A Bacchanalian Ballet

SAVOR After Hours

The ancient Roman god Bacchus (also known as Dionysus in Greece) was no teetotaler. He really loved his wine, and wild festivals were held all over the Empire in his honor. This Roman version of sex, drugs and rock-and-roll was a series of crazed parties of drunken revelry, ecstatic sexual experimentation and great music. SAVOR AFTER HOURS is a slightly more sophisticated, 21st century version of these festivals. The delicious 85-minute entertainment, currently playing at the Broadway Playhouse, is partly a celebration of wine and partly a celebration of dance. It’s a very adult show, a sensuous and beautiful Bacchanalian Ballet or Burlesque. It’s a show that’ll inspire audiences to belly up to the bar afterwards for a glass of Chardonnay, Champagne or Cabernet.

Created by Writer and Director Mark Swanhart and MagicSpace Entertainment, this After Hours diversion is a smooth evening of fantasy and fun. Assisted by Emily Crouch, Choreographer KC Monnie’s dance moves are both athletic, artistic and really quite amazing. All the steps and gyrations are sharp, both smooth or staccato. The choreography has the peppery precision of a dancing drill team. Each movement, every gesture and glance, is totally in sync and pure poetry in motion. Audiences will be held  spellbound by the sheer energy and artistry of this dancing ensemble.

Lovely and alluring Allie Meixner, an actress who appeared in the Tony Award-winning, all-dance Broadway musical, CONTACT, is our hostess with the mostest. She sensually navigates the theatergoer’s journey through the varieties of wines and the choreography presented, sometimes even taking part in the dances herself.

The opening night cast is led by three terrifically talented performers from television’s “Dancing With the Stars.” They include the brilliant professional dancer/choreographers Val Chmerkovskiy, his beautiful wife Jenna Johnson-Chmerkovskiy and Russian-born Artem Chigvintsev. All three of these gifted performers are familiar fan favorite regulars on the popular ABC television show. Seeing these stellar celebrities dancing up a storm, up-close and personal, is a thrill. They’re joined by a talented ensemble of exquisite supporting dancers, which includes Jack Moore, Jalen Forward, Kayli Johnston, Kenidee Allen and Olivia Cava. Down the road, three other “Dancing With the Stars” favorites will join the company. They include Val’s brother Maks Chmerkovskiy, Pasha Pashkov and Daniella Karagach.

This polished production is an evocative evening of wine and dance that would’ve made Bacchus very happy. The show, which often dances right off the stage and out into the audience, also features VIP, onstage seating. It features favorite songs like “Big Spender,” “Time in a Bottle” and music from hit films like “Pulp Fiction” and “Saturday Night Fever.” The production is beautifully enhanced by Ryan Healey’s dazzling Lighting, Scotty Nguyen’s stunning and sophisticated Graphics and Visual Design and, particularly, Daniela Gschwendtner’s sparkly and spangly costumes. But the star of the night is the phenomenal choreography, masterfully executed by a gifted and talented ensemble of dancers who offer eager audiences an erotically beautiful Bacchanalian Ballet. So raise a glass of vino to the sensuous sensation called SAVOR AFTER HOURS.         

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented July 9-August 18 by Broadway in Chicago at the Broadway Playhouse Theatre at Water Tower Place, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago.

Tickets are available at all Broadway in Chicago box offices, the BIC Ticket Line at 800-775-2000 or online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.