He can persuade an audience of journalists that his client is immaculate as snow with the help of theatrical antics. Trending. But when Roxie Hart (Rene Zellweger) also winds up in prison, Billy takes on her case as well - turning her into a media circus of headlines. carcinization etymology; abandoned places in dartmouth ma. Nationality. He makes it interesting. Chicago: All That Jazz (Official Video) Chicago . The comparison, though satirical, strikes a rather serious chord under all the cabaret, cursing and relentless . Reilly brings a kind of pathetic sincere naivete to the role--the same tone, indeed, he brings to a similar husband in "The Hours," where it is also needed. We only provide suggested audition monologues or songs for an individual character if our system finds content that matches a character's traits. ON BREAKING CHARACTER . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Crea un blog o un sitio web gratuitos con WordPress.com. The big mama of all murderesses. Chicago is a 2002 film based on a musical originally choreographed and directed by the legendary Bob Fosse in 1975. These characters from the movie Chicago are displayed from top to bottom according to their prevalence in the film, so you can find the lead characters at the top of the list. 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. Hugh Jackman was apparently offered the role, but declined due to him thinking that he was too young. A topnotch vaudeville performer, Velma Kelly was incarcerated for her murder of her husband and her sister after catching them in bed. 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. The Design. Only Billy Flynn (Gere) can pull off a trick like that, although his price is high and he sings a song in praise of his strategy ("Give 'em the old razzle-dazzle"). EPISODE 070 CHICAGO MUSIC REVEALED with Mike Jeffers and special guest host Dave Katzman for our Chicago Blues and Beyond segment. 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. 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. Real friendship between women barely exists inChicago, and the main characters scheme against each other and refuse to make connections that arent based on personal gain. Change Photo Log Report Last Update: 1 week ago. "I'm an alcoholic and an addict," one who's been in recovery for coming up on three years. Watching Chicago for the first time and you realize the immense influence the major characters have on you. Search all shows. Chicago Play Critique Character Analysis. 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. 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. O'Brien. 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. stream 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. However, when Roxie additionally ends up in jail, Billy goes up against her case too - transforming her into a . He only accepts cases that can match his attorneys fee, quite hefty enough to push Amos to bankruptcy. Upgrade to PRO to read our character analysis for Billy Flynn and unlock other amazing theatre resources! include an upper and lower case character and a number. School Nova Southeastern University; Course Title PHIL 100; Uploaded By jackhayes76. So bringing in the song-and-dance numbers only brought the point home. 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. Thats one thing he can manage to be honest about. Her role is a memorable one since the song When Youre Good to Mama is pretty straight-forward about her agenda. THIS FEATURE IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PRO MEMBERS. Billy Flynn is a heavily corrupt lawyer notorious for getting unrepentant murderers freed. He is furnitures salesman and a regular guy, but hed promised Roxie to take her to the show business. 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. Residence. These are women who are repeatedly manipulated, cheated on, dismissed and abused by the men in their lives. Paul Dano is an actor who can be distant and mystifying. Billy Flynn stands six feet tall. She even bragged it to Mama Morton. 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. 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". No wonder it was labeled as an act of desperation. The Road To Chicago. She then realized the extent of her arrogance once Roxie pointed out to her that shes been pushed off the front page. Completely loyal and devoted to his beloved wife. Roxie Hart is the main protagonist of the musical Chicago and all of its adaptations. It is meant to be experienced. If Billy is the Agent, Mama would be considered the Manager. Think for example of the music in the film. Mama recommends Billy Flynn, a man who has never lost a case for a woman, and who only costs $5,000. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists, See more characters from . Police detective who interviews Amos after Roxie kills Fred. While being initially suspicious of Roxies innocence, Billy Flynns persuasion skills eventually influenced the way she covered the case. That said, you should still show off similar vocals and personality. Despite the supposedly light, vaudeville style ofChicago, Kander, Ebb and Fosses adaptation (which takes inspiration fromMaurine Dallas Watkins play of the same name) draws purposeful parallels between the legal system and the culture of celebrity and sensation journalism. Billy is a suave, educated lawyer who can persuade anyone to do anything. Husband: Charlie. 