When Liza Stepped Into Chicago — Page 2

I saw Liza and thought she and Chita were fantastic - Orbach was fantastic - the staging was fantastic - the score was fantastic - but somehow I didn't love it back then and (I know, heresy) I don't love it now. Go know.

^ Interesting observations, Gaveston2. Thanks for sharing them. I've always heard that it was too "dark," usually listed as a reason for a tepid but respectable first run, but not that the message was heavy-handed and over-served.

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After watching the clips of Liza back then and hearing her talk and sing, why does she have a speech impediment now that she didn't then-loose dentures or something?

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Of course Fosse was at perhaps his darkest period when he finally finished staging Chicago--I'd love to see the original out of town "orgy" choreography for Razzle Dazzle that he was convinced to change.

BrodyFosse said:

"As is/was the case with countless Original Broadway Cast Recordings pre-CD era, due to the time limitations of LPs (Long Playing records), they chose to just include the 1st part of "Me and My Baby" and the 1st part of "I Can't Do it Alone" on the Original 1975 Broadway Cast Recording of CHICAGO.

"Me and My Baby" was indeed a full-out dance number for Gwen Verdon in the actual show. She began the number singing that slow rendition of the song while sitting in a wheel chair covered in a blanket. She then tossed away the blanket, jumped out of the wheel chair and did the danced 2nd part of the song. "

That makes sense, what's always confused me though is in the revival they don't sing the full slow part that's on the OBCR--only a couple of lines and then it immediately goes into the dance numer, as it does on stage. Was this changed for the revival, since they had no wheelchair etc?

You mean, enshephalish.

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I found these rare photos on eBay in the late 1990s. I think I got them for $4.00 each. Enjoy! I might have another one, but I'm not sure in which album I placed it. I'll try to look for it this weekend...

Found it! Here is the last photo from Liza's time in CHICAGO. I think this must have been at the end of "Hot Honey Rag." Does anyone remember them sitting on the stage?

Fantastic! Thanks for posting. I didn't see Liza, but saw the original production three or four times with Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera. Don't remember them sitting on the floor in the final sequence, so the third shot is a mystery to me.

I loved (and miss) Mr. Orbach.

Yes, it does look like it could be a rehearsal shot. They seem to be relating to each other, not playing out to an audience.