More than three years into its Broadway run, Fosse has lost none of its sizzle. Indeed, the recent infusion of star talent (in this case, Bebe Neuwirth) has breathed new fire into this razzle-dazzler. It has been about 13 years since Broadway choreographer Bob Fosse dropped dead of a heart attack, but Fosse allows his spirit to live on. The audience is treated to a retrospective of dances selected from Sweet Charity, Damn Yankees and The Pajama Game. Each number yields its own special pleasure, although "Bye, Bye Birdie" and "Big Spender" in Act I are recalled as personal favorites, along with numbers from later in the show, such as "I Gotcha," "Nowadays" and "Hot Honey Rag" from Chicago, and "Mein Herr" from Cabaret. The dancers showcased in Fosse are all at the top of their game, so it is especially impressive that Bebe Neuwirth stands out as the star.
Lithe and lovely, Neuwirth is clearly in her element. She takes the slinky Fosse moves to the height of perfection. This is particularly true in "Mein Herr" and "They'll Be Some Changes Made" from "All That Jazz." She borrows from her infamously chilly TV character, Lillith, to make this spectacle all about energy, not emotion. She enhances the show but does not dominate it, which is a credit to the regular company.
Although each dancer contributes a great deal to the production, Edward Liang and Rachelle Rak are especially noteworthy. Some critics have complained that Fosse's dance vocabulary gets repetitive by the end of the show, but this reviewer disagrees mightily. Fosse's signature moves -- from the rolled shoulder to the splayed fingers and shifting hips -- reach a critical mass that leaves one awestruck at the consistency of his vision. When one thinks about the 30-years covered by Fosse, it is impossible not to appreciate how Bob Fosse has expanded and experimented with the moves that are uniquely his. Fosse's dances haven't grown stale with time; indeed, they still communicate a sexual energy that has never been equaled. Fosse knew what made dance work, and Fosse is a fitting tribute to his talent.