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. He is incredibly confident and manipulative and always uses whatever lie he can think of as long as it helps his clients. The film has budget on its side, and you would be forgiven for buying into the razzle dazzle; but the comparative shabbiness of the showcurrently running at the Phoenix Theatre, London, undermines the audiences ability to suspend their disbelief. Please enable Javascript and hit the button below! The undefeated lawyer, Billy Flynn was originally Velma Kellys lawyer. John Kander, Billy is the female murderesses hero in an expensive suit -- in all. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Billy will take any case as long as it is sure to put money in his pocket. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Our Picks for The 2019/20 Season: K-12 Edition Felicia Lucas April 23, 2019. 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. Zeta-Jones was, in fact, a professional dancer in London before she decided to leave the chorus line and take her chances with acting, and her dancing in the movie is a reminder of the golden days; the film opens with her "All that Jazz" number, which plays like a promise "Chicago" will have to deliver on. Tu direccin de correo electrnico no ser publicada. The moment a culture have managed to present even the darkest stories in the most upbeat manner possible, you know that they have learned to cope with the burden of life. Funny and powerful. An early shot in "Being Flynn" shows Robert De Niro behind the wheel of a Yellow Cab, and the ground shifts beneath the movie. Mary Sunshine is one of the journalists assigned to cover the development in the murder case of which Roxie Hart is the primary suspect. (tenor) Amos Hart: Age 30-50. Billy is a lot like a Hollywood Agent. Despite representing her, he has little regard or concern for her well-being, or for that matter the well-being of any of his clients, and makes it abundantly clear that he is doing it only for the money. Release Calendar Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Needs to be a strong character actor who can sing and dance well. ???? Add Characters. Join the StageAgent community Innocent, sexy, desperate, selfish. As he explains, This trial. Results may vary. 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. But that in no way meant that he was out of the woods. The actor went on to say that he'd had to draw a line in the sand, that or "I was going to die.". Roxie Hart becomes her antagonist even though she will try to do everything to save her vaudeville career. Beware Terrible view from normal price balcony seats Phantom of the Opera Her Majesty's Theatre, Top 30 Most Influential People in Musical Theater. She is a nave woman with a bad temper. Arrogant and self-centered, she rebuffs the admiration and adulation that Roxie gave her. Roxie harts lover. Grew up in cynical times. This story, lightweight but cheerfully lurid, fueled Bob Fosse, John Kander and Fred Ebb's original stage production of "Chicago," which opened in 1975 and has been playing somewhere or other ever after--since 1997 again on Broadway. We meet Roxie Hart, married early and unwisely, to Amos Hart (John C. Reilly), a credulous lunkhead. 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. The original non-musical play, Chicago, was written in 1926 by Chicago Tribune reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, based on two actual 1924 murder cases. 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. . The singer/songwriter known for songs like "Hip to Be Square," "The Heart of Rock & Roll," and "I Want a New Drug" played Billy Flynn in . The story is inspired by the screaming headlines of the Front Page era and the decade after. [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. Billy Flynn is a master of spin: he can transform the image of a murderer into the image of a tragic victim with incredible ease. In the 2002 film, he was portrayed by Richard Gere, who also played Dennis Peck in Internal Affairs. 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. Chicago. In reality, their beauty and the fleeting fascination of the tabloids is all the chips these women have to play. 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. Character Analysis. I will also talk about my ideas for the costumes for the prison girls. Billy Flynn has been a mainstay on the Chicago blues circuit since the mid-80's. 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. Flynn is a composite character based on real-life Chicago attorneys of the era, William Scott Stewart and W. W. Gain full access to show guides, character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! Ian Kelsey as Billy Flynn in 'Chicago, The Musical' (2006) Uli Weber. A special $1.99 per month offer (for 12 months) is available now for a limited time. I'm an attorney, I did a television show in Chicago, and my public personality is pretty . In our version this person will be performed by a member from the band. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until . Biography: CONTACT BILLY FLYNN: Billy Flynn P.O. HOT. She killed her husband with a carving knife after he found out she cheated on him. The audience. 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 show takes place in Chicago, Illinois in the 1 920s. He has a strong speaking ability, lots of energy and presence. Later we see the girl shooting her lover thrice. 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. 