 "Give 'em the old razzle, dazzle" sings Billy Flynn, the lawyer in
Chicago, and that is just what Kander & Ebb do. There is one
showstopping number after another in this smart and witty musical about
two murderesses and the lengths they will go to to get media attention so
they can go free. Presented as part of the Encores! Concert series last
year, it transferred to Broadway in the fall of 1996. This musical has
been long overdue for a revival, with such people as Amy Fisher, O. J.
Simpson and the Menendez brothers in the news, it is more apropos than
ever. As a result, it has been playing to packed houses ever since it
opened. The original starred Broadway legends Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon
and Jerry Orbach and no cast could ever hope to top them, but this cast
comes pretty close. In their place are Bebe Neuwirth, whose voice grew
on me after a few listens, Ann Reinking, sounding eerily like Gwen
Verdon in certain passages, and James Naughton who turn in fine
performances, nonetheless. D. Sabella, Joel Grey, and Marcia Lewis all
top their predecessors. There is also the extra song, "I Know a Girl"
which is getting its first recording. One minor disappoint is that
Roxie's lead-in monologue to her song, "Roxie" has been cut and is
sorely missed, since it was on the original Broadway cast album. So this
CD has its pluses and minuses. But the pluses outweigh the minuses and
any new recording of this score is a welcome addition in my book.
Joseph Molner (31/12/97)
Taken from http://www.talkinbroadway.com/sound
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