Steadstyle Chicago
	March 2008 Theatre Review by Ruth Smerling
	Looking for a Ticket Broker? Check out the hottest broadway tickets from Gotickets.com Can-Can Kicks up a Storm in Forest Park Critical Evaluation: **** out of ****   (Left) Elizabeth Lanza and Jeremy Rill star in Cole Porter's musical "Can-Can" at Circle Theatre. On a stroll down Madison Avenue, just a block or so west of Harlem, in the quaint little burg of Forest Park there are a number of interesting shops, restaurants and businesses.  It’s a pretty ordinary suburban street until you come to the storefront for The Circle Theatre.  In keeping with the arty yet conservative façades all the other businesses have, The Circle does its part, but inside is another story.  Inside what seems like just another business is a fantastic stage where Cole Porter’s lively and lascivious "Can-Can" kicks up all vigor, mayhem and defiance of underworld 1893 Paris.  Artistic Director Kevin Bellie directs and choreographs a work worthy of a Tony, gathering some of the finest young singers and dancers in the area.  Costume designer Jesus Perez and staff must have been working on the elaborate and stunning garb for months.  Costumes are elaborate and intricate with ruffles, sequins and huge skirts for the girls. Scenic designer Bob Knuth employs the bold red, white and blue of France to underscore every scene.  At times it seems like the whole city of Paris is in the house, with sets and sounds seem to be coming from many different directions that far transcend the four walls of the theatre. The story starts in the Paris Correctional Court in the year 1893.  Something has to be done about the scandalous Can-Can dancers.  Groups of beautiful uninhibited women who swear that they are merely hardworking laundresses gather in clubs every night with raised skirts to rond des jambes and scream and yell at an eager male audience just to let off a little steam.  Judge Aristede Forestier (Jeremy Rill) has decided to put a stop to lewd and obscene conduct and takes a field trip to the notorious Montemarte bal musette run by Madame Pistache (Elizabeth Lanza). Soon his mission is thwarted.  Even though he refuses the cognac, he finds himself unable to resist Pistache’s mysterious power over him.  He falls head over heels and unwittingly dips a foot into the quicksand of the underworld.  The impeccable Judge Forestier, once impervious to anything illegal bears the stigma of corruption as cruelly as Governor Spitzer.  Despite the serious historic matter, "Can-Can" is a fun and exciting musical that rarely sees the stage.  The performers have to be in tip top form to sustain the complicated and lengthy dance numbers.  Jeremy Rill as Forestier and Elizabeth Lanza as Pistache mesmerize the audience with their magnificent voices.  Robert Deason is hilarious as Boris, the misunderstood Bulgarian gigolo who has poor Claudine (Rachel Quinn) hopelessly in love with him, believing that some day he will be a great artist.  Until then she sees no reason not to turn over her earning to him.   The astonishing dancing, singing cast includes Bradley Baker, Rani Blair-O’Brien, Michael Cook,  Ashley Dobson, Peter Durkin, Catherine Ferraro, Rivkah Gevinson, Doug Hagen, Mat Labotka, Kirsten Lendkye, Jeremy Myers, Scott Neild and Bryce St. John recreate all the fury, terror and joie de vivre of the world made immortal by the painter Toulouse Lautrec.  "Can-Can" runs through April 6, 2008 at The Circle Theatre, 7300 W. Madison, Forest Park, IL.  Phone 708-771-0700 for reservations or visit www.circle-theatre.org.     About Ruth Smerling Ruth Smerling began work as an entertainment writer while attending the prestigious University of Illinois School of Communications.  She persuaded the school paper to assign her to review the film "Get Shorty," starring John Travolta.  Unfortunately her work was a little too brutal for the UIC paper and that was also her last assignment.  Nevertheless, the need to write and communicate could not be extinguished and fortunately her reviews received a warm welcome by the Editor-In-Chief of College News, Daphne Robinson who named her the Reel Goddess from 1993 to 2003.  Ruth covered film festivals all over the North America and interviewed countless movie stars, directors and authors.  Meeting the French Director Bertrand Tavernier at the Chicago Film Festival was the turning point in her movie reviewing experience.  He presented a brilliant film called "It All Starts Today".  He explained that she loved his films so much because American films are enjoyable, but must sell as much popcorn and Coca-Cola as they do tickets.  Since 2003 Ruth has been submitting controversial and thought provoking reviews to Theatreworld Internet Magazine and is pleased to report that people around the world send her e-mails inquiring about Chicago theatre, actors, directors and productions underway.  Ruth is delighted to be part of the Steadstyle website and looks forward to a long and happy association.