Steadstyle Chicago
	April 2008 Theatre Review by Joe Stead
	Looking for a Ticket Broker? Check out the hottest broadway tickets from Gotickets.com Nine Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** (Left) Jeff Parker and Marie Svejda-Groh, (Right) Danielle Brothers and the cast of Porchlight Music Theatre's production of "Nine".  Photos by Michael Brosilow. Most of us have an inner child, and for some that child never changes no matter the growth stages of their bodies.  For Guido Contini, that dual nature is dramatically striking, as he tells us "my body's nearing forty as my mind is turning 10."  Contini is the central figure in the musical "Nine" by Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston, a successful Italian filmmaker undergoing a mid-life crisis.  He's taken a vacation to Venice with his wife Luisa to rest and re-charge his creative battery, but professional obligations, romantic entanglements, childhood fears and adult doubts hound him.  If this sounds familiar, remember that "Nine" was inspired by Frederico Fellini's semi-autobiographical film "8 1/2".  Kopit and Yeston have not only given it the added half digit, but a nearly operatic score of dazzling character and lush beauty that is both serious and complex yet thrilling and personal at the same time. This Tony Award winner has seen far too few productions since its 1982 Broadway debut, the most notable and recent being the 2003 revival starring Antonio Banderas and Chita Rivera.  Rob Marshall is currently at work on a movie adaptation to be released next year, bringing the work full circle to its Fellini-inspired roots.  It's too bad Marshall couldn't simply preserve the current Porchlight Music Theatre cast, which is giving an absolutely knockout rendition of this challenging and unusual work.  Director L. Walter Stearns and Musical Director Eugene Dizon confirm once again why they are among the most talented and respected musical theatre artists in Chicago.  Stearns boldly and elegantly strips the stage down to a blank white canvas that suggests the mental state of the principal character. Guido is a womanizer, and the various ladies in his life become an onstage choir.  There's his faithful and supportive wife Luisa, his sexy mistress Carla, leading lady and muse Claudia, his demanding producer Liliane, and his beloved late mother, among others.  And when a huge canvas of a nude woman is unmasked, there can be little doubt what consumes the mind of this artistic genius.  Guido could be a bit obnoxious in the wrong hands.  But Jeff Parker is giving a virtuoso performance that is as exhilarating to watch as it must be exhausting to execute.  Parker's energetic and charismatic take on Guido is never far removed from his 9-year-old alter ego (charmingly and sensitively played by the cherubic Matthew Gold).  Combined with a powerful baritone singing voice and a cocky sensuality, Parker is a sensation. But no less enthralling are the eleven beautiful and talented ladies Stearns has surround him with, most of whom are given ample chances to shine.  Heather Townsend has the statuesque model looks and voice to make a striking Luisa, and Marie Svejda-Groh's luscious soprano is like sweet honey to the ears.  In the vocal powerhouse department, both Danielle Brothers and Bethany Thomas knock themselves out with their respective showstoppers, "Follies Bergeres" and "Be Italian".  And Maggie Portman's kittenish sexuality makes the suggestive "A Call from the Vatican" red hot. Director Stearns is at his creative best with this production, bringing innovation and humor throughout.  Note how the older Guido becomes a mirror image for his younger self, the introduction of bright red in an enormous feather boa for the "Follies Bergeres" number and the ornate costuming by Bill Morey of "The Grand Canal," and the witty use of a bathtub on wheels.  Dizon leads a stellar 5-piece offstage orchestra, bringing his remarkable talents to every note and phrase.  Having watched Porchlight's steady growth over the past decade, I am pleased to report that they are at the top of their game with "Nine".  They have set the bar so high one wonders what they could possibly do to top themselves. Porchlight Theatre's "Nine The Musical" will continue through May 18, 2008 at The Theatre Building, located at 1225 W. Belmont Ave in Chicago.  The show runs 2 hours 20 minutes with intermission.  Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays 2:30 p.m.  Tickets range from $33-$34.  Call 773-327-5252 or visit www.theatrebuildingchicago.org.   Nine Review by Alan Bresloff Each year we see the maturation of Porchlight Music Theatre as they take on challenges that make them work much harder to achieve, yet they do it!  Their mission is to bring quality musical productions to Chicago audiences at less than "downtown " ticket prices.  They take on some of the harder productions and Director L. Walter Stearns finds some of our city's hidden talents.  These are actors who can sing who are hoping one day to make it as full time actors, but until that date comes, these non-union talents sell shoes, do temp work, income tax returns during the day and become super performers at night.  They are able to hit notes that the untrained voice should not be able to hit, able to work all day, run to the "L" and grab a bite so they get to the theater on time, and most importantly people who love what they do and hope that they can do this for as long as they live. "Nine" is a complex musical with a book by Arthur Kopit and music and Lyrics by Maury Yeston and based on the film "8 1/2" by Frederico Fellini.  This is a story of love and one man's quest for love.  The story looks at the life of an Italian film director, Guido Contini (a brilliant performance by Jeff Parker, who has the look and the sound and plays the audience perfectly) who is facing a mid life crisis.  About to turn 40, he is looking for a script that will get him back on the success wagon again.  Meanwhile he is having romance problems with his wife, his mistress, his other mistress and in fact, this story examines his relationship with all the women he has known in his life.  There are times he acts as if he were a nine year old, and from time to time, we have his 9 year old self onstage.  Young Matthew Gold is a natural.  His face just lights up the stage and he will wow you with his talents.  Chicago audiences should see this young man on our stages for many years to come.  The music, while not something you might hum on the way out of the theater, is smashing to listen to and the words add much to the overall production value.  Eugene Dizon, Musical Director of Porchlight, as always keep the music at a level that never overpowers the voices and words, thus we are able to have quality music and still hear the lyrics.  Thanks Eugene! I have often said how important an ensemble is to the success of a musical production and this ensemble of women does everything I would anticipate them to do, and more!  Each woman in the cast has a role that is involved with Guido: Heather Townsend (his wife), Maggie Portman (his mistress), Marie Svejda-Groh (his former protegee/mistress), Kristen Freilich (his mother), Danielle Brothers (his producer), Bethany Thomas (a voluptuous whore who took him under her wing when he was a boy), Brigitte Ditmars, Vanessa Greenway, Christin P. Boulette, Jennifer Grubbs and Abigail Trabue all handle everything asked to do with great style and grace.  Their characters, voices and stage presence make this production a very strong one indeed. Brenda Didier's choreography is right on using the newly revamped stage at the Theatre Building more open and wide for some kicks and a marvelous number to end the first act.  Kevin Depinet's simple set works well with the pieces he moves about and some great props and Bill Morey's costumes are very fitting for the period and theme.  While " Nine" was a Tony Award winning show and has the potential to be even more, this production has a few minor problems to repair (and I mean minor) in order to get closer to perfection.  The lighting was a bit dim in some of the scenes and the actors have to understand that even with the body mikes, they have to project. There are always some circumstance that will get you, but if you do what is expected of you, you will work for some time.  There are a few numbers that are what we call showstopers: "Follies Bergeries" and "The Bells of St. Sebastion" stand out as numbers that will have you dreaming happy thoughts (or NOT!)