If you don't have tickets to Pentacle Theatre's "Chicago The Musical," concoct a plan to get tickets now. You'll need a good one. The show's run already is sold out, but don't lose heart.
There are always people who don't show up. For each performance, unclaimed tickets are sold at the theater's on-site box office, which opens 45 minutes before curtain. Arrive early. Get on the box office's waiting list. Enjoy Pentacle's gorgeous outdoor setting as you wait. With a little luck, you'll be tapping your toes to the hottest show in Salem.
Also, it's not unprecedented for Pentacle to add shows to a sold-out run, so it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on pentacletheatre.org in the coming days.
Is "Chicago" really that good?
Yes. After one verse of the opening number, "All That Jazz," I knew the audience was in for something extraordinary.
When it comes to theater, I have high standards. I'm not easily impressed. I don't gush. I had stratospheric expectations for "Chicago." They were exceeded at every level.
There is a wealth of talent in the Mid-Valley's performing arts community, but maximizing what each cast, crew and orchestra member can do onstage takes strong direction that involves vision, communication, leadership, delegation and trust. "Chicago" directors Ken Hermens and James Steele did just that. They've directed the strongest production I've seen at Pentacle since moving to Salem in 2011. I hope this is their first of many collaborations to come.
Set in the Roaring '20s, "Chicago" follows vaudeville star Velma Kelly and chorus girl Roxie Hart who are on death row for murder. With suave but dirty lawyer Billy Flynn's help, they strive for the American Dream of fame, fortune and acquittal.
The plot unfolds in a succession of vaudeville acts — comedy sketches, songs, dances, circus-like acts and melodrama. America's narcissism, fascination with crime and sexual id explode onstage for two hours. The audience has permission to purge its inhibitions and just celebrate the naughtiness.
David Hastings, the production's musical and vocal director, did justice to John Kander and Fred Ebb's classic score. The live 12-person orchestra played at a professional level, sat onstage and was cleverly incorporated into the action.
James Steele and Tony Zandol's set design transformed Pentacle's stage into a vaudeville stage with with a layered proscenium arch, orchestra pit and a gorgeous wooden floor. Jenni Bertels' light design and Jace Richard's costumes added brilliant color, lacy lingerie and some fun surprises.
The choreography by Valerie Steele, a Pentacle newcomer, was key to the production's success. It captured original choreographer's Bob Fosse's movement by balancing passion, beauty and discomfort with focused organic movements and surprising restraint. The cast and stellar chorus of dancers shed their physical boundaries gyrating, touching one another and all that jazz. If you don't like sexual expression, this show isn't for you.
In "All That Jazz," the chorus moved like a single organism, a blob of sexual energy waiting to be unleashed in the numbers that followed. Tracy Webber, as Velma, owned the stage like any diva should and belted the classic tune and the ballads that followed like a star.
The choreography of "We Both Reached for the Gun" was extraordinary and set this number above the rest. The ensemble was frenetic, completely unleashed. Kelli Jaecks, as Roxie, and James Owens, as Billy, were hilarious. Jaecks danced on Owens' lap, as Billy manipulated Roxie like a freakish marionette. This challenging number was seamless and brought the house down.
The other cast members were tops. Chris Fletcher, as Matron "Mama" Morton, can belt with the best of them. Janeen Hilbrink, as gender-ambiguous reporter Mary Sunshine, and Jeff Baer, as lovable loser Amos, both owned center stage in their numbers.
"Chicago" is a naughty delight and raised the bar for Pentacle Theatre. It will knock your girdles off.
TRastrelli@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 983-6030, facebook.com/RastrelliSJ and on Twitter @RastrelliSJ
If you go
What: "Chicago The Musical" directed by Ken Hermens and James Steele
Where: Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. July 15-18, 22-25, 29-31 and Aug. 1, plus 2 p.m. July 12, 19 and 26
Tickets: $20 for weekday performances, $21 for weekend performances; seniors, students, military and members receive a $1.50 discount. Ticket sales at the office and online have a $3 handling fee. Available at the Pentacle ticket office, 145 Liberty St. NE, by calling (503) 485-4300 or at pentacletheatre.org.
Benefit for St. Vincent de Paul Society: 7:30 p.m. July 21; $25
Bring the kids: High school and older, as there is adult language and sexual situations
