Dance Reviews

Mar 8, 2003 - "Fosse," the dance tribute to the great Bob Fosse, in fine shape at Reno's Pioneer Center

By Jack Neal

On Broadway, "Fosse" - the dance tribute to the choreography of the late, great Bob Fosse - was cold and soulless, but sold on its sizzle as delivered by a cast of gypsies who felt the material in the marrow of their bones.

A first-rate touring production of "Fosse" opened last night (Friday, 3/7/2003) at Reno's Pioneer Center for a short five-performance run. Above all else this indomitable company is an affirmation of what dedicated dancers do for love - and that's dance. In obvious fine shape but without the ultimate snap and zip of a Bob Fosse disciplined troupe, this splendid company nonetheless could replace any "Fosse" cast on Broadway and get rave reviews from critics and fans alike.

That the show's dance is terrific is never in doubt, but ripped away from the context of shows like "Chicago" and "Cabaret" what is exhilarating in story form has to conjure up a finger-snapping scintillation based entirely on its own virtuosic vibrancy. And that's what this "Fosse" company does a great deal of the time. The problem with the show is that the dance numbers are as isolated from one another as Fosse isolated body parts in his uniquely stylized choreography. What's left is a dance presentation sans feelings that moves stylishly across the stage striking one attitude after another without ever really getting under the skin, establishing a relationship, then begging an emotional response. The show, this dance revue, has lots of razzle, lots of dazzle, lots of glitz and almost no soul.

That having been said, the large of cast of two dozen exuberant dancers and singers, underscored by a solid orchestra playing Ralph Burns and Douglas Besterman's interesting arrangements and with superior recreations of Fosse's work by director choreographer Debra McWaters makes this production of "Fosse" a feast of unique and energized movement for devotees of musical-comedy dance.

In addition to Fosse himself, the show's creators are as legendary a list of show-business luminaries as can be found associated with any Broadway show. "Fosse's" original choreographer Chet Walker (basing his work, of course, on Fosse's work), collaborated with co-choreographer Ann Reinking, who co-directed with Richard Maltby, Jr., with all three getting strong assists of artistic advice from the incomparable Broadway song-and-dance star Gwen Verdon.

The result of their endeavors is far from a stodgy history lesson. The Fosse trademarks of startling, off-beat, close-knit posturings, with dancers who dance as much with snapping fingers, clicking tongues as with feet, thrill as Fosse dance has always thrilled.

The show's hit parade of dance sequences draws extensively from Fosse's 1978 "Dancin'," most notably the drop-dead, fabulous finale danced to Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing." "Chicago's" wonderful "Razzle Dazzle" is as always a nostalgia-invoking number, and so it is here as well.. Mr. Bojangles is as shamelessly lachrymose as ever and is hauntingly brought off by Rodrick Covington, Jonathan Grant and Omar A. Merced. The girls of the great and sassy "Big Spender" routine are as tough and flashy as ever. Who can resist seeing once again Fosse's sea of hands becoming so many blackbirds in "Bye Bye Blackbird"? And from "The Pajama Game," the show that launched the Fosse style, "Steam Heat" - bowler hats and all - sizzles its way across nearly a half century of pleasing audiences.

"Fosse" sports several triple-threat performers, but the top billed Rodrick Covington is the only one the program pinpoints. Covington is a stand out and gets the show of to a throaty, musky start with a warm - and very cool - "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries," a number reprised to stunning advantage as the show wraps up its nearly two hours of reminiscences.

There are many, many other moments which excite: Andrew Bridge's superb lighting, the spiffy look of James Kronzer's scenic coordination, and the handsome clothes attributed to Jimm Halliday to name three. But what excites most are "Fosse's" fanatically driven, hardworking dancers. The heart which is missing from this show without a book is added in one wash of dance after another by these splendid hoofers who pour their hearts into dancing the dances of one of show business's grand masters of choreography. They're what makes "Fosse" reach across the footlights and become such a choice bit of musical theater to experience.

"Fosse" can be seen at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South Virginia Street, Reno, Friday, March 7 (2003) at 8 p.m., Saturday March 8 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 9, at 2 and 7 p.m. For information call 775-686-6600.