So, How Is Christie Brinkley Doing as "Roxie Hart"?- Page 3

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 4/19/11 at 5:24pm

What made Bebe a bad Roxie? Too much like her Velma?

Is Brinkley the oldest Roxie ever? Updated On: 4/19/11 at 05:24 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/19/11 at 5:34pm

I saw Bebe as Roxie and thought she was fine. definitly not the best, but not the worst either.

[choitoy]

Posted: 4/19/11 at 5:41pm

@ Amalia:

I think that Chita Rivera was the oldest Roxie when she did the revival. Anyone else correct me if I'm wrong.

And I can see how Bebe would be a much better match for Velma than Roxie. Though both characters are both sides of the same coin, Velma is a much "cooler" character vs. Roxie's "warmer" character, and Bebe exudes the "cool" much better than "warmth". Although I've never seen her in the role. I can see Ruthie Henshall transitioning the two characters better.

Are there any other actresses who played both roles? I'm thinking Caroline O'Connor might have at one point.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/19/11 at 6:50pm

I saw her 2nd performance and she butchered the songs then, too. There were many notes that made me wince, and boatloads of others that were simply off key.

She sounded very raspy and a friend thought perhaps she was experiencing vocal stess then, I suggested that perhaps they were purposely having her sing that way to detract from her natural singing voice -- although I have no idea what that may be.

[bryan2]

Posted: 4/21/11 at 12:57pm

Roxie as evil as she is is cutsy Bebe could not pull that off she seemed to be talking in a fake "trying to sound like Ann Reinking" voice ..very annoying.. and her singing "croak" that works for Velma is too low and vibrato for Roxie as far as I am concerned.. I saw her in Fosse also and she is very cold to me no warmth comes from her from the stage..Morticia is perfect for her

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:29pm

Is Brinkley the oldest Roxie ever?

Christie Brinkley is 57 years old.
Chita Rivera was 66 years old when she played Roxie in 1999.

For those who aren't aware... Chita originated the role of Velma Kelly in the original 1975 Broadway production of CHICAGO.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:33pm

For those who aren't aware... Chita originated the role of Velma Kelly in the original 1975 Broadway production of CHICAGO.

OMG, really?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/21/11 at 3:05pm

ljay889 -- you would be SO surprised at what many 'theater' lovers don't know. Seriously. I'm baffled almost daily with the obvious things people 'never knew'. Oy!

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 4/21/11 at 3:19pm

Did Chita ever perform as Roxie in the Broadway revival? I thought she'd only done it on tour. Anyway know old old Sandy Duncan (who was fantastic, btw) was when she played the role?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/21/11 at 3:27pm

Assuming IMDB has her correct birthday (Feb 20, 1946) Sandy Duncan would have been 53 when she joined the show. I don't know how long she stayed with the show (I saw her the first or second week of January 2000), so she may have still been playing the role at the age of 54.

And I agree with you, ghostlight. Sandy Duncan was delightful in the role. She was probably the most bubbly Roxie I have seen and I loved that she found that aspect of Roxie's character and played it so wonderfully.

[steven22]

Posted: 4/21/11 at 4:19pm

On the ibdb website Chita Rivera is not listed as playing Roxie.

Chita Rivera and Ben Vereen in Chicago.
xhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgDLUDmn2Eg Updated On: 4/21/11 at 04:19 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/21/11 at 4:25pm

Chita never played Roxie Hart on Broadway -- she played the role in Toronto, Las Vegas and London. It has been said that she refused all offers to play the role in the Broadway production.

[bud2]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 9:22pm

Saw this again on Thursday, May 19 and Christie Brinkley should remove herself from the show immediatley. I agree with the first post; worst performance I've seen on Broadway in almost 30 years. She forgot her lines before "Roxie" and had to be prompted at least three times from the side of the stage. Can't sing, can't act, can't dance. She wouldn't have won this part in my high school. The only thing I disagree with is that she is not bringing down the rest of the cast--they were all excellent. Would love to see a pairing of Amra-Faye Wright (currently playing Velma, awesomely) with Charlotte D'Amboise (the best Roxie ever!). Why isn't there more press about this ridiculous "name" casting (with no talent) on Broadway? It's not fair to the talented actors who have spent their life honing their craft. I took my dad and sister and frankly, I was embarassed. Brinkley should be ashamed, as well as the greedy producers.

[Steel Pier Fan]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 9:35pm

I think its struggling to stay open and they are trying to sell tickets no matter how bad the people are. That is sad because it is bringing the show's reputation down.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 9:44pm

Last week's gross was $577,000. For a show with a nut as low as Chicago's is, that is a very clear profit. It is not struggling to stay open. It's doing quite nicely.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 10:54pm

Welcome to Broadway World, Bud! Hopefully, the producers will see fit and hire Charlotte D'Amboise to replace C.B. She is the ULtimate dancer! from RC in Austin, Texas

[spike3]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 9:34am

this is the way of broadway, stunt casting all the way. Especially in so far as the Weisslers are concerned. The show is still basically running on name recognition from the film, and yes there are tourists who would love to see anyone with a "star" name in the show. At this point it really does not matter who is in the cast. It would be nice if the Broadway production would do what the London production is doing,-close- if not for good,. then just for awhile. Tour it until its dry. While I never like to see anyone out of work, it is time this one took a rest.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 10:51am

Updated On: 5/22/11 at 10:51 AM

[egghumor]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 11:20am

I hear she's in talks to replace Nina Arianda as Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday when her contract is up.

Perhaps Harold Camping caught Chicago in recent weeks and became convinced the end of the world is very near.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:25pm

It's not fair to the talented actors who have spent their life honing their craft.

They're just happy for a JOB.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:30pm

And that changes the fact that it's unfair how?

[bud2]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:33pm

Exactly. There should be an ACTOR in the role and not an ex-model.

[bud2]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:32pm

Exactly. There should be an ACTOR in the role and not an ex-model.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:37pm

Brook Shields is an ex model and she seems to have proven her worth as an actress.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:41pm

She was also an actress from the age of, oh, I don"t know, ten? Comparing the two is ridiculous.