CHICAGO Revival Cast Recording

[cubanpab]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 8:55pm

OK... so please keep in mind that I'm new to this whole Broadway thing... but I will listening to some cast recordings tonight and I realized I had never heard the Revival recording of CHICAGO.

Now I LOVE the movie... the movie was the reason I decided to learn more about theater. The reason I got into theater... while I admit Renee isnt the most sensational singer, I loved her as Roxie. Zeta-Jones was fantastic as Velma, and the rest of the cast was stellar...

Then I start hearing all these phenomenal reviews for Bebe and the 1996 cast... so I give the recording a listen...

what. the. hell. was. that?

Bebe speaks half the song... so obnoxious. But just when I thought it couldn tget any worse, the lady who plays Roxie (dont even know her name), has the most pain-stakingly annoying "singing voice" (if you can even call that singing) i have ever heard. She sounded like the grandfather on the simpsons... all scratchy and throaty and breathy...

one of the worst things my ears have ever heard... but apparently everyone loves this 1996 cast and their recording. i dont get it. just thought i'd share my opinion... maybe someone else out there agrees?

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 8:56pm

I wasn't a huge fan of the '96 recording. My heart lies with the OBC with Chita, Gwen and Jerry. Check that one out next.

[cubanpab]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 9:00pm

mister, i will... rght away... the sound of the Revival Cast left a bad taste in my mouth. listening to the film soundtrack as i search for the OBC.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 9:50pm

The OBCR is flawed but still perfect for me. CHita and Gwen aren't the best singers either but I think you'll still appreciate them more (but, like Bebe and especially Ann Reinking who played Roxie in the revival they are more dancers than singers so you miss the reason they were truly lauded in these roles)

It's sadly edited quite a bit to fit on one record--just cuts within songs and they don't have the cakewalk/fast version of Me and My Baby (cut from the movie too but I love it) or the Hot Honey Rag. The sound also is a bit badly balanced--but man what great performances.

I like the revival recording cuz it's so complete but that's the mainr eason I listen to it--i liek Reinking way more than you but I get why you and others dont' vocally. Of course she deserves credit for any Chicago fan--it was her restaging with Walter Bobbie that largely led to the revival being such a huge hit and led to the movie (which I don't like as much as the revival)

E

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 9:52pm

...the lady who plays Roxie (dont even know her name)...

Dude, are you kidding me? If you love theater don't embarrass yourself in the future by not referring to the legendary Ann Reinking by name. Love her or hate her, she's the plug that connected the 1996 Broadway Revival of CHICAGO. Read up on the history of the original 1975 Bob Fosse production of CHICAGO, and all else will fall into place. Yes, you'll see why that lady playing Roxie is important to not only the history of CHICAGO but to it's creator: Bob Fosse.

Not only did she play Roxie (at the age of 26) during the original Broadway run of CHICAGO (in 1977), twenty years later she recreated her Roxie in the current concert-style Broadway Revival. Also, she won a Tony Award for creating the revival's choreography 'in the style of Bob Fosse'.

Long before there was Charlotte d'Amboise, Karen Ziemba, Bebe Neuwirth...there was Ann Reinking.

ANN REINKING: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Reinking

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 9:55pm

Check out the London Revival Cast Recording of this production. Ruthie Henshall and Ute Lemper, plus the entire Roxie Monologue. Priceless!

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 9:56pm

Dude, are you kidding me? If you love theater don't embarrass yourself in the future by not referring to the legendary Ann Reinking by name.

Brody, to be fair he did say in his post that he was "new to this whole theatre thing." He's not a theatre person, so there is no reason he should know that.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 9:59pm

There are times I got to give Brody some props. I'm glad you posted that Brody.

Ann Reinking is AMAZING. She could and can in fact SING. The revival recording isn't the best representation of her singing ability.

Considering your feelings about the recording. I'm sure you'd hate the live show on Broadway too, because it's nothing like the movie.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:01pm

Although I love this revival recording and think the cast is great, to his defense the first line of his post was "OK... so please keep in mind that I'm new to this whole Broadway thing." I wouldn't think it fair to expect him to know all the history of the show through Reinking.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:02pm

I like Bebe's Velma, but I will confess, Ann's voice sends me up a wall everytime (I can only begin to imagine what her Cassie was like).

