passing resemblance to Debra Messing from "Will and Grace," or a prettier version of the young Lucille Ball. She scored heavily with her monologue that leads into the song "Roxie" and in the Eddie Cantor-inspired number, "Me and My Baby."

Her co-hort in crime, Velma Kelly, is played by the stunning Brenda Braxton, a powerful singer/dancer with a dazzling smile. She was a lower-keyed Velma than I’ve seen before, but still successful in her interpretation.

Tom Wopat, best known from the television series "The Dukes of Hazzard," is the biggest name in the cast. Those who only know him as Luke Duke will be in for a big surprise. He has a big, rich singing voice, and plays the role of Billy Flynn with a smoothness that would serve him well as an Illinois politician.

There were several very nice supporting performances. Kevin Carolan earned great applause as the invisible husband, Amos (or was it Andy?). Carol Woods underplayed the double-entendre as Matron "Mama" Morton, but filled the house with her big, Gospel-flavored voice. R. Bean, as Mary Sunshine, showed off an impressive singing range, although I wasn’t able to catch all of the lyrics to the song "A Little Bit of Good." The audience sure enjoyed her big exit, however.

One of the brilliant moves of the creators of this revival of "Chicago" is the use of an especially attractive chorus. You’ve no doubt seen the ad campaign that features many of the ladies and gents of the chorus wearing the costume equivalent of dental floss. I doubt any of the ensemble ever has a problem getting a date. On top of that, they are all incredible dancers.

The band, under the direction of Vincent Fanuele, smoked through the jazzy music of John Kander and Fred Ebb. It was especially nice to see some of Springfield’s premiere musicians easily holding their own with the touring professionals.

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Gus Gordon is the chief meteorologist at News Channel 20 and a free lance arts reviewer. He can be reached at gusgordon00@lycos.com