Consisting of plotlines surrounding murder, sex and scantily dressed women, the musical ‘Chicago’ sets out to leave the men in its crowd panting and the women cheering.

The Syracuse University drama department accomplishes this goal in its rendition of ‘Chicago,’ the group’s final production of the year. The show, which runs through May 8, is a shocking look into the underbelly of the 1920s, when jazz and bootleggers ruled the Windy City.

At the heart of the story is Roxie Hart, a murderous adulterer that manages to convince the whole city she is an innocent.

‘I started foolin’ around, and then I started screwin’ around, which is foolin’ around without the dinner,’ Roxie says.

With the help of her smooth-talking lawyer, Billy Flynn, Roxie replaces former vaudeville star Velma Kelly as the celebrity murderer of the moment. But just like all good things in Chicago, fame never lasts, leaving Roxie fighting to stay in the limelight.

‘You’re a phony celebrity, kid,’ Flynn says. ‘In a few weeks no one will know who you are. And that’s Chicago.’

Along Roxie’s journey to fame, she encounters many other seductive characters, such as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton, the ‘countess of the clink,’ who oversees the careers of her inmates for a price, and the sexy ladies of the Cook County Jail, who express their less-than-favorable views on men through the ‘Cell Block Tango.’

Kristi Williamson, a senior in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, plays the lead as Roxie. Williamson glows as she sings and dances across the stage in this energetic role.

Lauren Haughton, also a senior in VPA, plays Velma Kelly. Her voice and acting both stand out as she delivers powerful performances in ‘All That Jazz’ and ‘I Can’t Do It Alone.’

Both lead actresses exude sexiness and confidence as they take on the daunting roles of these demanding characters. During ‘Hot Honey Rag’ the two light up the stage for Roxie and Velma’s big finale.

The supporting cast is equally as impressive.

Michael Penna, another VPA senior, is perfect as the slimy though extremely talented, Billy Flynn. Penna shines in ‘All I Care About,’ in which he dances in his boxer shorts surrounded by nearly naked women.

VPA seniors Matte O’Brien and R. Carroll Ugino also excel in their portrayals of Amos Hart and Mary Sunshine, respectively. O’Brien captures the heart of the women in the audience as Roxie’s nave but loyal husband. Ugino, meanwhile, serves as comic relief, portraying a sappy journalist and hitting impossibly high notes during the song ‘A Little Bit of Good.’

‘Mama’ Morton is played by Simotra Houston, the lone junior in a leading role. Houston hilariously plays the seductive-but-scary ‘Mama,’ giving one of the musical’s best performances while singing ‘When You’re Good to Mama.’

Also impressive was the cast’s rendition of the ‘Razzle Dazzle,’ in which the stage is transformed into a demented circus while the cast belts the lyrics.

The rest of the musical’s ensemble is also very entertaining and consistently delivers excellent performances, showing the impressive talent of the cast

This performance of the famed musical lives up to the successes of its Broadway and silver screen counterparts, proving why the story has lasted much longer than its characters’ fleeting fame.

Published on April 18, 2004 at 12:00 pm