In the 2002 film, he was portrayed by Richard Gere, who also played Dennis Peck in Internal Affairs. 144/11. 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. character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! Upgrade to PRO Sign Up for PRO to view suggested audition pieces! Alphabet Soup: Billy Flynn. "He's a flamboyant Chicago attorney. Beware Terrible view from normal price balcony seats Phantom of the Opera Her Majesty's Theatre, Top 30 Most Influential People in Musical Theater. He shows signs that he would eagerly abandon his clients for a richer, more famous one if he had the chance. The matron of the Cook County Jail who believes that all favors she gives should be reciprocated or paid for. Chicago characters breakdowns including full descriptions with standard casting requirements and expert analysis. [2] In the musical adaptation, his style is based upon Ted Lewis. Open Document. Billy Gardell plays Chicago police officer Mike who starts attending an Overeaters Anonymous group to lose weight where he meets soulmate Molly. He will often turn trials into a media circus and public spectacle, regularly manipulates witnesses to fit his narratives (which usually have no resemblance to the truth), and keeps a tabloid sob sister, Mary Sunshine, on retainer to ensure positive press coverage for his clients. 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. Melodrama is not the only genre that can present stories involving such crimes. Traditionally in musicals the music is embedded . Nationality. She killed her boyfriend after she found out he was sleeping around. William Flynn is a fictional character from the 1926 play Chicago, written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, and its various derivative works and remakes. Lets analyze the characters that made a dent in our memory among the musicals that we have seen so far. Videos. Much has changed perhaps since the era where our story was set. EDGE spoke to Lane about his love of theater, returning to "Chicago," and working with Jinkx Monsoon. The audience. Grew up in cynical times. Thats one thing he can manage to be honest about. The queen from the Chicagos press. Watching Chicago for the first time and you realize the immense influence the major characters have on you. 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. Tu direccin de correo electrnico no ser publicada. And even folks who never attended law school can tell how he managed to defend Roxie Hart. 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. Billy knows the secret to getting public opinion on his side: turn the whole trial into a show! Expressive and charismatic. His love of acting began as a child. Go to the shop Go to the shop. 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. 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. Billy is a calm, smooth-talking and charismatic lawyer who always looks for loopholes and twists the truth in order for him to win his clients' cases. 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. The movie Chicago is a jazz type musical film full of murders, lies, sex and romance. Chicago Character Descriptions V E L MA KE L L Y : F e ma l e , 2 5 -4 0 (Ra n g e : Al to , E 3 -D5 ) V a u d vi l l e p e rf o rme r wh o i s a ccu se d o f mu rd e ri n g h e r si st e r a n d h u sb a n d . From main characters to cameos and minor roles, these characters are the reason why the movie is loved by film buffs around the world. 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. A master manipulator, Billy knows just how and when to sound sincere for maximum effect. Sexy, funny, powerful and tough. Stream #DaysofourLives exclusively on @PeacockTV beginning this Monday September 12th. Nice try extending her 15 minutes of fame, sucker. Most versions got it right. Gwen Verdon: Roxie Hart: Chita Rivera: Velma Kelly: Jerry Orbach: Billy Flynn: Barney Martin: Amos Hart: Mary McCarty: Matron Mama Morton: M. O'Haughey: Mary Sunshine: . That's one thing he can manage to be honest about. Our Picks for The 2019/20 Season: K-12 Edition Felicia Lucas April 23, 2019. Here Comes Baby: "Days of our Lives" star Billy Flynn (Chad DiMera) and his wife, Gina Comparetto, recently celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary. Search all shows. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. "Chicago" is a musical that might have seemed unfilmable, but that was because it was assumed it had to be transformed into more conventional terms. Vocal Part: Bass-Baritone. The original non-musical play, Chicago, was written in 1926 by Chicago Tribune reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, based on two actual 1924 murder cases. Leading Characters Roxie Hart Best known as the sweetie little jazz murderess, called by her lawyer Billy Flinn. The big mama of all murderesses. He is also flamboyant and narcissistic in the way that he can tell he is superior to everyone around him and always uses his charisma to assist him whenever possible. And what a good idea to cast Queen Latifah in the role of Mama, the prison matron; she belts out "When You're Good to Mama" with the superb assurance of a performer who knows what good is and what Mama likes. Prior to Mike & Molly, Gardell was known for playing another cop - Jeff Hoyne - on My Name Is Earl and is currently starring in another Chuck Lorre sitcom, Bob Hearts . Roxie Hart becomes her antagonist even though she will try to do everything to save her vaudeville career. And no feel-good musical would dare tell you the truth in barely-there clothing and fishnet stockings. 