tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post5474308037420829301..comments2023-09-29T03:39:03.460-04:00Comments on Gratuitous Violins: ChicagoEstherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-18865265843624085162011-07-30T23:36:41.660-04:002011-07-30T23:36:41.660-04:00Wow, thanks for the comment and the background! &q...Wow, thanks for the comment and the background! "Chicago" has a pretty fascinating history.<br /><br />And it is interesting to think how much more receptive we are to the story, how the times have caught up to it. Certainly the coverage of sensational trials has only increased post-O.J. And true-crime books are a whole genre now.<br /><br />The movie obviously helped, too, by giving the musical some name recognition. If people are coming to New York and want to see "one" show and they're not regular theatergoers, it's a known quantity. Plus, I think seeing the movie only whets your appetite to see it live. The producers have obviously been very active with stunt-casting, too.<br /><br />But in the end, "Chicago" sells itself no matter who's in it, because it's entertaining and exciting - a great score, great dancing, really strong, memorable characters. It's the kind of show you go home and tell your friends, neighbors and coworkers how much you enjoyed it. <br /><br />And oh how I wish I had a Wayback Machine so I could see the original production! I mean, Chita Rivera, Jerry Orbach, Gwen Verdon! Luckily, I had a chance to see Ms. Rivera on tour in "The Dancer's Life."<br /><br />I have to agree with you about A Chorus Line, too. I saw an early national tour when I was college in Boston and I saw the recent revival on tour a couple of years ago. I just found it kind of plodding.Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-89888917662381723722011-07-30T18:14:59.283-04:002011-07-30T18:14:59.283-04:00Esther,
How you would have enjoyed the original p...Esther,<br /><br />How you would have enjoyed the original production of "Chicago" back in 1975. The show was ideally cast, crackled with satire, and bore the impeccable Fosse stamp. It was, of course, far to cynical and downbeat for audiences to fully accept in that era. The country was still recovering from the horrors of the Nixon presidency and Watergate, so shows with optimistic themes had greater resonance in those days. "Chicago" ran for well over 2 years, but was completely overshadowed by the likes of "A Chorus Line" and even "Annie."<br /><br />It took real life circus trials like those of the Menendez Brothers (1993) and OJ Simpson (1995) to prepare the culture for the special message of cynicism portrayed in "Chicago." I initially thought the inclusion of "Chicago" a somewhat odd choice for Encores and I was even more surprised that a concert setting would actually be transferred to Broadway, even occupying the Richard Rodgers Theatre (the old 46th Street Theatre back in '75 and the home of the original "Chicago" run).<br /><br />There is an irony that this new "Chicago" will soon outrun the original "A Chorus Line." If memory serves, "Chicago" was nominated for 10 Tonys and lost all of them to "A Chorus Line," a record only broken this past season by the shutout of "The Scottsboro Boys." <br /><br />Truth be told, I've always preferred the black edge of "Chicago" and its winking mockery of the American justice system. Its wonderful success may actually be a somewhat unflattering reflection of our cultural values, but I don't care. Velma and Roxie steal my "Hart" every time. Long may they wave.Greenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10412634072650228847noreply@blogger.com