In 2002, Catherine Zeta Jones and Rene Zellweger starred in the movie adaptation, which positions each musical number as though it were happening in Roxies (Zellweger) imagination. B oat: He once lived on a sailboat in Marina . She is a nave woman with a bad temper. Whether intentionally or not, it brings to light some salient truths about the treatment of women by systems of power. Congratulations are in order for Days of Our Lives fave Billy Flynn (Chad) and his wife, actress Gina Comparetto. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for Billy Flynn from Chicago. Upgrade to PRO Sign Up for PRO to view suggested audition pieces! This is Thesecret1070. The song is a true show with backup dancers, costume changes, and dancing, and Flynn takes the viewer to see him as the "ordinary guy" before realizing he is a top-notch lawyer in town. All that is viewed legal of course. Roxie has several press . Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Please enable Javascript and hit the button below! You can watch it like you listen to an album, over and over; the same phenomenon explains why "Moulin Rouge" was a bigger hit on DVD than in theaters. Watching Chicago for the first time and you realize the immense influence the major characters have on you. Of Zellweger and Gere, it can be said that they are persuasive in their musical roles and well cast as their characters. Release Calendar Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. And that says a lot about some lawyers from the Prohibition Era from this musical is set to today. And of course, Roxie Hart, the heart (pun intended) for the murder case that Flynn has spun into a media spectacle. The queen from the Chicagos press. There is no effort to take such a case seriously and this treatment goes on throughout the show. Daytime star's family is about to get bigger by one. In the original Broadway version of the musical, he was portrayed by the late Jerry Orbach, who also played Sa'Luk in Disney's Aladdin and the King of Thieves, and King Charlatan in the 1984 My Little Pony series. But for the most part the film runs on solid-gold cynicism. WhenChicago was first adapted into a Broadway musical by John Kander,Fred Ebb, andBob Fosse, each musical number was written in the vaudeville style. . Billy Flynn is just in it for the money. No wonder Chicago has been honored with 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy, and thousands of standing ovations. Kelly is based on the character "Velma", who first appeared in the 1926 play, also called Chicago, who was in-turn inspired by the life of Belva Gaertner . Living at the top of 1920s Chicago society. character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! Originally, when the score was being written for the stage, Roxie was intended as the focus of the narrative, but concerns about the health and stamina of leading lady Gwen Verdon lead to more stage time being given to Velmas character. Billy Flynn is one of the city of Chicago's most effective defense attorneys; he can win any trial and usually represents women who have murdered their lovers. Roxie Hart For Roxie, I wanted to have a very simple and elegant look but also incorporate 3w2. what happened to 21 savage on july 8 2009. marlin 1898 stock; pat swilling house new orleans; nixon strong baseball tournament; what are infractions in discord; truverse property management des moines, iowa; tess from raven's home pregnant. Grew up in cynical times. She even bragged it to Mama Morton. Sign up today to unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists. G. Gillian Russo January 10, 2023, 09:53. Watkins loosely based Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly, Billy Flynn and other characters in the play off the individuals involved in these famed Chicago courtroom proceedings. Richard Gere is Billy Flynn, the slick, high-priced attorney who boasts he can beat any rap, for a $5,000 fee. By filming it in its own spirit, by making it frankly a stagy song-and-dance revue, by kidding the stories instead of lingering over them, the movie is big, brassy fun. Richard Gere is Billy Flynn, the slick, high-priced attorney who boasts he can beat . The minimalist treatment applied worked too. Chicago is a musical that tells womens stories predominantly through performances by female characters, so itshould feel like an empowering romp from one of the raciest decades of American history. The movie doesn't update the musical so much as bring it to a high electric streamlined gloss. Ring of Keys: Lyrics from Fun Home The Musical, Chicago The Musical lyrics: Cell Block Tango. Even if she seems to be silly and childish, also she can be really dangerous. . The only prop that could have outdone the guns were the feathers that welcomed Billy into the story. Billy Gardell plays Chicago police officer Mike who starts attending an Overeaters Anonymous group to lose weight where he meets soulmate Molly. The Road To Chicago. The movie stars sweet-faced Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart, who kills her lover and convinces her husband to pay for her defense; and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly, who broke up her vaudeville sister act by murdering her husband and her sister while they were engaged in a sport not licensed for in-laws. In case productions are about to come in your area, you get to read it here. It's surprising to see the confidence in his singing and dancing, until you find out he was in musicals all through school. When public attention fades, even Duncan from Blue (sorry, their lawyer, Billy Flynn) seems to lose interest in their cases. Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart will step into the role of Billy Flynn in the long-running Broadway revival of Chicago on Monday, January 17, at the Ambassador Theatre. He knows that he possesses the kind of razzle-dazzle thats necessary to make it in this city.Profession lawyer, currently representing murderer Roxie Hart. Chicago, a musical originally choreographed, directed and co-written by the legendary Bob Fosse in 1975, is the story of Roxie Hart, a wannabe cabaret star in 1920s Chicago. Life is dramatic enough for the sob stories. Although modern audiences don't like to see stories interrupted by songs, apparently they like songs interrupted by stories. As he modestly puts it, I dont mean to toot my own horn, but if Jesus Christ lived in Chicago today, and he had come to me and he had five thousand dollars, lets just say things would have turned out differently. Relying on the sympathies of the public, Billy plays off his female clients as victims. In reality, their beauty and the fleeting fascination of the tabloids is all the chips these women have to play. He is incredibly confident and manipulative and always uses whatever lie he can think of as long as it helps his clients. You cant beat fresh blood on the walls.Personality confident and cunning. Hayden McAllister, a junior who plays Billy Flynn, watched several productions of Chicago to help him prepare for his role. She herself shows a certain genius in the process, as when she dramatically reveals she is pregnant with Amos' child, a claim that works only if nobody in the courtroom can count to nine. I think its female friendship. We stand wi, "Beginning is at once a masterful composition of observational comedy, and an incredibly moving commentary on moder, Misinformation and lack of knowledge often turn our bodily fluids into a taboo. Currently the second longest-running show on Broadway, the 1996 revival of Chicago boasts a long list of celebrities who have stepped into its leading roles. Get entertainment recommendations for your unique personality and find out which of 5,500+ Most of Billy Flynn's clients actually did commit the murder they are accused of; therefore he usually attempts to conjure a defense of self-defense or insanity. Some things haven't changed indeed. I want to talk to my lawyer, a line that accused individuals say whenever they feel cornered and in need of someone to speak on their behalf. Not that youd pick up the next loose firearm and shoot your lover after discovering his or her infidelity to you (ladies, dont, no matter how angry you are; some people are not worth the jail term to serve) but people who, in their quest for fame, end up confusing it with infamy. 2 0 obj What is stark in both versions is the limited power that these women actually have. She was known for having a performing act with her sister Veronica, but she killed her husband and her sister after finding them together. Yeah, it is a parody of the legal system but the main reason why it succeeded in being funny is because of the truth found there. In the musical, Flynn sings three songs. It was the Hollywood film version that suggested that. William Flynn is a fictional character from the 1926 play Chicago, written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, and its various derivative works and remakes. Even on his way . But some things never change maybe because Kander and Ebb found a way to glamorize a story about sex, violence corruption and all things we hold near and dear. This upsets Velma greatly as she becomes old news. If you are going to edit a lot, then make yourself a user and login. Husband: Charlie. If Billy is the Agent, Mama would be considered the Manager. In the original Broadway version, the song was performed by Flynn's actor, the late Jerry Orbach. Born sometime in 1955, Flynn and his mother Nora, a prostitute and drug addict, lived in the suburbs of southern California in his early years. Billy knows the secret to getting public opinion on his side: turn the whole trial into a show! Change Photo Log Report Last Update: 1 week ago. Or E-mail: . Its the best thing about this musical. These are Roxie Hart, Amos Hart, Velma Kelly and Billy Flynn. Even vaudeville has its own spin on sharing these stories. The movie is a dazzling song and dance extravaganza, with just enough words to support the music and allow everyone to catch their breath between songs. Gender: Male. Chicago. Though it was practically accidental, the result was a female-driven powerhouse of a musical which culminates in the thrilling alliance of two hardened veterans of showbiz. Movies. Billy is a lot like a Hollywood Agent. . Get Access. WordPress Theme: Dynamic News by ThemeZee. but not much is done with the character. When you write a character