d'Amboise to return to Chicago(again)- Page 2

[Q]

Posted: 8/29/10 at 11:23am

"I have never ever seen Chicago (due to its status as a stalwart show)"

What does that mean?

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/29/10 at 11:43am

I wondered that too, Q. I think it's like the Princess Bride quote:

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means"

Thanks for that link, Kev. Kind of unusual to actually have performers singing in a situation like that. It was also nice to see because it led me to one of my favorite links, of Christopher and Charlotte at the Kennedy Center's tribute to Jacques d'Amboise. 2:22-2:28 are absolutely amazing.



Let's Misbehave! Updated On: 8/29/10 at 11:43 AM

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 8/30/10 at 12:06am

Ruthie Henshall actually did the leap when she first returned to London but I think she hurt herself so she did the alternate skip thingy instead, I guess that's what she did on Broadway ~
I think d'Amboise is such a great solid Roxie to be honest, just because we're abit tired of her, too used to her doesn't necessarily mean she's bad ~

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/30/10 at 12:57am

Charlotte and Tom Hewitt

[BosBroad]

Posted: 8/30/10 at 1:38am

@Lev wrote
Of recent Roxies, the only two to have done leaps (that I've seen) have been d'Amboise and, to a lesser extent, Bonnie Langford. Marroquin, DeJean, and recent "name" Roxies (Simpson-Wentz, Williams) did not, though I'm sure most were capable. I never saw Bryn Dowling.

This is interesting. Thanks. So, it seems that not many Roxies over the course of the whole run have done the leaps. I'm assuming Bebe didn't, although I remember she wanted to do the original choreography as closely as possible. So who did?

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/30/10 at 8:16am

Bebe didn't, likely due the afore-mentioned surgery, but she did, I believe, hew pretty close to Roxie's choreo, which is nowhere near as strenous as what she did as Velma. She even did the cartwheel at the end.

Belle Calaway, Sandy Duncan, and Marilou Henner did the leaps, at least when I saw them.

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 8/30/10 at 6:49pm

Obviously I'm in the minority here, but I thought Charlotte was on something when she went on as Roxie. She did the most bizarre, eccentric pantomime during the ROXIE number which was arguably the longest version of that number I've seen in the 6-7 times I've seen the show. Her interpretation made no sense to me at all.

Fave Roxie would have to be Bonnie Langford opposite Donna Marie as Velma. The whole audience loved them, they just cracked up all night long.

I'm not a big fan of recycling actors or bringing in the endless stunt cast either, but I have to admit, it's sort of nice to get a "taste test" of tv actors and see if they can hack it front of a live theater audience. You certainly find out who has it and who doesn't!

[BosBroad]

Posted: 8/31/10 at 5:33am

@ghostlight2

Thanks. Interesting. I always forget about Sandy Duncan, and I continue to be surprised by reports of Marilu's performance. Wish I'd been living in the US during those years.

@PitPro2004
Also interesting. I've heard that sometimes Charlotte's interpretation varies significantly from the original, and I remember being surprised myself at how much more "ballet" than "Fosse" her interpretation was (not that they are exclusive). There's no denying her skill, though.

In fact, I wondered then, and still wonder, why the Roxies and Velmas are allowed to vary their interpretations so significantly (putting aside the stunt casts). Why do so many very capable dancers look so much less "Fosse" than the original choreo? I mean the details like hands, fingers, the lines of the knees and feet, and even the hip movements. Even Ruthie is much more open and balletic, I think, although I love her movement.

I would think that it's doable, esp given that there have been older actresses who have done it in the role.



Updated On: 8/31/10 at 05:33 AM

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 8/31/10 at 8:06pm

@PitPro2004
Also interesting. I've heard that sometimes Charlotte's interpretation varies significantly from the original, and I remember being surprised myself at how much more "ballet" than "Fosse" her interpretation was (not that they are exclusive). There's no denying her skill, though."

Agreed. I've seen Charlotte in other shows and she's just breathtaking, but this time, I didn't understand what she was driving at. Anne Reinking's Roxie was the only one who made sense to me, other than Bonnie's. Charlotte looked like she was trying to win a charades match. She was trying too hard to make people laugh in the middle of the song and I didn't think it was true to character. And it was loooonnnggg.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 8/31/10 at 10:36pm

PitPro2004, did u see Ruthie's Roxie? I do love love love Bonnie's Roxie when I saw her in London, she's very good!

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/31/10 at 10:56pm

"Obviously I'm in the minority here, but I thought Charlotte was on something when she went on as Roxie. She did the most bizarre, eccentric pantomime during the ROXIE number which was arguably the longest version of that number I've seen in the 6-7 times I've seen the show. Her interpretation made no sense to me at all."

Let's just say that Charlotte is an unusual individual. Truth is, though, a lot of Roxie's do/have done what you're describing - the idea being that they've gotten so caught up in their fantasy world that they've forgotten the audience. I will admit that Charlotte's is a little more free-form than some of the others, and often will vary from night to night. I enjoy seeing an actor exercising that kind of freedom within a structure like that.

"In fact, I wondered then, and still wonder, why the Roxies and Velmas are allowed to vary their interpretations so significantly (putting aside the stunt casts). Why do so many very capable dancers look so much less "Fosse" than the original choreo?"

Oh, I think they're not allowed so much as encouraged. It's the nature of the show these days. They need to allow their Roxies, Velmas and Billys to show off their individuality at least a little - play to their strengths, show their fans something that's uniquely "them".

The chorus, really, is still pretty "by Reinking, in the style of Fosse".

[Kev]

Posted: 8/31/10 at 11:40pm

I'm assuming Bebe didn't, although I remember she wanted to do the original choreography as closely as possible.

As expected, Bebe looked magnificent executing the Roxie's choreography (even without the leaps.) And as electric as Bebe was as Velma, she was also an excellent Roxie. (Now if only she could've been opposite a Velma other than Brenda Braxton...)

and I continue to be surprised by reports of Marilu's performance. Wish I'd been living in the US during those years.

Another excellent Roxie, and vastly different from her predecessor. I wish Henner would've returned to the role at some point other than in Las Vegas.

Obviously I'm in the minority here, but I thought Charlotte was on something when she went on as Roxie. She did the most bizarre, eccentric pantomime during the ROXIE number which was arguably the longest version of that number I've seen in the 6-7 times I've seen the show. Her interpretation made no sense to me at all.

I'll echo ghostlight2's response to these thoughts. Charlotte has always had one of the more eccentric Roxie monologues, due to those choices when her Roxie becomes lost in the moment. (I always enjoyed her sideways fall to the floor, as well.) Whereas Bonnie Langford, for example, was rather safe in her monologue (and overall portrayal), Charlotte took it to the extreme. It worked for her interpretation.