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.". Most versions got it right. American. Next up for Lane is his return to the long-running Broadway revival of "Chicago," where he plays lawyer Billy Flynn. Sexual Content and Dialogue, Violence, The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic, HBOs Rain Dogs Finds Humor, Despair in the Working-Class Mum at its Center, Berlinale Highlights, Part Three: Hummingbirds, Concrete Valley, Afire, The Oneness of All Things: On Sofia Alaouis Animalia, New York International Childrens Film Festival Opens Window to the World. When you write a character analysis, you must define that character's role. Finally, we go to the very thing that made Chicago The Musical unique the kind that you dont realize if the only version you saw is the Hollywood version. Bob Fosse choreographed the protection with his style of jazz hand, side ways shoulder rolls, and bowler hats. It is the story of Roxie Hart (Rene Zellweger), a wannabe cabaret star in 1920s Chicago.She sleeps around unbeknownst to her husband, Amos (John C. Reilly), but has a falling-out with one of her lovers, shoots him and is arrested for murder. She doesnt have the brain. Its the best thing about this musical. She is a woman with the image of a good natured talk show hostess but is actually a high powered gossip columnist. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. 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. The show received both popular and critical acclaim and even made it to Broadway in 1926, running for 172 . As the best lawyer in town, Billy is just as big a celebrity as any of the glitzy, glamorous jazz singers. Get Roxie acquitted for her murder of her lover Fred Casely, Kang the Conqueror (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Its less about the law applicable to her and more about the drama applied on the law available for her to use. The only prop that could have outdone the guns were the feathers that welcomed Billy into the story. Best known as the sweetie little jazz murderess, called by her lawyer Billy Flinn. Typical Chicago cop who has been through this kind of thing many times. 43/6 . References to the '20s ("Roxy's dress is really a flapper dress; there are references to gangsters like . Traditionally in musicals the music is embedded . It's not all breakneck production numbers, but it's never far from one. Killers were romanticized or vilified, cops and lawyers and reporters lived in each other's pockets, and newspapers read like pulp fiction. Just like Velma, she is self-centered and is only concerned with the now, not the aftermath that follows the case once the verdict is handed down. Vocal Part: Bass-Baritone. Amos Hart. Sign up today to unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. 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. If you get the opportunity to see it live, do it. . Innocent, sexy, desperate, selfish. *Our system only provides suggested monologues or songs for select characters if we have matching monologues and song information in our database. She is actually innocent, but because she only speaks Hungarian and refuses to plead guilty, she is found guilty and hanged. Hayden McAllister, a junior who plays Billy Flynn, watched several productions of Chicago to help him prepare for his role. He could have easily taken the fall for his wifes crime if not for his wifes idiocy. 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. "Chicago" continues the reinvention of the musical that started with "Moulin Rouge." Nice try extending her 15 minutes of fame, sucker. The minimalist treatment applied worked too. Club sensation Velma murders her philandering spouse / her sister and Chicago's slickest legal advisor, Billy Flynn is set to shield her. Best known as the best lawyer in all Chicago, Illinois. The Phantom of the Opera: What Was the Monkey Music Box For? So here's our list of audition songs for Chicago, broken down by character. On both stage and screen, Roxie and Velma salvage their meagre existence after prison when they come together, putting aside their instincts to compete with each other in order to dazzle twice as much as a double act. It just so happened that it worked on Roxie too. And that says a lot about some lawyers from the Prohibition Era from this musical is set to today. The same game plan he used on Velma Kelly is the same game plan he used on Roxie Hart. Though we hear lyrics of independence and self-sufficiency, the song feels like a lament. If you are going to edit a lot, then make yourself a user and login. Chicago (2002) Richard Gere as Billy Flynn. Click . Billy Flynn pops by to help the Hayes get Peacock TV! She kills her boyfriend in her apartment after coming home and finding him with two girls. characters are most like you. Box 70381 Milwaukee, WI 53207. Gender: Male. As for Queen Latifah, she's too young to remember Sophie Tucker, but not to channel her. . So its not just a series of jazzed up song-and-dance numbers. 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. Rated PG-13 Flynn has staying power. Sexy, persuasive, manipulative, masculine. but not much is done with the character. "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. Character background [ edit] 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. There is no effort to take such a case seriously and this treatment goes on throughout the show. Now comes word they'll be adding a plus one . He is the person who presents all the vaudeville acts during the whole play. 0 Discussions. Other than that, enjoy Villains Wiki!!! Luckily, she's enlisted the help of hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn, whose influence is also helping make her a household name. Upgrade to PRO In case productions are about to come in your area, you get to read it here. An era of flamboyant youth and flappers, gangsters and gin, and hi-jinks and hilarity. Sometimes you are more interested in the lawyers showmanship than whether the accused deserved to be convicted or not. The Flynn has been at the center of Vermont's cultural landscape for 90 years. And this is vaudeville where people are too happy to react to murders going on. Velma Kelly is one of the main characters in the successful 1975 Broadway musical Chicago. Ring of Keys: Lyrics from Fun Home The Musical, Chicago The Musical lyrics: Cell Block Tango. