Straddle up for a wild ride as ‘Chicago’ comes to Newport
Jaime Lee Hart as Velma Kelly • Photo by Gretchen Ammerman
By K. Athena Suckow
For the TODAY
On her way to becoming a playwright, Maurine Dallas Watkins did a stint as a journalist for the Chicago Tribune. In 1924, while covering the courthouse beat, she reported the stories of Belva Gaertner and Beulah May Annan, two women separately accused of murdering their lovers. Watkins sensationalized their tales as sympathetic and intriguing; she lent them celebrity status and portrayed them as beautiful women of jazz who had been corrupted by the evils of men and booze.
Whether her articles played a role or not, and despite Watkins' own belief that the women were guilty, both were acquitted by all-male juries. Shortly after, Watkins returned to school and wrote several mildly fictionalized versions of the stories. Today, more than 100 years later, though most of us are unaware of the trials of Gaertner and Annan, many are familiar with the version that Watkins titled “Chicago,” which hit Broadway in December of 1926. In the 1960s, Bob Fosse requested the rights from Watkins to create a musical version of her play. Struggling with guilt from her belief that she had assisted in letting guilty people go free, she refused his offers. After her death in 1969, Watkins' estate sold the rights to Fosse. He, along with John Kander and Fred Ebb who wrote the score, introduced “Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville” back to Broadway in 1975. In 1996, it experienced a revival with a darker and more stripped-down version. Today, that revival version of “Chicago” is the longest running show currently on Broadway.
And, this Friday, Nov. 13, the Porthole Players will present the glitzy, sparkly razzle-dazzle of the original musical at the Newport Performing Arts Center.
This represents a rare opportunity for theater-goers to catch this show, since its popularity makes it difficult to secure the rights. Director Jennifer Chaney has tackled the challenge of this larger-than-life production with great enthusiasm. Her personal journey with the show spans 21 years from when she worked as a costumer for another production of “Chicago.” Throughout the years, she learned the jazz style, became familiar with Fosse's contributions, saw the 2002 movie adaptation and then, 10 years ago, performed as a cell-block dancer.
Now, having gone back to school and earned an MFA in Theater Arts and Playwriting, she is embracing this opportunity to direct the play and is having fun seeing it in a new light.
“This will be ‘Chicago’ as you know it but as you've never seen it,” she said.
The production, she said, presents heavy themes which still feel relevant today such as corruption of justice, lack of accountability, manipulation of the press and the challenges immigrants might face when unable to defend themselves, yet it also offers a brilliant, colorful spectacle that is “a feast for the eyes.”
Morgan Locklear, producer of the show with his wife Jennifer Locklear, also takes on the roles of prop master and, onstage, as Amos Hart. He spoke of the challenge of procuring props that could pass for 100 years old, calling it a “really noir project.”
Proud of the historical accuracy the show has achieved through both props and costumes, Morgan said that perhaps the most significant aspect of this production is that nearly half the large cast has never been in a play. When auditions opened, local dance studios sent people over. Casting many of them, Morgan said, gave Chaney “a fresh experience to be working with so many green people.”
“Jennifer used this as an opportunity to educate about lingo and etiquette,” he said. “She has been very tuned in, making sure they've been fed the encouragement they needed.”
Morgan was inspired by the way veteran and new actors have melded together to create the show.
“It is the biggest, most elaborate, most expensive production Porthole has ever done,” he said. “It starts with a director who falls in love with a show and brings it to the theater.”
“Chicago” will be staged on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through November 29. Tickets are $30, with the exception of a free “Arts For All” showing at 7 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The Newport Performing Arts Center is located at 777 W Olive Street. For more information, go to coastarts.com or call 541-265-2787.