Roz Ryan in Chicago

[chauvelin128]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 12:48pm

I saw Chicago just for fun yesterday because I haven't seen it in a couple years, and didn't expect much (each of the 3 principles, including Paige Davis, redefine the word mediocre.) However, I was pleasantly suprised by Roz Ryan...if you have not yet seen her performance as Mama Morton, SEE IT. Get standing room or rush or something and just see it. Hers was the only performance that brought down the house, and with good reason. If I wasn't standing already (SRO tix), I would have been on my feet, and I think standing ovations are much overused. IMO, hers is one of the most outstanding performances on Broadway right now. It's just a shame everything around her PALES in comparison...

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 12:52pm

I saw her in it years ago when Bebe Neuwirth was on one of her many return engagements as Velma and Karen Ziemba was Roxie. Roz Ryan absolutely tore it up as Mama and received a much deserved ovation when she took her bow.

[poodleboy]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 12:57pm

I just love Roz Ryan, I saw her many times play Effie in the original production of "Dreamgirls".

[Madame X]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 1:47pm

I completely agree. I hadn't seen Chicago in about 7 yrs (saw it w/ Bebe in her original run) so I thought it was time to refresh my memory. Roz Ryan absolutely blew me away - she truly stood out from the rest.

btw - poodleboy - were you annoyed by/did you notice the annoying girls towards the rear of the orch who wouldn't stop talking? AUGH!!!!!

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 1:49pm

I loved Roz Ryan. At intermission, I read her bio and was thrilled to find out she did the voice of Thalia, the short, pudgy gospel singer in "Hercules." I knew I recognized her voice.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 1:50pm

I thought Roz, Paige, Terra, and Chris were all wonderful. Too bad you missed Chris Sieber as Billy..he was fantastic.

And personally, I loved Paige and Terra as the two leading ladies. And ofcourse Roz is mind blowing.

[Penalers]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 1:52pm

roz is incredible. and i think you put it best saying that paige davis re-defines the word mediocrity

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 1:54pm

Yeah, I thought Paige was great, too, ljay889.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 1:57pm

Quibbler- I'm glad someone agrees. In my opinion, Paige gives a light hearted ditzy and fun performance as Roxie, obviously she's not the best Roxie ever, but the girl is pretty damn good. Her dancing and singing was actually pretty suprising and pleasant. I can only hope someday she can lead her own Musical in a Original Cast, and really show what she can do!

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 2:04pm

Well, the only other Roxie I saw was Melanie Griffith, so, Paige Davis definitely blew her away. I did think she sang and danced wonderfully.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 4:53pm

Roz is fantastic and one of the true highlights....

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 4:54pm

I've seen her sing - ugh, I'm drawing a blank - Mama's big song from the show. She blew me away. GREAT voice.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 5:01pm

I was also at Chicago yesterday, at the matinee. From what I saw, it was actually P.J. Benjamin as Amos who got the biggest response.

I was pleasantly surprised the Paige Davis- she had a fine singing voice and pulled off all the dancing well. Her acting was quite good, as well.

As for Roz Ryan- she has a tremendous voice. But she was a half-note flat on many of her high notes. I'm a string player; I notice these things. When she was singing solo, I mentally dismissed these as "blue" notes. But when she and the always-in-tune Terra C. MacLeod sang "Class" it was a bit painful to hear them on the sustained notes.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 5:20pm

luvtheEmcee: Are you thinking of "When You're Good to Mama"?

Posted: 8/5/04 at 5:20pm

Biggest response Smallest Response It's a good show and Roz Ryan can sing her tail off. Half notes whole notes. The voice is a human instrument. Why do we always compare and measure? Just be glad there is good entertainment on Broadway and know we will not all agree on most things. I've seen Chicago several times and I must say most times they hit the mark and the show is still good entertainment. And...... for my $$$ Roz Ryan is the best Mama ever.As for you our person of perfect pitch which show are you in?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 5:22pm

The only Mama I have seen was Carol Woods on the tour. I think she had a slight lisp.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 5:50pm

Don't take it so personally, BluAsia. I liked the show. And I don't even come close to having perfect pitch, but when you're a string player you learn to hear when one note is a little bit off from the others. Ms. Ryan's acting was good, and I said in my original post, her voice itself is tremendous. Those few slightly flat high notes just weakened her performance for me.

And the whole "what show are you in" argument is specious. I think you know that. Updated On: 8/5/04 at 05:50 PM

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 5:55pm

she is GREAT

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 7:45pm

I do agree though, Roz' voice is amazing, I love the way she interprets some parts of WYGTM, and Class. Her and Brenda Braxton's "Class" was AMAZING. It was good with Terra, but much more soulful with Roz and Brenda.

[CJR]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:03pm

Roz is fabulous. I never cease to be amazed by her talent and fun spirited nature.

I'm seeing the show tomorrow night and greatly looking forward to it. I can honestly say it's the first time in a while I've been this excited to see the show.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:20pm

Ryan is definitely the vocal standout in this cast, but as a whole they were quite good. Not blow-you-away good, but they lived up to the material well. Have fun, CJR.

[CJR]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:24pm

Oh I've seen the show with this particular cast a bunch of times... and it won't be the first time I'm seeing Roz either -- not only is my number of total performances, in the double digits, so is the number of times I've seen Roz as Mama. It's always a pleasure for me to see her in the show

Updated On: 8/5/04 at 08:24 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:44pm

That is so cool you've seen the show sooo many times

Did you see the original cast with Ann and Bebe? Updated On: 8/5/04 at 08:44 PM

[CJR]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:47pm

I didn't.

I did get to see Bebe though, on one of her many comebacks opposite Tracy Shayne as Roxie in 2001.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:50pm

Oh, Thats awesome. I bet Bebe was wonderful!

Since you've seen the show so many times, I'm curious who think is the best Roxie and Velma you've seen?