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:02pm

^ Not exactly. Just because he wasn't fond of the revival cast (and I don't think Ann's the greatest singer on it either) doesn't mean he wouldn't like the show. Don't assume.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:03pm

Ann's voice sends me up a wall everytime (I can only begin to imagine what her Cassie was like).

- Have you heard Ann's voice earlier in her career? It was quite different. Her Cassie was in a lower key. But most say she sounded fantastic.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:07pm

The only time I enjoy Ann is in All That Jazz (the movie). Neuwirth though is classic to me.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:08pm

Give me Chita, Qwen and Jerry any day.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:09pm

Reinking could out dance Neuwirth any day. And of course she was amazing in the film ALL THAT JAZZ. Nothing better than seeing Ann getting the chance to portray herself.

And I agree with Dolly. Gwen, Chita, and Jerry are unmatched.
Updated On: 7/23/07 at 10:09 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:13pm

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:18pm

Oh, wait! You should have specified what show those photos are from. Since they don't look like the 1996 Broadway concert-style revival, he might not have any idea.

FYI -- those are photos from Bob Fosse's original 1975 Broadway production of CHICAGO. Yes...the original DID have costumes and sets, not like the current Broadway revival.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:25pm

I think the original poster should watch the movie ALL THAT JAZZ. It would give him insight on Fosse's life and he could he see the lives of Fosse, Gwen Verdon, and Ann Reinking portrayed on film. And as I said earlier Reinking portrays herself - and it's fascinating to see.


Oh and that lady on the cover is the lady that "sounds like the grandfather on the simpsons."

[cubanpab]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:26pm

To Brody and LJay: sad sad sad. Dont you ever get tired of the bull****... jesus.

Back to the others... thank you for pointing out the first sentance in my post. I am NEW to this. i'm learning who people are. I saw Sweeney Todd last year and had no idea who this "Patty Lupone" lady was... that should give you an idea of how much I have to learn...

That being said, I think that gives me an edge really... I can go into the recording without any predetermined ideas of who this woman is... i dont go into it think "she's such a legend... she'll be amazing". instead i just listened and determined what i thought all on my own. a fresh point of view. my initial... my IMMEDIATE reaction really was "this is torture." pure agonizing harrowing torture. i listend to one song... two... three... it got worse as it went along.

i'm entitled to that opinion based on the recording i heard... it was like listening to the grandfather from the simpsons sing... maybe they're great dancers... awesome... great for them... they must have put on a great show... but the singing was awful. and the recording will not join the growing collection of broadway recordings that are in my ipod.

now... that doesnt mean i cant learn to appreciate whatever contribution this revival had on the film... i'm sure alot of the elements that made up the film came from this revival... wonderful! great! thank god for the revival then... but also... thank god for catherine zeta-jones and renee... thank the lord for them.
Updated On: 7/23/07 at 10:26 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:29pm

Being the total ****again (it comes easy for me, sorry):

It's Patti LuPone NOT Patty Lupone. You're lucky I'm the one correcting you on this and not her. Trust me.

Enjoy!

[C is for Company]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:32pm

lol Brody

As for Renee, I wouldn't be putting such good graces on her so soon when she may be coming our way with Nine. Another juicy blonde role down the tubes!

[cubanpab]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:32pm

see! goes to show u what i know... we all start somewhere... i'm starting now.

and to LJay... i did see "All That Jazz"... a few years ago... i dont remember it much. I will have to rewatch it again. gladly.

i just hope gramps doesnt do much singing in it... Updated On: 7/23/07 at 10:32 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:33pm

Back to the others... thank you for pointing out the first sentance in my post. I am NEW to this. i'm learning who people are.

- This is just an excuse for laziness. You could have easily read the back of the CD/booklet or looked on IBDB to find out who that awful lady who played Roxie was. Just because you're new to this doesn't give you an excuse.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:36pm

and to LJay... i did see "All That Jazz"... a few years ago... i dont remember it much. I will have to rewatch it again. gladly.

i just hope gramps doesnt do much singing in it...

- I don't think you're as new to this as you'd like us to think. You've been on this board for almost a year now.

Oh and Gramps does sing in it, and she sounds wonderful. Plus her legs are amazing in it.

[cubanpab]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:36pm

and just because you were born with a dick doesnt mean u have to be one...

and no matter how many biographies i read, it wont change the fact that she's one of the worst singers i have heard in ages...