Chicago the Musical Appreciation Thread- Page 136

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/28/24 at 5:18pm

Bianca and Kimberly Marable are leaving on Jan. 19. No word on the new Velma. Red Concepcion is out as Amos on Jan. 4. Max von Essen just returned as Billy but is apparently just there for a limited time.

Some of these ensemble members have been there for 10-15 years. Time to move on already.

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 12/29/24 at 12:06am

Phantom4ever said: "Caught the show again (37th time) last night, Dec. 27 and it was sold out. I got to see my favorite Roxie again, Bianca Marroquin, and she was phenomenal as usual. I was not looking forward to Kim Marable because I did not enjoy her Velma last time but my oh my I have to say she was electric last night--might I say she was the best Velma I've ever seen. I hope she can stay in the role (or at least keep coming back to it like Bianca). Alas, I have always wanted to see an understudy for Roxie or Velma, but maybe next time.

The audience was----interesting. During the show, you would have thought it was a special performance or there was some kind of beloved celeb in the show. During the entre-acte, it's normal to see people clap, but last night people were full on dancing in their seats. it was nice to see. And many stayed til the end of the orchestra's music as well. When Velma and Roxie were given their flowers, as soon as the applause started to die down and Velma started her lines, the applause would roar back and back and back. But then on the way out, all I hear is "it was ok. It wasnt like the movie at all. It just wasn't that good etc)

I have to say though that two of the male ensembles did not have a good night last time. I could see it in their faces that they were not in the moment during All That Jazz. Another moment that stood out was the end of "Reached for the Gun" during Flynn's long note, the ensemble guys are bent over with the girls on their backs, and while everybody else was looking at the audience, winking, goofing, etc, these two had their eyes tightly shut and looked like they wouldn't last one more second with this girl on their back. I did enjoy when one of the ensemble slapped another guy (forget who) on the butt during All that Jazz and clearly threw him off his mark, and the two of them kept whispering about it for a bit.

The girls next to me. Smh. Smh. I was 3rd row aisle front orchestra, and they came in about 15 minutes before showtime. Then one made me get up so she can use the restroom. Then the other. I always appreciate when groups get up at the same time. Then one came back with FOUR drinks. Sat down. THEN went to the restroom. Then they both came back at different times. So if you're counting, I've now gotten up for them SEVEN times and the show had not even started yet. And the second girl came back with two more drinks! That's 432 dollars on alcohol! I mean, to each his own, but dang lol. At intermission--- you guessed it! Only one had to use the restroom. Then the other. Then they came back separately. The one decided they needed more 72 dollar drinks. So I got up for them a total of 13 times over the course of the show. And that's not even the worst of it. Me and My Baby is my favorite number in the show. Wanna guess when the second one decided to come back? Yup. Then the row in front of me, all stands up and completely blocks my view while one person squeezes in. Then somebody in the next row. I missed almost the entire number. I was going to talk to the House Manager about an entrance pause at the top of Act 2, but I figured that's a producer decision and Barry and Fran don't seem like the type who want to discourage people from buying drinks."

Next time stick your foot out so she trips .  I’m tired of just taking rude behavior.