By Brandy Lee
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/ndpr/local-ndpr-986699.mp3
Fargo-Moorhead – Review: Chicago, by MTFM at Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre
The first production of the season is MTFM's Chicago at the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre. Full of talent and Fosse-esque choreography, this production offers some great song and dance numbers by an ensemble of seasoned area performers and college students.
MSUM Theatre professor Craig Ellingson oils his way across the floor as the smarmy-lawyer Billy Flynn. Mr. Ellingson brings his signature elegance to the show-stopper We Both Reached For The Gun', creating one of the most delightful numbers of the show. Set in the Jazz 20's, Chicago features excellent choreography by Mr. Ellingson, and this cast, which includes several Gasper-trained dancers, pulls it off.
Also a standout is Ellery Tofte in the role of Roxie Hart. With an edge so sharp it cuts, Tofte's Roxie slinks through this show with every glance, turn and gesture a calculated move of a woman who knows her body and uses it to get what she wants. Tofte provides a strong center for the show with her Roxie setting the flapper tone perfectly.
A much kinder Velma, played by Kathy Hanson, provides the perfect foil for Roxie's shallowness. As the not-so-young (sorry, Kathy) Velma Kelly, Hanson's long-legged Velma bumps and shakes her way thru the dances with a sense of taste and beauty. Her songs are lovely, and the vaudevillian Velma manages to pull us in and root for her.
Audience favorite Samuel Krauth as Amos Hart surprises us with a sweet voice in Mr. Cellophane' and does the number justice. In an era of cross-gender casting, this production of Chicago takes it another step by casting a woman in the role of Mary Sunshine, a role typically played by a man, dressed as a woman, and revealed as a man at the end of the show. Angie Schulz is funny as the sunny optimistic reporter, and provides a strong vocal element to the show and ensemble numbers. Also strong is Katherine Paynter as Mama Morton. In addition, the ensemble is refreshingly good and carries the show (and some of the women) with consistent energy and polish, and completes the production.
The minimalist black set works, and Concordia director Jennifer Thomas makes good use of the space at the FMCT. We could ask for more projection of the dialogue, especially at the FMCT where remodeling of the house changed the sound dynamics several years ago.
MTFM's production of Chicago is a great way to start off our theatre season in the FM area. This show runs at the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre now through September 18.
For Prairie Public, I'm Brandy Lee.