analysis, you must define that character's role. You have a bunch of dancers and all that jazz having fun in what seemed to be a nightclub in Prohibition Era Chicago and then an extra giddy couple enters the stage and go lovey-dovey on each other. He has a strong speaking ability, lots of energy and presence. Despite the supposedly light, vaudeville style of Chicago, Kander, Ebb and Fosse's adaptation (which takes inspiration from Maurine Dallas Watkin's play of the same name) draws purposeful parallels between the legal system and the culture of celebrity and sensation journalism. "All I Care About (is Love)" serves as Flynn's jingle, in which the crooner claims not to care about wealth or materialism and works for his love of women (later revealed to be a complete lie), "They Both Reached For The Gun (The Press Conference Rag)" serves as a ventriloquist act with a call-and-response between Billy's "dummy" Roxie and the press, and "Razzle Dazzle" (a champagnesque piece with what Jerry Orbach described as "Brechtian subtlety"[1]) serves as the explanation of Flynn's modus operandi: make the case a distraction so that the jury loses attention. Billy Flynn stands six feet tall. Flynn has staying power. So we spoke to @, In the depths of January, its easy to be hard on ourselves. Best known as the sweetie little jazz murderess, called by her lawyer Billy Flinn. Chicago brought Huey Lewis his Broadway debut, too. Chicago (2002) Richard Gere as Billy Flynn. Billy is a suave, educated lawyer who can persuade anyone to do anything. Billy Flynn became a lawyer for two reasons: a) the money, and b) because people are schmucks, as easily fooled as children.Living at the top of 1920s Chicago society. Billy Flynn is a heavily corrupt lawyer notorious for getting unrepentant murderers freed. The fact that the jazz-themed music are catchy enough to get stuck in your head makes the grim scenarios less grim than they actually are. Leading Characters Roxie Hart Best known as the sweetie little jazz murderess, called by her lawyer Billy Flinn. The 2002 movie Chicago was adapted from Bob Fosse's 1975 Broadway musical, Chicago. Best of 2022 Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. An early shot in "Being Flynn" shows Robert De Niro behind the wheel of a Yellow Cab, and the ground shifts beneath the movie. But she has Amos who may be way dumber than Roxie will ever be. She kills her boyfriend in her apartment after coming home and finding him with two girls. Mazz Murray stuns as Mama Morton at the Phoenix Theatre, London. District Attorney who is prosecuting Roxie. Sign up today to unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Killers were romanticized or vilified, cops and lawyers and reporters lived in each other's pockets, and newspapers read like pulp fiction. Sarcastic, sexy, tough, funny. New York, NY, Linda Ray Ages 12-17: Camp Broadway Ensemble @ Carnegie Hall. He was made to believe that Roxie is pregnant with his kid. But are the women in this story really triumphant? The matron of the Cook County Jail who believes that all favors she gives should be reciprocated or paid for. Chicago: All That Jazz (Official Video) Chicago . So bringing in the song-and-dance numbers only brought the point home. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until . Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Enter a world of jazz, crime, and razzle dazzle at Chicago on Broadway. You know why? During the movie he is seen in the audience during the final number applauding Roxie and Velma. Get Roxie acquitted for her murder of her lover Fred Casely, Kang the Conqueror (Marvel Cinematic Universe). The comparison, though satirical, strikes a rather serious chord under all the cabaret, cursing and relentless sarcasm. Nightclub sensation Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) murders her philandering husband, and Chicago's slickest lawyer, Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), is set to defend her. He can make the court believe that his client is not a murderer but only an innocent soul pushed to a corner into fighting back. . For Fosse, the Chicago of Roxie Hart supplied the perfect peg to hang his famous hat. There are a few moments of straight pathos, including Amos Hart's pathetic disbelief that his Roxie could have cheated on him; he sings "Mr. Cellophane" about how people see right through him. Bob Fosse choreographed the protection with his style of jazz hand, side ways shoulder rolls, and bowler hats. Ha rd e n e d b y f a me , Billy Flynn became a lawyer for two reasons: a) the money, and b) because people are schmucks, as easily fooled as children. He is an incredibly charismatic, flamboyant and smooth talking lawyer with an incredibly corrupt and nihilistic outlook on life. During the song, Roxie Hart (Gwen Verdon) enters and pauses just long enough to . And this is vaudeville where people are too happy to react to murders going on. to read our character analysis for Billy Flynn and unlock other amazing theatre resources! "My great-grandmother and I would play dress up," recounts Flynn. Sweetest little jazz killer in Chicago. The all-black costumes (think of your GCSE drama class performances) and disappointingly simple set (they manage to rustle up some confetti for Duncan James rendition of Razzle Dazzle, but thats about as fun as it gets) unintentionally reveals the fragile illusion of glamour that the characters ofChicago have consumed. Fosse, who grew up in Chicago in the 1930s and 1940s, lived in a city where the daily papers roared with the kinds of headlines the movie loves. Beware Terrible view from normal price balcony seats Phantom of the Opera Her Majesty's Theatre, Top 30 Most Influential People in Musical Theater. Surely enough, he has other clients too but in the case of Velma, she can work her own wonders into putting her face on the front page for everyone to gawk at. