“Chicago” in Oslo – crime with Charleston.

 

Chicago the musical

Lyrics: Fred Ebb.

Book: Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse

Translation: Svein Selvig and Svein Sturla Hungnes

Based on the play «Chicago» by Maurine Dallas Watkins (1926)

Music: John Kander

First performance Broadway 1975

Oslo Nye Teater from January 22nd 2015

Review by Torkil Baden, photos Henning Høholt og L.P.Lorentz

Director: Svein Sturla Hungnes

Choreography: Marianne Skovli Aamodt

Scenic design: Ola Bråten

Costumes: Trude Bergh

Ochestra of 9 headed by musical director: Petter S

– hypertension viagra vs cialis minor local side-effects..

. Kragstad

14 dancers and in addition students from Baardar Dance Academy

CAST

Roxy: Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen

Velma: Eli Stålhand

Billy Flynn: Dennis Storhøi

Mary Sunshine: Bentine Holm

Amos: Sindre Postholm, and others

OSLO/NORWAY: The characteristics of this new production is a host of dancers on the small stage and a high paced development without a dull moment. The director Hungnes and the choreographer Aamodt gave their audience a swinging “Chicago” already in 2002. Then Hungnes also was the director of this celebrated downtown theater. Now he is retired, but full of merits as a staging director of musicals. Last year the couple had a successful presentation of “Guys and Dolls” on the same stage.

In a time when the Oslo New Theatre struggles for economic survival it is impressing that the resources look more abundant. In addition to more dancers then twelve years ago a group of talented students fill up the stage towards the end. The Baardar Dance Academy is specializing in musical dance and has been a rescuing angel during the last years for several productions in Oslo. The combination of professional dancers and some acts with the students works smoothly also this time.

Sharp orchestra

The orchestra has left its traditional position on center stage in order to give room for the unfolding of the numerous cast. You miss the lively interplay between musicians and the actors, but musical director Petter Kragstad has no problems with getting through with his sharp orchestra from further behind though slightly smaller then in the previous production.

The two imprisoned ladies Roxy and Velma are the centerpiece of any performance of “Chicago”. Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen has for a long time been a vocal and stage star with a special twinkle in the eye and a Marlene Dietrich-like approach. Eli Stålhand is moving out of smaller tasks to the merciless limelight of the opening number “All that Jazz”, and late on she shows amazing acrobatic skills.

Veteran Dennis Storhøiis currently in focus on Norwegian television in a new dramatization about the heavy water plant supposed to stir Hitler’s atomic bomb. As the scrupellous PR-minded lawyer for his murderous female clients he convinces with charming elegancy and timing.

The best “Chicago” has been on the Norwegian repertory almost since its Broadway premiere in 1975, this year 40 years ago. Although it was beaten by “A Chorus Line” in attention in the beginning, it was produced in Trondheim in 1980. After the revival on Broadway in 1996 it took off worldwide. The nostalgic rhytms from the 1920’ies, charleston and ragtime and all that jazz, catchy songs, and the hilarious parody of crime and publicity has made it the best musical of the 1970’ies.

To my opinion “A Chorus Line” only comes second.

The duo Fredd Ebb and John Kander had a solid reputation already with “Cabaret” (1966) and “Zorba” (1968). They are also the guys behind the song “New York” (1977).

In “Chicago” the hitting dialogues, seducing dance, edgy rhytms, decadence, cartoonist humor and glamour can give great entertainment.

 

 

 

This production does it.

 

 

 

 

 

Videos at Youtube:

Please enjoy our videos from a stage rehersal, just before the premiere.

The first one presenting the opening of the show with Eli Stålhand and the corps des ballet. Foto Henning Høholt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyndFCM0wsk

The second video is from the ventriloquist scene between Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen and Dennis Storhøi surrounded by the corps des ballet.  Foto Henning Høholt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVYmucy6Qic