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CORRESPONDENT

PAWTUCKET - The Community Players put on the old "razzle dazzle" with their current production of "Chicago."

Written by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse with music by John Kander and Ebb, "Chicago" featured some of Fosse's best jazz choreography when it was first produced. Staying with the Fosse style, the choreography by Marjorie Santos is exquisite and highlights some of those classic jazz moves with the help of a talented company.

Set in 1920s, "Chicago" is a dark parable of the American justice system, which tells the story of chorus girl Roxie Hart who becomes a headline-grabbing star by killing her two-timing lover and trying to pin it on her clueless husband. She not only avoids prison with the help of razzle-dazzle lawyer Billy Flynn, but she uses the trial to propel herself to showbiz stardom along with another murderous jailbird, Velma Kelly. This explosive musical extravaganza demonstrates how the '20s sometimes blurred the lines between entertainment and crime, particularly crimes of passion.

Directed by Greg Geer with musical direction by Ron Procopio, "Chicago" is thus far one of the best community theater musical productions this season. The cast features top-notch performers, with Jennifer Mischley of Wrentham (as Roxie) at the head of the pack. She belts out such show-stopping numbers as "Roxie" and "Me and My Baby," and harmonizes well with Taryn Mallard-Reid on "My Own Best Friend" and "Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag." Mischley is perfect for the role of Roxie, not only because of her vocal talent but also her acting ability. She has right blend of sweet demure and mischievousness to be compelling and believable.

As Velma, Mallard-Reid is sultry vamp as she leads the cast in a great opening number of "All That Jazz." She performs extremely well as the dejected jailbird as Roxie steals her thunder, her lawyer, and her court date. Her vocal talents extend to her desperate performance of "I Can't Do It Alone" as she tries to woo Roxie to take the stage with her in a sister act and commiserates with Dale Magnuson on a duet in another show stopping number, "Class." Magnuson is as equally talented as the prison matron Mama Morton who demonstrates her boisterous vocal talents with "When You're Good to Mama."

As lawyer Billie Flynn, Gregory Bonin puts on a good show in the courtroom. He is manipulative, creative and skilled in his performance of "We Both Reached for the Gun" with Mischley, and P. Morin as reporter Mary Sunshine and company.

Morin is perfect for the role of Mary Sunshine and brings humor to the stage with performance of "A Little Bit of Good." When the line between entertainment and crime is blurred nothing is quite what it seems.