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Crea un blog o un sitio web gratuitos con WordPress.com. "I'm an alcoholic and an addict," one who's been in recovery for coming up on three years. Mama recommends Billy Flynn, a man who has never lost a case for a woman, and who only costs $5,000. Told through a series of vaudeville routines, the story of Chicago begins with Velma Kelly (Chita Rivera) setting the tone and atmosphere of the period with "All That Jazz.". Some things end up being funny when it reminds you of something that you have seen before a little too often, it has lost its potency to be a credible sob story that it has transcended to the point of being funny. Flynn is a composite character based on real-life Chicago attorneys of the era, William Scott Stewart and W. W. There's an inspired scene of ventriloquism and puppetry at a press conference, with all of the characters dangling from strings. He only accepts cases that can match his attorneys fee, quite hefty enough to push Amos to bankruptcy. Set in the 1920s and based on real events, this satirical show follows wannabe jazz age stars who get their fame not just for their singing or dancing talent, but for committing murders that make sensationalized headlines all across . He has never lost a case involving a female defendant in his whole career, but in turn charges high fees for his services ($5,000), demands payment in full . And the choreography doesn't copy Fosse's inimitable style, but it's not far from it, either; the movie sideswipes imitation on its way to homage. In our version this person will be performed by a member from the band. Upgrade to PRO to read our character analysis for Billy Flynn and unlock other amazing theatre resources! A character that I either despise or feel bad for, Amos Hart is one that you could easily remember as the blindly loyal husband to Roxie. School Nova Southeastern University; Course Title PHIL 100; Uploaded By jackhayes76. After Roxie murders her lover Fred Casely, whom she was committing adultery with, she hears about what Billy Flynn did for another murderess, the infamous Velma Kelly, and he becomes her lawyer. And the moment that she realized that the new girl in town has taken up her space on the front page in several publications, she then tried to pair up with her for a vaudeville performance. Then its all back to the black chairs in presenting a story meant to be funny. New York, NY, Accessibility Statement Terms Privacy |StageAgent 2020. Rated PG-13 New York, NY, Ages 12-17: Camp Broadway Ensemble @ Carnegie Hall Other than that, enjoy Villains Wiki!!! And she found a way to make a bad situation work out for her like realizing how she can be the toast of the town despite being in jail which brings us to the next factor that made this musical such a hit. New York, NY, Accessibility Statement Terms Privacy |StageAgent 2020. Plays the judge in the courtroom scene. Menu. Luckily, hes in the perfect town for sensational murders. Billy will take any case as long as it is sure to put money in his pocket. v Yl`t@GVL;yaX 2?m[-"rfi07G,C_x;J`'.1sd(S!l9F72D"Zr'% 1.O2be'.o1AHrb Rca4z%{M0AW#?F2qNA% ,1*1sL,#_!bD,G L$j3M9XRfA_\KL7+Ia~ELSfiZUSC. Thats one thing he can manage to be honest about. Destroy the systems that did offer social care and destroy the people who have to pick up the slack. Despite the uncomfortable way in which our social media punitive system can manifest (thanks to the brevity of public attention and tendency to accept headlines as representative of a whole), one thing remains true: we cannot rely on the system for justice, particularly when it comes to holding men accountable for their treatment of women. Character Analysis (Avoiding Spoilers) . [3], https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Billy_Flynn_(Chicago)&oldid=1134898946, This page was last edited on 21 January 2023, at 09:51. Trending. By day, Roxie cleans, cooks and washes- but by night, she frequents Chicago's notorious jazz clubs with her lover, Fred Casely. His love of acting began as a child. The undefeated lawyer, Billy Flynn was originally Velma Kellys lawyer. Naturally we dont condone murder at Harpy Mag (no, not even of your awful ex, sorry), but as this dynamic sextet protest how could you tell me that I was wrong?, the various stabbings, shootings and poisonings seem almost justified. He is Roxie Harts husband. Velma and Roxie have learned the hard way that not even fellow women will support them in an individualistic age, in which womens