Chicago 3/30 - horrible horrible sound

[Huey's Pop]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 12:41pm

Bought some TKTS to Chicago (the Musical) for the 3/30 show (Mezzanine). The audio was horrible. The actors' mics must have been turned down several notches. (I thought that maybe it was me until we saw Billy Elliot and In the Heights the next two nights -- and they were perfect and exceptional!).

Is someone sleeping in Chicago's sound booth, or is the show just getting tired and needs to be put out of its misery? Either way, even at half price, the experience was pretty lousy.

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 1:02pm

I saw it back in January (for free, thanks to that whole Nancy Cohn hates Cleveland mess) and there were no problems with the sound. Wireless mics are funny and sometimes will do things one night that they have never done before and will never do again. I'm guessing you hit one of those nights.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:00pm

I thought the show and sound were in great shape when I saw it a month ago.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:03pm

I think everyone in this show is sleeping. I paid 30 dollars for my ticket and it wasn't worth it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:05pm

^ Did you rush the show?

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:12pm

I don't understand how people rush this...
I've gone 3 times and they always tell me they don't have a rush.

It pisses me off.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:39pm

Yeah I rushed the show, I was front row all the way to the right. Not worth the money.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:33pm

So, I'm assuming it hasn't gotten any better than when I last saw it almost two years ago, Chita?

The cast was sleepwalking and the show fell so flat, you could almost hear the "thud."

Too bad.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:39pm

I guess not. I saw it in January (or maybe February) and it was Brenda Braxton's second to last show and I thought she was the only one who wasn't falling asleep on stage. Melora Hardin was just AWFUL as Roxie. She actually had some life in her but she was the one you wanted to go away and not be in any scenes. The theater was also 40% full on a Sunday afternoon, and you know how depressing a show is when there is no one in the audience. At the end of the show two people gave it a standing ovation and they were the only ones who laughed at all throughout the show. It's time for it close.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:40pm

It's not going to close anytime soon. It's still doing great business, check the grosses.

It really depends on what cast you see.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:45pm

If it was based on the condition of the production it would need to close but I don't understand how it's doing great business. I guess because it's a familiar name...?

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:48pm

I saw Charlotte D Amboise a month ago and she was great and very energetic.

And it still does well because of the movie.

[Huey's Pop]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:50pm

I don't know if the entire cast was sleepwalking, but Tom Wopat (who was great in A Catered Affair) seemed to be going through the motions and phoning it in.

As for a standing ovation, there were about 12 people standing in the orchestra section.

At the very least whoever is in charge of the sound should be fired.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:51pm

I guess because it's a familiar name...?

Yep. And if the movie hadn't come out, I bet the show would have closed already.

I understand they want to squeeze every last buck they can out of it but why can't they also try to inject the show with a little more energy (or a lot more, actually)? What's wrong with a show being good (not material-wise in this case, just in terms of the cast) and entertaining AND also being a financial success? The producers should strive for both, not just the latter.

Then again, they are the Weinsteins.
Updated On: 4/3/09 at 04:51 PM

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:58pm

The issue is definitely the cast. The cast has been there too long. They need to get some new people there and stop stunt casting crappy people.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 5:07pm

Tom Wopat did it here in Denver in Feb. right before going into to the Broadway cast. he has a great voice but I too thought he kind of walked through his performance. I was really looking forward to seeing him and was a bit disappointed.

[jennamajig]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 5:43pm

I think engaging performers are what Chicago needs to continue to succeed. I actually think was one of the few movie musicals that was (gasp!) better than the show onstage. I saw the tour in Boston in December and while I enjoyed it, I did realize that without a talented cast (shot out for the guy playing Mary Sunshine; he was fantastic) giving their all, plot holes, etc, could be more easily seen. The choreography is wonderful, but even it could fall flat with a cast that simply goes through the motions as described in this thread.

I saw Chicago on Broadway for the first time a few years ago, with the delightful Amy Spanger playing Roxie and she was so full of energy that I loved every second of it. But since I've seen it, I've never felt the need to revisit it again in NYC.

[Alexis2]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 8:26pm

CHICAGO REALLY CLOSED in the summer of 1978
After Gwen, Chita, Jerry & Mary left the show
This revival is a poor imitation of a "CLASSIC"

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 8:30pm

Sure!

Gwen Verdon herself said she felt the revival was better than the original, which was written for her!

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 8:51pm

It breaks my heart that this brilliant production of an incredible show is getting so stale.

[jejr]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 10:52pm

It's time for another CHICAGO fire. Where is that cow to start the fire when it's needed.

[george95]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 1:28am

I really think a lot of this is that people go into CHICAGO expecting it to have long run-itis. Every time I see the show, I'm always happy with the energy with the cast (except for Tom Wopat's voice!)