My Chicago Review..Where's the Razzle Dazzle?- Page 2

[RockyRoad]

Posted: 11/4/04 at 8:10pm

Funny...I just saw this show a few days ago..and yeah, you're right Mr. Tuttle. It kinda sucked.

Charlotte was the best of them all. Her big scene in act 1 was great. I didn't like Velma too much.

I was looking forward to seeing Ann after seeing her in Millie and was really unhappy with her lack of performance. This lady's got bite and she didn't bite anything in this role. Is she tired? I know she's been working non stop (Mille, Assassins) but she really needs more personality.

I did see Wayne and he was great. I really hope he does more Broadway as the crowd went wild for him.

And PJ playing Amos...was a bore! I don't know who he's sleeping with to keep this job but time to move on, dude! He was bored. I was bored. We were all bored.

I like the show overall and have seen it in better shape (like Jasmine Guy who was one of the best I've seen!). I hope they shake this show down and bring in some people who actually want to be there!

[CJR]

Posted: 11/4/04 at 8:57pm

Okay, time for me to chime in a bit more.

NBC, I don't know about Dan, but I can find out tomorrow. I adore that man insane amounts!

As for other comments.... my saying I was over the show had nothing to do with a bad performance. I'm just... Chicago-ed out. It happens when you've seen the show as many times as I have and I just can't deal anymore. If I don't see the show for a long period of time (it was about a year from the last time I saw the show to when I saw Roxane as Velma in August) then it's new and fresh and I enjoy it... Personally, I'm just over it.

As for the legitimate performances, I think Terra is fabulously talented. Charlotte is dependable and solid -- she always gives a solid performance. I also adored Ann Nathan as Mama. Granted, I've seen Mamas I've liked more, but I didn't find her performance at all boring and I didn't feel the slightest bit cheated.

Obviously, to each their own, but those are my thoughts. I didn't want anyone to misread my commments as my saying the show is tired and needs an overhaul.

MV -- nothin but love for ya girl, where've you been lately?

~Heather

[MV]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 1:03am

heres a piece of info that many of you may not know..some insight...
when new cast members come into the show,,,unfortunately they have very little rehearsal time if any for that matter with the director and are left to fend for themselves...the days of having the director and choreographer there guiding you and putting you in the show for a couple of weeks..are not there anymore. this is eespecially the case with Chicago. time and time again I have seen and heard about it.
Some of the leads come in having been directed by another director and need to adapt within a day or two to a company they have never worked with..therefore...the talent is there ..but the lack of direction is obvious.
I find this to be true when new people are cast.
I am not on this forum often..as I find alot of stuff get said in a negative manner towards the broadway commmunity, wether its about Wicked, Rent, brooklyn, or chicago etc and the performers especially people I know personally and those whom i know through the community.
There are no two artists alike ..that is what makes it so great..that is art...I see broadway shows all the time and I am fascinated with different takes and risks people take.
but once again this is a forum..to each their own. See who these people are as artists too and why they are where they are.
Every lead in Chicago has a very reputable and highly acclaimed bio and resume. Critics from all over at one time or another have raved about Wayne, Anne, PJ, Charlotte and Terra.
Sorry but I completely disagree that the show lacks the razzle ( okay so I am totally biased..but someone has to be )and it is one of the stongest and cleanest shows on broadway today ( not being biased now)..this coming from several people over the last few weeks.
I think its great that there is a place to voice opinions..but sometimes i think the ignorance takes over and everything just starts to sound negative.
bad press though is better than no press.
keep them coming. Updated On: 11/5/04 at 01:03 AM

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 3:26am

How wonderful that the Chicago cast has reputable and highly accalimed bios.

Perhaps if they read them on stage, that will be more interesting than the bland readings they are currently giving. And what are babbling about new performers?" Ann, PJ and the others have been with the show for some time. Do they need more time to find a character? Hell..I'll go buy one for them.

And honey..someone who's paying 90 dollars to see show couldn't give a flyin' fish about someones "highly acclaimed" bio. All that matters is what they deliver right then and there on stage.

And these folks anin't delivering. Call Dominio's.

[CJR]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 8:14am

MV has a point. Not all new leads get the 'standard' rehearsal time, while I find that other new leads get overly babied (Melanie Griffith anyone? Ann doesn't give all new Roxie's that kind of one on one tutoring).

Again, I didn't wittness the performance you saw, Mr Tuttle, and I also again say, to each their own.... I wouldn't so much say the show is tired, as I am tired of the show. There may have been leads who haven't been my favorites in past years, but there have only been a small few who I've found to not be up to par. None of the 'new leads' in the current cast falls into that catagory.

As for PJ..... think of it this way.... you've played the same role on and off for how many years? I'd be a little bored too.

Speak for yourself on the standpoint of the bio. I care about what a person has done and hasn't done before they come into a show I love (however tired of it I may be, it's still my favorite show and Im still the shows own worst critic).