success depends on fierce competitiveness for the limelight. Funny and powerful. Nothing is taken seriously from the murders to the trials. Her best attempts at intelligence are only apparent because her husband, Amos, is dumber than her. The director Rob Marshall, a stage veteran making his big screen debut, paces the film with gusto. Traditionally in musicals the music is embedded . I just realized how several versions of All That Jazz, Funny Honey and Razzle Dazzle sung outside the Hollywood really got me thinking about this hit musical. Otherwise, she is at best Flynns puppet because being a lawyer includes teaching your client what to say to the media and in court. He has blue eyes and brown hair. The show takes place in Chicago, Illinois in the 1 920s. Sometimes I consider her character as a commentary about journalists that got so persuaded with one presentation of the case that they almost went biased towards it. Connor McClung, a senior who plays Amos Hart, says "playing Amos is a balancing act, because he is upset most of the time. Whats the one comforting factor in all this? WordPress Theme: Dynamic News by ThemeZee. Murderesses Velma Kelly (a chanteuse and tease who killed her husband and sister after finding them in bed together) and Roxie Hart (who killed her boyfriend when she discovered he wasn't going to make her a star) find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago. With the kind of ambition that tried to make up for what she lacked in intelligence, she found it so easy to ride along Flynns scheme of turning her into a pious woman, at least for the cameras. The Design. But that in no way meant that he was out of the woods. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Search all shows. (tenor) Amos Hart: Age 30-50. Best known as the best lawyer in all Chicago, Illinois. The villainy of the six Cook County Jail murderesses, as told through Cell Block Tango, is temptingly redemptive as we hear the list of their murdered partners crimes against them. Chicago.docx - Aristotle's analytical model puts the plot. CHICAGO the Musical is based off the 1926 play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, the reporter assigned to cover the 1924 trials of murderesses Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner. % Thanks for reading. "I'm a work in progress," he shared. Our Picks for The 2019/20 Season: K-12 Edition Felicia Lucas April 23, 2019. It doesnt overly dramatize things that happen daily in life. The whole world its all show business. Billys not concerned with whether hes following the spirit of the law, so long as he wins the case. ???? November 16, 2022 2:39PM. In the end he manages to get Roxie acquitted, largely on account of turning the trial into a media circus. And jail never tempered her need to be on the papers for the sake of remaining relevant. New York, NY, Linda Ray Most of the characters are relatable due to some semblance to real life how lawyers spin the case to favor their client and how celebrities are easy to create with the help of press conferences. Hugh Jackman was apparently offered the role, but declined due to him thinking that he was too young. musical villains mashup // 20+ shows ???? He is the person who presents all the vaudeville acts during the whole play. Also he could easily be swayed into thinking one way by persuasion only to change his mind upon getting into another persuasion all over again as shown as how he immediately changed his mind into supporting Roxie again. A topnotch vaudeville performer, Velma Kelly was incarcerated for her murder of her husband and her sister after catching them in bed. Los campos obligatorios estn marcados con *. Characters Casts Crews. Chicago is about you. A master manipulator, Billy knows just how and when to sound sincere for maximum effect. As he explains, This trial. One number thats left out of the 2002 movie is My Own Best Friend, which Alexandra Burke and Josefina Gabrielle bring to life on stage at the Phoenix. Roxie was only too happy to turn her down as she was just returning the favor. " Razzle Dazzle " is a song featured in the 1975 Broadway musical Chicago and its 2002 film adaptation of the same name. %PDF-1.4 EDGE spoke to Lane about his love of theater, returning to "Chicago," and working with Jinkx Monsoon. We meet Roxie Hart, married early and unwisely, to Amos Hart (John C. Reilly), a credulous lunkhead. Part Size: Supporting. (Avoiding Spoilers) Grew up in cynical times. O'Brien. Billy Flynn. Identifying the character type and personality traits can help you better understand what the larger role of the character is within the story. Images attached are from the film version of the hit musical. But if these songs are used well to push a story forward and introduce a set of dynamic characters that you can relate with, then youre rest assured of reruns that would last decades just like what happened in Chicago. Nora would force him inside the . Jan. 18, 2016. Sexy, funny, powerful and tough. He is furnitures salesman and a regular guy, but hed promised Roxie to take her to the show business. It starts with Roxie Hart's cold-blooded murder of Fred Casely.
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