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. Gender: Male. She is the best reporter in all Illinois. [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. Roxie Hart For Roxie, I wanted to have a very simple and elegant look but also incorporate Instead of remorse, she felt so much pride at the sight of her name on the broadsheets front page discussing the horrors of her double homicide case. When Roxie found out the true, she killed him with a gun. So bringing in the song-and-dance numbers only brought the point home. Click . The Road To Chicago. C.bjfW{wy&-E0i8U`zmMm/+Z3'kW-TUS &s^&1!.!.IQk It just so happened that it worked on Roxie too. Change Photo Log Report Last Update: 1 week ago. ESFP. Some of us even question whether our morals are enoug, A wild & joyful tribute to Betty Boothroyd, the 'sort of musical' from @, pop culture, politics & the promotion of women's voices. You cant beat fresh blood on the walls.Personality confident and cunning. Almost 100 years later, the unwitting moral of this dazzling musical remains pertinent First of all, dont murder men (unless they deserve it)*; and secondly, women are incredibly powerful when we stick together. Destroy the systems that did offer social care and destroy the people who have to pick up the slack. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like The Man in the Iron Mask, The Man in the Iron Mask (Genre), The Man in the Iron Mask (Character) and more. NEW YORK (AP) - R&B superstar Usher makes his Broadway debut on Aug. 22 in Chicago, playing that slick, seductive lawyer, Billy Flynn in the John Kander-Fred Ebb musical. That way, he ended up becoming a tool for everyone to exploit. Theres something alluring about the irreverent way female jazz performances reclaim feminine sexuality and play a part in the subversive culture of jazz and metropolitan life. Needs to be a strong character actor who can sing and dance well. She enjoyed the fame and can be considered as a quick study after faking a pregnancy in order to get back into the front pages of Chicago again. He is an incredibly charismatic, flamboyant and smooth talking lawyer with an incredibly corrupt and nihilistic outlook on life. O'Brien. 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. Its pretension-free about hearings that still manage to put soap operas to shame. Best known as the sweetie little jazz murderess, called by her lawyer Billy Flinn. During the movie he is seen in the audience during the final number applauding Roxie and Velma. It's surprising to see the confidence in his singing and dancing, until you find out he was in musicals all through school. But are the women in this story really triumphant? So its not just a series of jazzed up song-and-dance numbers. You can like the life youre living, you can live the life you like; you can even marry Harry or mess around with Ike, Roxie and Velma sing, all the while suggesting that they wont be tricked into dependence on HarryorIke. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. This Character will be performed by someone from the ensemble. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until . Flynn is a composite character based on real-life Chicago attorneys of the era, William Scott Stewart and W. W. I'm an attorney, I did a television show in Chicago, and my public personality is pretty . 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. Husband: Charlie. He is genuinely polite and determined despite being rather selfish and in the cases for himself. Get Roxie acquitted for her murder of her lover Fred Casely, Kang the Conqueror (Marvel Cinematic Universe). she takes Mama's advice and persuades Amos to come up with $5,000 to hire Billy Flynn, "Chicago's most famous defense attorney." Billy turns Roxie . This upsets Velma greatly as she becomes old news. The actor went on to say that he'd had to draw a line in the sand, that or "I was going to die.". 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. In prison, she develops a rivalry with the star Velma Kelly, who killed her own husband . 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. These are Roxie Hart, Amos Hart, Velma Kelly and Billy Flynn. Photographs of Jones and Zellweger sourced via Pinterest, and of Mazz Murray via Chicago On Stage. New York, NY, Ages 12-17: Camp Broadway Ensemble @ Carnegie Hall Billy Flinn, and with help from Amos she is able to afford him and become the talk of the town. If Billy is the Agent, Mama would be considered the Manager. billy flynn chicago character analysis "Bologna da Vivere, non solo la convinzione di coloro i quali visitano questa splendida citt, ma anche e soprattutto uno dei pi importanti e - per qualit di servizi offerti- uno dei pi interessanti portali internet che si possono consultare on line." 26 febbraio 2001 . District Attorney who is prosecuting Roxie. The introductory number of Billy Flynn is a dreamy number that showcases how the sensational lawyer gets the job done and pleases his clients. He was made to believe that Roxie is pregnant with his kid. The vaudeville is perfect for a caricature of 1920s Chicago, where life seemed to occur exclusively in the seductive smog of jazz bars, and rejecting the moral norms of previous decades wastrs la mode. Later we see the girl shooting her lover thrice. 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. People watch Chicago The Musical to laugh. And yet, Mama Morton (Mazz Murray) and Velma (Josefina Gabrielle) share excellent chemistry and steal the show at the Phoenix when they team up for a rendition of Class. Join the StageAgent community The Design. Chicago is about you. Velma has already captured the attention of newspaper readers, but after the poor sap Amos pays Billy his fee, a process begins to transform Roxie into a misunderstood heroine. . But she has Amos who may be way dumber than Roxie will ever be. Hi. 