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#26

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/15/12 at 2:15pm

To the poster who thinks the show would benefit by replacing the cast with 20-somethings:
I just saw Bring It On. Youth and exuberance don't necessarily mean "better" or even "good".
I saw the original cast of the Chicago revival. (I was in my early thirties at the time.) I thought the older ensemble, including several long-time Fosse dancers, many over 40, MADE the show.
Chicago is not about cheery, peppy kids giving a hard sell. It, like many Fosse (and Kander and Ebb shows) takes a more-an-slightly jaded view of its subject matter. 20-somethings who play jaded, come across as smug brats. It takes been-there, older dancer-actors to pull it off.
The Bring It On girls would bring NOTHING to The Cell Block Tango.

#27

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/15/12 at 2:26pm

TimesSquared, I agree with you 100%. Thank you!

#28

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/15/12 at 3:51pm

The 20-something poster adds: "Their entire advertising campaign has been built on sex-appeal"

Yes it was. The sex appeal of a 30 and 40 (and gasp, 50-something!) cast.

They were sexy as hell. And each and every one brought something special to the table.

I know that to a kid, over-35 is gross, I was 17 once too! :)

In defense of the poster, the current cast may be tired and going through the motions, I haven't seen it since it first opened.

#29

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/15/12 at 6:22pm

I think that West End theatregoers are at a disadvantage. They don't have the weekly grosses posting like we do. Otherwise, how would people have known that the West End Chicago was having bad box office? When the grosses are posted here, we know right off the bat how a particular show is doing. I'm curious...to what extent (if any) do the weekly grosses have on a person deciding whether to see a particular show? from RC in Austin, Texas

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

#30

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/15/12 at 7:36pm

I saw Chicago on tour back in the 90's and I did not enjoy it because I liked spectacle in my theater. The choreography, the sexiness, the thematic elements, all that went over my head.

I went to go see it again in the mid-2000's when Usher was in it, and I completely won over. I couldn't believe how iconic the choreography was and how sexy the dancers were (girls and guys) and yes, I believe part of the sexiness of Chicago's ensemble is that they are, as we say in NJ, "grown". Roxie and Velma are characters who are scared they're past their prime, so it wouldn't be sensical for them to be in their 20's or to surround them with 20-somethings.

#31

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/15/12 at 7:54pm

Katie Holmes would make a pretty good Roxie actually.

A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

#32

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/15/12 at 8:59pm

>>>I saw this show back in '96 when it was at the Aldephi Theatre...

Since I was traveling for business back then, I also saw "Passion", "Sunset Boulevard", and "Martin Guerre" (afaik, that show never made it to the states). The exchange rates were great for US travelers back then, and so I felt like a kid in a candy store being able to afford these shows!<<<

HoldThatThought --

Pretty much the same circumstances for me -- I was in Europe on business and went to London to see some shows. Passion/Sunset Boulevard/Martin Guerre and Chicago. Ironic that it was only in London that I had seen this show. I remember seeing it with Ute Lemper and Ruthie Henshall. Probably the most memorable aspect for me was when they threw roses each to the audience at the end and both landed on my lap - LOL!

#33

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/15/12 at 9:41pm

this is a very interesting topic, thanks to the OP.

The inconsistency of people's experiences with the show FASCINATE me - it seems when the cast is inspired, they do a killer job. And I bet a lot of that has to do with who is playing the lead roles, how well they perform them, and how well they get along with the ensemblers who have done the show for forever.

I think the Weissler's stunt casting in this show is always brilliant - it's never more than a few months - which is enough to drive the cast's morale just low enough to be picked back up and excite them once those people leave, or send them over the moon for a few months. It keeps the people performing the show and those seeing the show engaged in how much of a roller coaster in can be in terms of consistent quality.

The revival of "Chicago" - "tired" as it may be, is a coup of Broadway producing. Probably the best produced show of the past 15 years.

A previous poster suggested a "clean out" - that would be a daring move, and I hope that they are brave enough to essentially do just that - to "revive" a revival in the way David Merrick did "Hello Dolly!" back in the days.

#34

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/16/12 at 2:19am

I am a die-hard Chicago fan, and when I see the New York production, one of the things that I always look for is a bored face or a lack of expression from one of the actors.

One of my most cherished shows is RENt, and it kinda broke my heart to see the show late in its run and see actors break character so often. It got so sloppy.

However, with Chicago, I have yet to see any tired or stale behavior onstage. I look for specific things; not just "the cast looked bored". But something along the lines of "they just stared during All that Jazz, instead of doing the requisite eye-winking and eyebrow-raising, etc. Those details to me say that the cast still cares about presenting a strong show.

#35

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/16/12 at 1:00pm

TimesSquared - i see your point. I can only tell you that when I saw the show a couple years back, the cast was mostly over 35/40, and looks very tired and were not sexy at all. It seemed such a shame when there are so many talented 20-somethings that have the drive and energy to be in a Bway show but can't 'catch a break'. If the ensemble I saw had more energy and presence, maybe I would feel differently.

#36

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/17/12 at 2:05am

I get what your saying, FANtom. (And I love your avatar. Those costumes blew my mind!)

#37

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/17/12 at 8:13pm

thanks timessquared :) It's one of my goals to start collecting and framing costume plates!

#38

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/17/12 at 9:06pm

I saw the show a couple years ago (with Ruthie Henshall when she was back in). I sat on the side orchestra, and saw a few of the dancers TEXTING in the wings. During the first act.

I was so disappointed, because I'd loved the score and the film, and was looking forward to being blown away by the show itself. To me, at that performance, the show and the performers (sadly, including Ruthie, who was clearly battling a cold, but not too hard) fell completely flat.

#39

CHICAGO closing (in London)

Posted: 7/20/12 at 4:36pm

Don't diss my show.

20 something's are terrible in it.

Chicago needs life experience.

It's ashame they keep bring amra ( a fab dancer ) but lacks Bianca is an amazing dancer and singer. But she's hit or miss. Sometimes I love her sometimes she's terrible.

2010 terra as Velma ruthie as Roxie was perfection.

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