Has anyone seen Chicago
Fri, 30 Nov 2001, 12:10 pmWalter Plinge6 posts in thread
Has anyone seen Chicago
Fri, 30 Nov 2001, 12:10 pmI am going to see Chicago at Wanneroo next Fri,has anyone seen it,and if so can we have a review please.I will be going in any case but it would be nice for someone to post their opinion
Thankyou
Thankyou
I saw it & so should you!!
Sat, 1 Dec 2001, 08:18 amMy long-considered thoughts on Chicago (no, actually I'm just slack!)
I've seen 3 productions of Chicago now & it is one of my favourite musicals, so I am always a bit wary of my own high expectations. I went to see the Wanneroo production with friends Sat Nov 24th & am pleased to say that it was great.
Above all else, what really made the show for me was the use of a live orchestra - not just keyboards or a backing CD. Live music just cannot be beat & (oh no! my program has been recycled!!) this band could play! It was obvious that they enjoyed themselves as much as we did, & the opportunity to hear them play at the close of the show was a wonderful inclusion. My only criticism there is that it would have been better to use their closing number as an entreacte. I felt that giving the stage to the band after all the applause was finished shortchanged them in terms of well-deserved audience appreciation.
Now - to the actors: director Bob Mainwaring's casting was very well chosen, & it was good to see more how shall I say mature performers playing various roles. The characters in Chicago have been around the block once or twice & the cynicism & irony in the script was well-served by actors who have a bit of life experience under their belts. The actors were able to let their characters' pasts add dimension to the present.
Although there is no denying the fact that I am a great fan of my very dear friend Sonni Byrne - she was an absolute standout. I'm sure any unbiased audience member would agree that her stage presence, comic timing & yes, her incredible voice made Roxy Hart unforgettable. David Nelson as Roxy's naive husband Amos was poignantly comical & his Mr Cellophane was beautifully done.
Had my dog not eaten my program, I could name the other cast members & give them their due, however character names will have to suffice:
The actor playing Velma Kelly used a combination of great timing, wacky facial expressions & strong body language to carry off her role quite handily. Unfortunately on the night I went it seemed that her voice let her down a little, or perhaps that the music sat a little too much in the passagio area of her vocal range. Nonetheless Velma's numbers were very well performed & the duet Class with Mamma Morton was beautiful.
I can't believe that out of the 3 productions I've seen, Wanneroo's was the only one to actually use the not-too-subtle lesbian innuendo of the matron to full effect. The actor's voice & physical presence were great for the part, but again a little difficulty as the vocal range changed from chest to head voice. Perhaps a bit of phony ingenoue breathiness would have helped in some bits?
Mary Sunshine is a bitch of a part to carry off & was brilliantly done. I have never heard Little Bit of Good sung so well in an amatuer production. The makeup & costuming were also spot-on, with not a bit of Tootsie or drag queen in it.
The actor playing Billy Flynn did a good job in another vocally challenging role, and the Press Conference Rag (I think it's called) ventriloquist number was particularly hilarious.
The rest of the cast was a tight ensemble and their staging provided great support in the way of background action. The variety of performers & the many different roles played by each of them (especially the Jury - well done!) added a lot to the show as a whole. The choreography & dancing were very tight & looked wonderful.
The set was quite spare, but rightly so given all the action. Nice touch with the rollaway bed. The lighting really made a big difference to the show & looked particularly good during the ventriloquist act. Costumes were fabulous, although (& there is no other way to say it) some of the female ensemble had the audience more than a little anxious during the big dance numbers. A bit more support in the supporting roles would have been less distracting. (OK I said it!) Amos looked great in the clown suit, but although his costume suited that number very well it didn't particularly relate to the rest of the show. I would have liked to have seen more vaudeville bits here & there along the lines of Me & My Baby & Mr Cellophane.
And now I must shut up. Congrats to all involved in this fabulous production & good luck to anyone yet to book tickets - better hurry up!
I've seen 3 productions of Chicago now & it is one of my favourite musicals, so I am always a bit wary of my own high expectations. I went to see the Wanneroo production with friends Sat Nov 24th & am pleased to say that it was great.
Above all else, what really made the show for me was the use of a live orchestra - not just keyboards or a backing CD. Live music just cannot be beat & (oh no! my program has been recycled!!) this band could play! It was obvious that they enjoyed themselves as much as we did, & the opportunity to hear them play at the close of the show was a wonderful inclusion. My only criticism there is that it would have been better to use their closing number as an entreacte. I felt that giving the stage to the band after all the applause was finished shortchanged them in terms of well-deserved audience appreciation.
Now - to the actors: director Bob Mainwaring's casting was very well chosen, & it was good to see more how shall I say mature performers playing various roles. The characters in Chicago have been around the block once or twice & the cynicism & irony in the script was well-served by actors who have a bit of life experience under their belts. The actors were able to let their characters' pasts add dimension to the present.
Although there is no denying the fact that I am a great fan of my very dear friend Sonni Byrne - she was an absolute standout. I'm sure any unbiased audience member would agree that her stage presence, comic timing & yes, her incredible voice made Roxy Hart unforgettable. David Nelson as Roxy's naive husband Amos was poignantly comical & his Mr Cellophane was beautifully done.
Had my dog not eaten my program, I could name the other cast members & give them their due, however character names will have to suffice:
The actor playing Velma Kelly used a combination of great timing, wacky facial expressions & strong body language to carry off her role quite handily. Unfortunately on the night I went it seemed that her voice let her down a little, or perhaps that the music sat a little too much in the passagio area of her vocal range. Nonetheless Velma's numbers were very well performed & the duet Class with Mamma Morton was beautiful.
I can't believe that out of the 3 productions I've seen, Wanneroo's was the only one to actually use the not-too-subtle lesbian innuendo of the matron to full effect. The actor's voice & physical presence were great for the part, but again a little difficulty as the vocal range changed from chest to head voice. Perhaps a bit of phony ingenoue breathiness would have helped in some bits?
Mary Sunshine is a bitch of a part to carry off & was brilliantly done. I have never heard Little Bit of Good sung so well in an amatuer production. The makeup & costuming were also spot-on, with not a bit of Tootsie or drag queen in it.
The actor playing Billy Flynn did a good job in another vocally challenging role, and the Press Conference Rag (I think it's called) ventriloquist number was particularly hilarious.
The rest of the cast was a tight ensemble and their staging provided great support in the way of background action. The variety of performers & the many different roles played by each of them (especially the Jury - well done!) added a lot to the show as a whole. The choreography & dancing were very tight & looked wonderful.
The set was quite spare, but rightly so given all the action. Nice touch with the rollaway bed. The lighting really made a big difference to the show & looked particularly good during the ventriloquist act. Costumes were fabulous, although (& there is no other way to say it) some of the female ensemble had the audience more than a little anxious during the big dance numbers. A bit more support in the supporting roles would have been less distracting. (OK I said it!) Amos looked great in the clown suit, but although his costume suited that number very well it didn't particularly relate to the rest of the show. I would have liked to have seen more vaudeville bits here & there along the lines of Me & My Baby & Mr Cellophane.
And now I must shut up. Congrats to all involved in this fabulous production & good luck to anyone yet to book tickets - better hurry up!