By: Greta Peters, Clayton High School, Clayton
MAYS LANDING, N.J. — Oakcrest High School performed Chicago: Teen Edition and took Billy Flynn’s advice to “Give ’em the old razzle dazzle” with a performance you wouldn’t have wanted to miss, full of inventive choreography, catchy songs, and stunning vocals from the whole cast and “All That Jazz.”
Chicago originates from a 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins about real murder cases. It was later adapted to the Forest Theatre and ran until 1975. In the same year, on June 3, it became a Broadway production that won Best Musical at the Tonys. The show is famous for its choreography by the legendary choreographer Bob Fosse and has gained new life through multiple revivals and high school productions. The story’s setting, the 1920s, follows two extravagant murderers, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly. They compete to be in the spotlight while simultaneously trying to be acquitted in their court cases.
Chicago: Teen Edition at Oakcrest was powerful with show-stopping vocals and choreography that expressed precision and attention to detail. The overall production was adequate and exciting in its execution.
Roxie Hart (Gabrielle Tropiano) and Velma Kelly (Olivia Tropiano) did a fantastic job capturing their character dynamic. Roxie and Velma had a very pleasing vocal duet in “My Own Best Friend” which captured their powerful voices with a nicely blended harmony. Gabrielle Tropiano showed off her adept acting abilities in “We Both Reached For The Gun” paying careful attention to behave very doll-like in her movements and facial expressions.
Amos Hart (Stephan O’Neill) had the audience in tears over his performance of “Mr. Cellophane” and despite not being a central part of Act One. His emotional delivery shined through, and his acting only seemed to upgrade as the show progressed. The two dancers that stole the show, Julianna O’Flynn (Dance Captain/Ensemble) and Olivia Foreman (Dance Captain/June) never missed a beat making sure all eyes stayed on them with lively facial expressions and fluid dancing. Their choreography was very accurate to the 1920s jazz craze and shined in numbers like “Roxie,” “All That Jazz,” and the phenomenal trio with Roxie during “Me And My Baby.” The dance ensemble performed as a unit with sharp, synchronized movements and an impressive understanding of musicality.
The technical elements of the show, though subtle, helped create an immersive experience and made the production feel that much more engaging. Two stand-out examples are the interactive newspaper backdrop switching when necessary and the use of silhouettes throughout the show, which made numbers like “Cell Block Tango” and “All That Jazz” more impactful.
If you were ever looking for an eye-catching show filled with crime, competition, and conviction? Then Oakcrest’s Chicago: Teen Edition was the show for you!
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