‘Chicago’ truly razzles and dazzles

“Chicago” began with blaring trumpets and trombones that foreshadowed the powerful and sassy show to follow. The theater was filled to capacity for a good reason; “Chicago” is not only loud, controversial and provocative, but absolutely fabulous.

Elaborate costumes, such as short skirts, fishnets, sequins and heels, were aplenty. The detailed set lit up and the live band played catchy songs like “Cell Block Tango,” “I Can’t Do it Alone” and “Mr. Cellophane.”

The story is about the married Roxy Hart (Kimberly Exum) who is sent to prison for murdering her lover in cold blood. In prison she meets other feisty widows who killed their husbands for reasons like polygamy, cheating and popping their gum.

One woman in particular, Velma Kelly (Maggie Marlin) becomes Roxy’s greatest threat but her best match. Velma’s story was the one all the reporters wanted until Roxy came on the scene and stole all the headlines.

The story continues with every woman fighting for the best lawyer in town, Billy Flynn (Michael Rieman), who also happens to be a very seductive man. He can make any woman fall head over heels for him and make any woman guilty of murder appear innocent.

For the rest of the exciting and hilarious show, Roxy must figure out a way to stay in the headlines without losing her freedom, while Velma finds a way to get Flynn to notice her case, which is now old news.

The cast was flawlessly chosen. The actors captured their character’s personalities perfectly. Rieman had every woman in the audience swooning over Billy Flynn. Exum completely captured Roxy’s annoying innocence and narcissism and Jake Ashey, who played Roxy’s unappreciated husband Amos, was so pitiful and delightfully painful to watch.

The only problems were occasional technical errors that sounded like someone hitting a microphone.

This impressive version of “Chicago” is the only other production allowed in the United States while the show is on Broadway. “Chicago” is a must-see for any theater lover, anyone who loved the movie, or anyone up for a night of laughter and entertainment.

Director Patti D’Beck should certainly be proud of this production, which will be at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts until April 26.

“Chicago” will be showing April 23-25 at 7:30 p.m. and April 26 at 3:00 p.m. High school matinees run April 21-22 at 10 a.m.

Ticket prices are $20 for general admission, seniors, $18 for VCU faculty and staff and $8 for VCU students with valid I.D. and $12 per person for groups of 20 or more. Tickets can be purchased at the Raymond Hodges Theatre Box Office, W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts or reserved by calling 828-6026, or by e-mailing theatretix@vcu.edu.