I don't know what their written or commonly understood mission statement was in the early/mid 90s, but I think underappreciated is enough for it to fall into their purview... and I don't blame them if they were able to get such key players involved creatively to honor/celebrate Fosse's least known major work (in that there's no film or filmed staged production, at the time, but was maybe the most Fosse of the Fosse works)... and if they thought it might have a chance to be a hit (not sure if they thought that way then).
But any show as good as Chicago, by such massively major musical theater writers, that was so sadly overshadowed by the biggest blockbuster and critical success Broadway had ever seen up to that point... and met with mixed critical reception, deserved a spot at Encores even if it wasn't a forgotten gem from 20+ years prior. If you ask me (which no one did. :) ) |
