With hot dance moves, ripped bodies, and b-list celebrities from the 1990s, Fran Weissler’s production of Chicago at the National Theatre is better than Dancing With the Stars on Viagra.

In fact, the musical actually features Dancing With the Stars and Seinfeld alum John O’Hurley as Broadway’s snazziest attorney. Seinfeld enthusiasts might have trouble making the transition from the sitcom’s colorful businessman J.Peterman to the musical’s crooked lawyer Billy Flynn, but O’Hurley works hard to clear up any confusion. He’s charming, cunning, light on his feet, and surrounded by sexy delinquent women vying for his representation. One of those is women is Roxie [Charlotted'Amboise ] who’s in jail for shooting her lover. Roxie fights for Billy’s attention, distracting him from the case of Velma, who shot her husband after finding him in bed with her sister. Billy helps the two win the hearts and minds of the national media and its audience with intricate stories that he concocts and carefully spoon-feeds to all his clients.

With more than 2,000 performances, Charlotte d’Amboise has played the part of Roxie more than any other actress in the history of its revival. She keeps it interesting with ad lib audience interaction, asking the young girl in the front row her name and how old she is and gently responding “Sofia, you shouldn’t be listening to this!” before going full force into her pelvic-thumping, sweet, but erotic “Roxie” dance number. O’Hurley also adds in some contemporary horseplay, commenting “If Jesus Christ lived today and he were in Chicago–he’d have himself a senate seat, I’ll tell ya that.” Kevin Chamberlin delivers a heartfelt performance as Amos Hart, Roxie’s poor cuckold of a husband. Terra C. MacLeod is an incredible singer and dancer, but she doesn’t play a very intimidating or seductive Velma. The supporting cast meanwhile is packed with talent and boasts the best abs to hit Washington Sports Club so far.

In spite of the talent on stage, it’s the show’s choreographer–Ann Reiking–who brings their skills to life and gives them room to breathe. Reiking coordinates intricate and visually impressive dance numbers, but always leaves enough space for improvisation and individual personalities to shine through.

Chicago prominently features the orchestra as one of its stage props and gives the actors an opportunity to interact with musicians in a vaudeville manner. Musical Director Don York and the National Theatre’s orchestra thrive in that spotlight.

Set design is minimal, but set designer John Lee Beatty busts out the bling-bling and “razzle dazzle” at the end with golden cheerleader pom-poms for Roxie’s jury members, and a sparkling back drop in the last number.

CHICAGO
Starring Charlotte d’Amboise, Terra C. MacLeod, John O’Hurley and more. Music, book, and lyrics by John Kander & Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse. Directed by Walter Bobbie. At the National Theatre through April 12.