Chicago 3/30 - horrible horrible sound

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.

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

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^ Did you rush the show?

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

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.

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...?

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.

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.

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.

Sure!

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

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