Have you been thinking about taking a trip to Las Vegas, playing the slots and then heading to a nightclub where you can watch terrific dancers and do some drinking?
Well, I’d advise you to save your money and instead just head to “Savor After Hours,” the playfully sexy dance spectacle with a strong streak of cabaret wit and suggestiveness that is now on stage at the Broadway Playhouse, the intimate theater located just behind the Water Tower building.
The cast of 12 is led by Valentin Chmerkovskiy; his wife, Jenna Johnson-Chmerkovskiy; and his brother, Maksim Chmerkovskiy (all of whom have appeared on television in “Dancing With the Stars”). Nine other dancers also arrive with a slew of impressive credits, great legs and theatrical panache. The exuberant 80-minute show — set to a wide range of recordings by everyone from Nick Cave to Frank Sinatra — is great fun.
Devised, directed and written by Mark Swanhart, and richly choreographed by KC Minnie and assistant choreographer Emily Crouch, “Savor” is also winningly interactive. A set designed by Shaun Motley suggests a rather posh hotel nightclub and initially makes room for the seating of eight audience members on the stage. Daniella Gschwendtner’s glittery costumes fully display the women’s shapely legs, while the men are decked out in more reserved outfits. And throughout the show there is plenty of teasing and rough-and-tumble interaction between the sexes.
There also is some wonderful interaction between the dancers and the audience, including one segment in which an audience member is selected to come on stage. On opening night that person was an ideally chosen woman in her 60s named Marcy, and she played her role to perfection.
The dancers (including Artem Chigvintsev, Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Allie Meizner, Jack Moore, Jalen Forward, Kayli Johnston, Kenidee Allen and Olivia Cava) moved with great physical and dramatic panache as they suggested a wide range of male and female interaction — from the seductive to the embattled, from the sexually teasing to the playful. The partnering was invariably superb.
“Savor After Hours” runs through Aug. 18 at the Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut St. For ticket information, visit broadwayinchicago.com. For groups of 10 or more, phone 312-977-1710 or contact [email protected].
One final note: Since the show has a potent nightclub vibe, wine is sold in the lobby and can be brought into the theater. But it would be far safer if the plastic cups came with covers. I noticed quite a few spills as people headed to their seats.
Follow Hedy Weiss on Twitter: @HedyWeissCritic