Strath Haven High School is in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, and their students are aged between 14 and 18 years. In March of this year, just before the coronavirus stopped play, the students performed the School's Edition of the Kander and Ebb perennial favourite, Chicago. Fortunately they also thought to upload a videoed performance onto YouTube too so that people like me, who live on the other side of the great pond, could have the chance to watch it too. Thank you!
As you might imagine from being in the profession all my life and reviewing for the past 10 years, I have seen both countless numbers of school shows and multifarious productions of Chicago. Never though have I ever seen a school production of Chicago before. I have seen some Youth Theatre companies produce the show, but never one done entirely by the school. Perhaps we really are just that little bit more uptight and reserved in this country and teachers would have difficulty in asking / allowing their students to portray the characters in a show with such, what's the word... sass. Hats off then to Strath Haven High School, for not just allowing their students the freedoms to explore these characters, but for making such a wonderful job of it. In fact, I was extremely impressed from start to finsih on just how professionally put together this whole show was.
A semi-circular stage complete with contemporary footlights, art-deco side railings and a split level affair to the rear with moving stairtcases, the set was excellent. Costuming was obviously toned down just a tad, but still was very much in keeping with the original intent of the show, and worked well. Although the one thing here which puzzled me a little was why Billy Flynn was costumed as a gangster, or at least what we over here think of as a 1920's Chicago mobster. Black shirt and white tie and fedora. It was much more 'Bugsy Malone' for me.
The principal cast were extremely well chosen and gave more than creditable performances. Having never seen a 'High School' edition of the show before, I found it rather strange what the blue-pencillers thought necessary to omit, and what was kept. There didn't seem to be any sense in their decisions. However, one decision that did make sense was to cast Mary Sunshine as a female, and omit the "reveal". I would have liked a "baby" in the 'Me And My Baby' number though, it didn't work as well without one from my perspective, and I would have liked to have seen the boys do more overall. The male leads notwithstanding, the boys in the ensemble seemed somewhat inconsequential. Hopefully that was just a lack of confidence... Muscial Theatre needs more blokes!
However, the direction (John Shankweiler) was solid and despite having many good and original ideas whilst allowing the students to play to their strengths which was admirable, still managed to keep very close to the original concept of the show. Bravo. It was the choreography (Mandie Banks) however which impressed me more than anything. Again, deferring to Bob Fosse's original ideas and style, but creating something which was very much their own too, was superb. And the cast were simply brilliant. The chorus ensembles, especially the girls, were in sync all the time and some beautiful 'pictures' were created. Imaginative, clever, precise, and executed with panache! There was just one small scene in the whole show which for me didn't have the correct emphasis or direction to it. This was Kitty Baxter's first entrance when she sees things happening in her bed and then shoots them. It seemed rushed, off to one side of the stage and therefore not given much importance, and we weren't allowed to understand the story of this here or the significance of it. (are there only two girls in the bed for the Schools' version?)
Sophie Strine was a very likeable, agony-aunt styled Mary Sunshine with the sweetest smile possible. The characterisation worked perfectly for her. Amy Hogg made a very credible Mama Morton, and certainly wasn't afraid to enter into the nature of her character. Both girls had a lovely stage presence. Archie Bracegirdle was Amos Hart, and I loved his character development, the little joys / highs he gets before being deflated completely by a heartless lawyer. 'Mr Cellophane' is my favourite song in the show, and here it was performed with aplomb. Flynn Nolen was Billy Flynn, who, once I was able to get past the costume, I enjoyed his interpretation. Again, a good stage presence and clear ability, but I personally would have preferred him to have been more flirtatious and playful too, so that the hard-nosed money-grabbing son-of-a-B he really is shows even more when he allows it to surface on occasion. Something I guess that will develop with age and experience, it is hard to believe that these are still school children!
Finally the two protagonists. Roxy Hart (Anya Hooper) and Velma Kelly (Carenna Cody). To say that the oldest either of them can be is 18, then these were mature, poignant, intelligent and highly proficient performances. There was a lovely character-arc from both as they went from mistrust and near hatred of each other to relying on each other and even, perhaps, a friendship, albeit a fragile one. Highly enjoyable and praiseworthy.
The School Swing Band (under the Musical Direction of John Shankweiler) was off to one side of the stage and they sounded excellent throughout. My only real negativity came with the lighting. Maybe because it is a school, then there isn't the same amount or variation of lighting possibilities open to them, but overall the stage was too dark, and the lighting didn't cover the requisite areas fully enough most of the time. Odd lighting choices, including a strobe effect for 'Both Reached For The Gun' which simply didn't work sadly. And when all other aspects of this performance were of such a high professional quality, the poor lighting was such a shame.
Lighting notwithstanding, this was most definitely a show to be proud of, full of Razzle Dazzle and All That Jazz! Congratulations to you all, and thank you for sharing your show so openly.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 4/6/20
cringe
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