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Sweet Smell of Success
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Craig Carnelia
Book by John Guare
Based on the film by Clifford Odets & Ernest Lehman
Directed & choreographed by Kevin Bellie
Musical direction by Peter J. Storms
At Circle Theatre
7300 W. Madison
Forest Park, IL
Call 708-771-0700, tickets $24
Thursday June 8, 15, & 22 at 8 PM
Friday & Saturday at 8 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
Through June 25, 2006
Circle’s Sweet Smell of Success’ refreshing remount surpasses expectations
Circle Theatre, under the polished craftsmanship of Kevin Bellie and Bob Knuth, has resurrected several failed Broadway musical into workable entertainment over the last few years. Their latest magical remount, Sweet Smell of Success, is a thoroughly smart and winning production that begs the question: how did this show bomb on Broadway? Using the newly altered version of this film noir musical knock on the world of tabloid journalism of the 1940’s and 50’s, Sweet Smell of Success is now presented with a more consistent tone and a more even sense of its center.
Kevin Bellie’s cast, lead by the wonderful work from Jon Steinhagen (as JJ Hunsecker) and the engaging Michael Mahler (as Sidney Falco), sings and dances and makes Marvin Hamlisch’s jazz oriented score present better than written. Bellie has a knack for making mediocre material into captivating shows.
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Sweet Smell of Success, based on the 1957 film about the evils of gossip columnists (like Walter Winchell), is a look at the dirty, ambitious and egotistical world where one powerful, manipulative man can make or brake a celebrity with his radio show and newspaper column. When Sidney Falco, a fledging publicist, hooks up with all-powerful JJ Hunseckler, he finds that lying, deceiving and raking muck is the sure path to success. Falco eventually learns that the cost of his success is his soul. Jon Steinhagen plays the cold, cynical JJ with a delicious combination of nastiness, charm and vulnerability that evokes enough empathy to engage us. We await his fate. Michael Mahler plays Sidney as the charming, smiling PR agent whose ethics are questionable. Mahler’s deft ability to land just the right emotional level in his songs gives Sidney the power to carry the show. Mahler’s vocals are strong and true. Mahler has a bright future as a leading man. We first like Sidney then we learn to hate his situational immoral actions. Mahler and Steinhagen present these jaded characters nicely.
The terrific ensemble work utilized to comment and underscore the action and motivations of the lead characters was amazingly effective. The terrific choreography by Kevin Bellie throughout the show added much to show, especially in the smart, haunting “Dirt” number and the clever vaudevillian “Don’t Look Now” song.
Unfortunately, Scott Allen Luke’s lack of vocal range hurt his numbers and Katrina Kuntz needs to project stronger to be heard over the orchestra. On the whole, the singing was strong and the band sounded terrific making this show play large and appealing.
Kudos to the creative team and cast for making this post-Broadway regional premiere a success that sweetly sends an entertaining odor. Don’t let the failed reputation of the Broadway production keep you from seeing this worthy remount. Circle Theatre knows how to succeed with this material.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2006
Jeff Recommended
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