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Whenever the accused stands trial, dramatic histrionics come into play, the defendant learns how to act (sounds familiar) and the lawyer ends up turning into a scriptwriter, director, agent and press release spinner all in one. 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. The foreigner. Hi. 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. She doesnt have the money. Theatre Owned / Operated by Coronet Theatre Corporation (Lester Osterman and Richard Horner) Produced by Robert Fryer and James Cresson; Produced in association with Martin Richards, Joseph Harris and Ira Bernstein. Show Guides. G. Gillian Russo January 10, 2023, 09:53. That way, he ended up becoming a tool for everyone to exploit. 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. When Roxie found out the true, she killed him with a gun. Billy will take any case as long as it is sure to put money in his pocket. I think its female friendship. Billy Flynn became a lawyer for two reasons: a) the money, and b) because people are schmucks, as easily fooled as children. Chicago is still playing on Broadway and returns to London's West End this spring, after a six-year hiatus, with Cuba Gooding Jr as Billy Flynn, the lawyer who defends both women. Expressive and charismatic. B oat: He once lived on a sailboat in Marina . Roxie Hart, Billy Flynn, Amos Hart. Here Comes Baby: "Days of our Lives" star Billy Flynn (Chad DiMera) and his wife, Gina Comparetto, recently celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary. He is joined in the cast by "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" winner Jinkx Monsoon who plays Mistress Morton. account. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Life is dramatic enough for the sob stories. Sarcastic, sexy, tough, funny. 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. To take advantage of all of CharacTours features, you need your own personal 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. Billy Flynn: Age 35-60. Even on his way . At least, in Chicago The Musical, there are song-and-dance numbers around. William Flynn is a fictional character from the 1926 play Chicago, written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, and its various derivative works and remakes. Whats the one comforting factor in all this? When we support each other, believe each other, and raise up our voices together,thenwe truly triumph. Melodrama is not the only genre that can present stories involving such crimes. lv>Flt-GOa5s(IqHH0b0r@{#@|gXK 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. Even vaudeville has its own spin on sharing these stories. The matron of the Cook County Jail who believes that all favors she gives should be reciprocated or paid for. Get entertainment recommendations for your unique personality and find out which of 5,500+ He was made to believe that Roxie is pregnant with his kid. Billy Flynn. District Attorney who is prosecuting Roxie. Billy Flynn has been a mainstay on the Chicago blues circuit since the mid-80's. In a typical set he'll segue from sophisticated Texas jump blues into raw Delta or postwar-Chicago style sounds. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for Billy Flynn from Chicago. The decision to use non-singers and non-dancers is always controversial in musicals, especially in these days when big stars are needed to headline expensive productions. The queen from the Chicagos press. 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. Some journalists could only be so vulnerable a trait not advisable for their profession. Chicago, Illinois. So we spoke to @, In the depths of January, its easy to be hard on ourselves. 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 . New York, NY, Ages 12-17: Camp Broadway Ensemble @ Carnegie Hall Thanks for reading. 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. to read our character analysis for Billy Flynn and unlock other amazing theatre resources! In the play, he defends Hart and her rival Velma Kelly, winning both cases. He has blue eyes and brown hair. Whether Roxie Hart is already a spotlight hog before she met Billy Flynn or not, meeting Billy Flynn helped spark that fame whore in her. 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 . 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. An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works Do me a little favor, darling. Roxie's simpering sap of a husband, Amos, ponies up some of the cash, and Billy Flynn decides to auction off some Roxie memorabilia to make up the difference. He is Roxie Harts husband. Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse; Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb; Based on the play . Chicago brought Huey Lewis his Broadway debut, too. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists. As he tells Roxie, This is Chicago, kid. 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.