Musical Fanatic wrote:
Billy-J.P.
Michael-Gabriel
SB-Elijah
I think its time for a full review of Chicago. With this being the 3rd show left till press opening night. Hopefully there will not be any more major changes to the show. Alright enough for the moment it is 130am Chicago time and I've had it more to follow later.
Review continued
Sat April 10 2010 Mat Next to last preview show and only Billy I had not seen.
Billy-Giuseppe
Michael-Keean
SB-Mark
F-103 Orch. C great seat
Sat April 10 2010 Evening Last show before opening night
Billy-Tommy Were not sure now if he will do opening night.
Michael-Gabriel
SB-Mark
D-9 Orch. L Would definitely sit there again
We were disappointed and happy tonight. Happy to see Tommy but wondering if he will do opening night now. Tommy did get to do the first(unofficial and invite only) preview show and the last. Now back to the mine for me . A quick and polite ranking of readiness by me of the Billy's. Tommy and Cesar can easily carry the show. J.P was very good but young and small limits his reach and stretch a little. Giuseppe with I think only 3 shows under his belt is a little raw yet. Incredible potential for Giuseppe and J.P. in the months to follow. A couple of other small points. Giuseppe has a very high pitch to his voice particularly his screams sometimes. A kind of funny thought but at least Giuseppe and Samuel Pergande(Older Billy) looked like they could be young and older self. Now back to the full review.
Kitchen
One other change that I forgot. When Mum leaves the stage she puts the pajama bottoms on the step. Billy when he is coming down with his trainers comes to the front of stage like normal. When he realize that she is no longer there . Billy goes back up the steps to look for her and then picks up pajama bottoms looks at them and says sadly (mum). Al ine has also been added in here. (Sh*t I'm late) from Billy when he sees George and the other boys coming on stage for boxing.
Shine (continued)
Introduction of the policemen to the stage. There is only 12 people for this part instead of 13 like NY. The side door is kind of far from the stage. So that they, Billy, and the BG's kind of have to hustle to get up on stage. Mr B when he first comes in is carrying a beer bottle and takes a swig before sitting at piano. When Mr B. comes over to help Mrs W. to change for the big number he brings the beer bottle with and she takes a drink.
We'd Go Dancing
I have gotten to enjoy Cynthia Darlows take on Grandma over these ten shows. To me she plays it as a tough old bird who may be going a little senile. More than fine to me.
Solidarity
Emily Skinner plays her Mrs W. as a much rougher exterior less emotional person than Kate Hennig. This is more how I remember London Mrs W that I saw. I hate to say this but I actually like Armand Schultz better in the confrontation with Mrs W,than Phil Whitchurch. He plays it mean and aggressive for whole confrontation. Where Phil calms down some at the end. Mr B. points out to Mrs W. where Billy goes physically after he runs off(points at bathroom)
Expressing Yourself
The wall on the left of set has to swing open than Billy pretends to pull out bedroom. Its mechanical where in NY its manual. While Billy is first seeing Michael in the Dress and saying f-cking h-ll(Tommy is the best at this line not to much of a pause between the words). You see Michael wearing full size stereo headphones and dancing to music. He can't even hear billy's first line. Michael has to take off headphones and says (what) then you get the (you wearing a dress) line.
Dear Billy
I have talked about this in other posts this week. I simply like the Chicago version of this scene better for some reason. It makes more sense and gives more detail. Just before Dear Billy just after the confrontation over the crow bar between Dad and Tony. Billy runs upstairs takes off his robe and grabs his bag. On the way out of the kitchen Billy grabs a can of bake beans and a packet of soup mix. They are not in the bag for him. This actually makes sense with the "I had to wait for me dad to go out line" If you follow my logic maybe that's why Billy brings weird things with him. No time for him to think. Billy than sits in front of the piano to wait for Mrs W. The big thing you loose in this are his screams of anger over the fight between Dad and Tony. As he runs up the steps to his bedroom. He does let out one yell of anger before going up. the confrontation is staged differently between Dad and Tony. Dad is just walking in with a picket sign in his hand when Tony is going out with crowbar. Some small changes to the lines as well.
Born To Boogie
Big change here. Mrs W does not participate in jump rope at all. She only comes in at end to swing it around. All the boys are doing piano flip in Chicago for the minute. Some better than others. Mr B. does a split as part of his dance. Mrs W hands Billy(still wearing ballet shoes) the jump rope The Billy's than do a short piece before going behind piano to change into tap shoes. Mrs W puts tap shoes up on piano and tell him to put them on. . Other small changes. Mr B. is eating nuts instead of rolling a cigarette for his (Diaghilev)line. When he comes barging in Mr B. hits the door so hard he hurts himself and says (ow). The rest is normal to NY.
Angry Dance
Major change to choreography because of the set. The boys climb down a wood support with handholds to get down from bedroom. One recent change that I have noticed with Tommy and Cesar at least when they climb down they look both ways left and right as if they are climbing out a window. The box is built around the standing Billy by the male ensemble. It is made of wood which is later used to help make the coal sign at back. I understand why they do this but the box has no value to Billy's dance. He can't kick it or bang it to hard because it is flimsy. Sound wise it is a black hole. Billy goes in no sound of value comes out. That is the other serious issue with the Oriental. Angry Dance will never be great in Chicago. Fair to good is the best rating because of this. The ending scream they have taken away the re verb that they had started to use. They now turn out the lights just after the scream. They than turn them back on. Billy stands backup to do the look and brushoff at the audience. Then he walks off. Tony and the miners have had some adjustment made to their look and lines in the kitchen scene that starts Angry Dance. They use a massive amount of blood in Chicago on his face,neck and clothes. I am having a senior moment here . Does Will Chase wear a Che Guevara t-shirt in NY ? Yet one more item of note. They do the whole board movement like I remember seeing in NY originally. With Billy getting up on one board. More to follow later.