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. Arrogant and self-centered, she rebuffs the admiration and adulation that Roxie gave her. He can persuade an audience of journalists that his client is immaculate as snow with the help of theatrical antics. Thanks for reading. Nora would force him inside the . Typical Chicago cop who has been through this kind of thing many times. I am an admin of this site. Beulah was a jazz singer, whose husband Albert worked in a garage. !, thus including him in the swelling ranks of 1920sf*ckboygaslighters. Even if she seems to be silly and childish, also she can be really dangerous. New York, NY, Accessibility Statement Terms Privacy |StageAgent 2020. Bob Fosse Though we hear lyrics of independence and self-sufficiency, the song feels like a lament. Billy Flynn is just in it for the money. She was known for having a performing act with her sister Veronica, but she killed her husband and her sister after finding them together. The undefeated lawyer, Billy Flynn was originally Velma Kellys lawyer. Think for example of the music in the film. It featured A-list actors and actresses varying from Renee Zellweger who played the main character Roxie Hart to Richard Gere who played lawyer Billy Flynn. Teachers are striking - and its about time. Billy Flynn is just in it for the money. 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. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, you've got to come see . She is an aspiring actress who gets into trouble with the law after murdering a man she was having an affair with and enlists the help of Billy Flynn to get her out of jail and into spotlight as a star She was portrayed by Gwen Verdon in the 1975 musical, and by Rene Zellweger in its 2002 film adaptation . Nor about Billy Flynn. Part Size: Supporting. running back about to step onstage for his Broadway . Chicago: All That Jazz (Official Video) Chicago . No wonder Chicago has been honored with 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy, and thousands of standing ovations. Billy will take any case as long as it is sure to put money in his pocket. . And of course, Roxie Hart, the heart (pun intended) for the murder case that Flynn has spun into a media spectacle. 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. 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. Ring of Keys: Lyrics from Fun Home The Musical, Chicago The Musical lyrics: Cell Block Tango. . Flynn has staying power. Enter a world of jazz, crime, and razzle dazzle at Chicago on Broadway. Biography: CONTACT BILLY FLYNN: Billy Flynn P.O. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists. Chicago is a 2002 film based on a musical originally choreographed and directed by the legendary Bob Fosse in 1975. 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 up-front, and never takes pro bono work. Add Characters. Welcome to our analysis of Chicago the Musical. Theatrical Song. She is corrupt in a way that is not so obvious because inmates see first her nurturing side and her manipulative side only later the moment that they needed favors in order to get out of jail or at least be treated nicely in jail itself. . He also has no shame about manipulating Roxie's innocent husband Amos and making him the media scapegoat for Roxie's crimes. Her statements regarding the murder case conflicted after her lawyer, Billy Flynn, got preoccupied with his other client. Chicago, Illinois. 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 . Roxie is not very bright and never thinks about From Velma Kellys cry, No, Im no ones wife but, oh, I love my life! in All that Jazz, to hers and Roxie Harts climatic closing duet Nowadays, its a score that relishes in womens liberation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Crea un blog o un sitio web gratuitos con WordPress.com. Seeking 2 Actor Team for Spring Over the weekend, she posted eight beautiful 1960s-inpired photos with her husband, showing off her baby bump and shared, "First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes". I occasionally compare it to Cabaret (that I previously wrote about here) but with less political undertones and more of a musical statement on media manipulation. Just click Like on our official Facebook page, MusicalsOnline.com, and follow us on Twitter @musicalsnews. Gain full access to show guides, character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! WhenChicago was first adapted into a Broadway musical by John Kander,Fred Ebb, andBob Fosse, each musical number was written in the vaudeville style. Although modern audiences don't like to see stories interrupted by songs, apparently they like songs interrupted by stories. Mary Sunshine is one of the journalists assigned to cover the development in the murder case of which Roxie Hart is the primary suspect. Main Players/Characters. In case productions are about to come in your area, you get to read it here. to read our character analysis for Billy Flynn and unlock other amazing theatre resources! 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. When public attention fades, even Duncan from Blue (sorry, their lawyer, Billy Flynn) seems to lose interest in their cases. He was born on May 29, 1985, and shares his birthday with basketball player Carmello Anthony and the late President John F. Kennedy. (To be sure, Gere's own tap dancing is on the level of performers in the Chicago Bar Association's annual revue). They'll love you a lot more when you hang. Even on his way . References to the '20s ("Roxy's dress is really a flapper dress; there are references to gangsters like . He has blue eyes and brown hair. xZMo6W\`e .z(zk+QH}-MflY)z2h3`~n1qv?? All that is viewed legal of course. 2 0 obj "Chicago" is a Musical with music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. <> Police detective who interviews Amos after Roxie kills Fred. Zellweger is not a born hoofer, but then again Roxie Hart isn't supposed to be a star; the whole point is that she isn't, and what Zellweger invaluably contributes to the role is Roxie's dreamy infatuation with herself, and her quickly growing mastery of publicity. Movies. A topnotch vaudeville performer, Velma Kelly was incarcerated for her murder of her husband and her sister after catching them in bed.