And MV, unfortunately a lot of the stuff said here turns overly negative... hate to say it, but not a lot of people here know the fine line between an opinion and bashing a person, or, how to respect the fact that people have a different opinion than they do. This thread has been tame -- people have actually been stating their difference of opinion.... it typically just turns into a flame war/argument.

Now that I'm stepping off my soapbox, I'm hauling my sick ass to work. Everyone have a lovely day

~Heather

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 8:41am

I saw Charlotte as Roxie in late 1998, and she remains the best Roxie I've seen to this day; and that includes Chita Rivera, who I idolize. I haven't seen it on Broadway anytime in the recent past, so I can't comment on the state of the ensemble. But if Charlotte was less than stellar, it was an off-night.

[CJR]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 8:43am

Agreed -- Charlotte is solid, dependable and always entertaining. I've seen her I can't even remember how many times now and I never fail to be enraptured in her performance.

[MV]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 10:57am

well you all have good points..
my point is this...
The show is a success..due to several factors.
bottom line..each one who comes into the show brings their own style...their own take...it is what makes it what it is.
my point about the bios and resumes is this..no one is on that stage without having worked to get there..they got there because they had what it took each and every one of them. Broadway is still the best of the best.
With celebrities..I know the rules tend to break..but I dont see it in this case .
Fair enough to you all...we are all entitled to have our favorites.
I know I have mine too.

[morosco]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 11:34am

Sigh....I just wish you guys could have seen the original Fosse production with Chita, Gwen, and scenery. It was genious.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 1:38pm

I'm not sure where this excuse of principals not having "enough time" to learn and get into their roles comes from.

Has Ann not been in the show for several months..about four by now? PJ has been in and done the show for how long? And if someone is given the role of an understudy to a lead (as Desmond for Billy Flynn)...the fact that he lacks the acting and singing ability for the role is not due to "lack of time" to practice the role.

As I stated, bios and credit as wonderful. And they mean something to those of us in the industry. But they mean diddly squat to the average theater goer who wouldn't know "Assassins" from "Barnum" and could care less. All the majority of the audience cares (..all they care about!) is seeing a great show. And this is where the problem is.

[CJR]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 1:43pm

I thought you saw Bernard Dotson as Billy?

Moving on, we're not giving excuses, rather stating facts. Sometimes (unfortunately) it takes a while to grow into a role. I've seen it happen time and time again. When I first saw Brenda Braxton as Velma I was not a fan at all.... the more I saw her though, and the more her run progressed, the more I liked her. She was fierce and she found HER take on the role. By the time she exited the Broadway company to go on tour (the first time) I was sad to see her go.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 1:47pm

Did you feel the same about Terra as Velma or did you love her take straight off?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 1:51pm

"As for PJ..... think of it this way.... you've played the same role on and off for how many years? I'd be a little bored too."

If you're bored, leave. That is unfair to the audience as well as the to rest of the company. I know it's hard to find acting jobs - but that's what you sign up for when you decide to go into that profession.

[Spooky]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 2:49pm

"Has Ann not been in the show for several months..about four by now?"

actually Anne joined Sept 13th. So about a month and a half in the role. I quite liked her performance. I think the show overall seems "dated" especially after the fast (and dizzying) pace of the film.

[RockyRoad]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 9:08pm

If you can't have a decent performance a month and a half into the show, then you have problems. Updated On: 11/5/04 at 09:08 PM

[ponine24601]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 9:22pm

i'm sorry that you didn't enjoy the show. thanks for the review though!!

'Bring back Rob Bartlett!!!'

i agree!!

[SweetPony]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 9:32pm

I LOVE it! :)

[CJR]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 9:41pm

pop-- I've only seen Terra once. I think she's a fine performer -- great voice and wonderful stage presence.

[alterego]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 12:03am

Any comments on Caroline O'Connor's Velma?

[MV]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 9:10am

caroline was apparently absolutely fanatastic and hysterical.
heard nothing but positive things

[CJR]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 11:54am

Oh I looooooooved Caroline O'Connor. I'm quite partial to the cast at that time -- Billy Zane, Caroline and Charlotte... it was the cast at the 6th anniversary. I think I'm so partial to it, not only because it was great, but because it was the last anniversary show at the Shubert.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:23pm

When is Brenda coming back? Or as I say, when is the show back to normal again? lol

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:24pm

Brenda Braxton is amazing. Her voice is outstanding.

[CJR]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 12:56am

Bronx, be nice.

Brenda will be back the last week in November.....

.... as much as I love her, I wish they'd get another 'new Velma'

[bythesword84]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 1:05am

Random note that really means I haven't read this whole thread except for the end of it...I've not seen it nearly as much as CJR has but of the casts I saw, I adored it the most when it was Ruthie and Charlotte.