THEATER REVIEW 'Chicago' is well-worth the trip to Philadelphia

by Chris Vesci staff writer

"Chicago," playing at the Merriam Theater on South Broad Street, is an engrossingly entertaining musical that brims with sizzling jazz, sneaky satire and unrelenting dance.

With music by John Kandor and lyrics by Fred Ebb, both of "Cabaret" fame, "Chicago" is a string of first-rate vaudeville numbers. It tells the tale of a group of women who have all killed their husbands and then climb their way out of the slammer by teasing the press, mocking the justice system and manipulating the public. When it first premiered in the mid '70s, "Chicago" was dismissed as cynical and far-fetched. However, the Broadway and touring revivals garner much critical acclaim because of their timely relevance in the '90s (consider OJ Simpson, the Menendez brothers, etc.). The show was truly ahead of its time-prophetic to say the least. Now Chicago has come of age.

The company is consistently strong. Belle Calaway plays an adorably conniving Roxie Hart. Her prisonmate Velma Kelly, played by Stephanie Pope, has an abundance of style and energy. Alan Thicke, known for his role on television's "Growing Pains," is a pleasure as the sleazy lawyer who gets these murderesses acquitted. Carol Woods, as Matron Mama Morton, fills the theater with her presence and superb voice, especially when she belts out "When You're Good to Mama." nication, in campus bookstores as well as at Borders and other commercial bookstores. More infonnation on the Story Spinner and on-line contests sponsored by Neubauer can be found on the web at www.storyspinner.com.

The lighting is stylish. The costumes, dark and sleazy, symbolize moral depravity. The orchestra tears up the stage, seated in what appears to be a jury box. The dance, fierce and astounding, is the best I've ever seen. The dancers become an integral part of each song, woven in like a trumpet or a singer's voice.

Each number, with its witty lyrics and stage-burning jazz, is a gift. Most notable are "All That Jazz," "Raze Dazzle" and "We Both Reached For the Gun," when the lawyer manipulates his client and the press in a ventriloquist act. This brilliant, naughty and highly amusing show is a masterpiece. Chicago has much to say, loudly and intelligently.

Chicago wraps up its run on Dec. 6. For tickets and times, call (215) 732-5446.

Teresa Piccari, community relations coordinator at Borders in Bryn Mawr,said that company also sponsors an open poetry reading on the third Wednesday of every month. 'This gives people a place to read their poetry in a supportive atmosphere," she said. Participants can either share their own poems or read a published poem that they want to share with the group.

In addition to her job as community relations coordinator, Piccari moderates the journal writing club.This club usually meets the last Thursday of the month. Because of the holidays, however, the December meeting will be held on Dec. 19.

"Each month, two volunteers share their writing," said Piccari. "We also read excerpts from famous journals and discuss our own journal."

The sessions are designed to motivate new journal writers and inspire current writers, she said.

There is also a journal writing workshop at the Borders bookstore in Winwood on the third or fourth Thursday of every month.

The Main Line School Night also offers writing classes in their continuing education program. Most classes cost from $49 for 6 weeks to $58 for 10 weeks and most instructors are published writers.

The fall Main Line School Night courses f offered at Radnor, Lower Merion and Conestoga high schools covered creative writing, mystery writing, short story writing, magazine writing and feature writing.

The fall program also included a course in writing science fiction, fantasy and horror taught by Darrell Schweitzer, co-editor of Weird Tales and a contributor to Writers Digest.

Those wishing to enroll in the spring session of Main Line School Night can call 610-687-8201 for information on spring writing courses and starting dates.

News And Notes

Auditions for the spring play ''The Greatest Shakespeare Pageant Ever" will be held at the Red Cloud Coffeehouse in Grace Hall on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7:00 p.m. There will be auditions held for 12 men and 12 women. The script is available from faculty secretaries and for further information call 902-8510.

The Theater Department's Advanced Acting Ensemble will be holding their fall performance at the Red Cloud Coffeehouse in Grace Hall on Friday, Dec. 4 at 7:00 p.m. The performance is free.

The Philadelphia Music Conference 1998 will begin on Thursday. Dec. 3. The conference will run until Saturday, Dec. 5 and will feature a little less than 200 bands in the music genres of rock, hard rock, R&B, rap and acoustic. The conference, which is the third biggest of its kind in the nation, gives performers the opportunities to showcase their talents and possibly advance their music careers through networking and information seminars.

The Pennsylvania Ballet will be performing "The Nutcracker" at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia from Dec. 5 to Jan. 2. Ticket prices and show times vary, so call (215) 551-7000 for information or check out the Pennsylvania Ballet's website, www.paballet.org.

The movie "Psycho., will hit theaters on Friday, Dec. 4. The remake of Alfred Hitchcock's classic stars Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates and is directed by Gus Van Sant.

-Karin Letcher