BWW Interviews: CHICAGO's Jeff McCarthy, Roz Ryan Talk Swapping Roles

Manila, Philippines--Suave and swanky, smooth-talking Billy Flynn is personified--almost but not quite that seemingly devoid of heart--in Broadway veteran Jeff McCarthy ("Side Show," Disney's "Beauty and the Beast"), who plays CHICAGO's resident ladykiller and criminal lawyer in its strictly limited Manila run, which closes today, December 21, at The Theatre at Solaire Resort and Casino.

As Jeff and another Broadway veteran Roz Ryan ("Dreamgirls," "Scandalous"), who plays the nurturing matron of the jail cell Matron "Mama" Morton, sit down with BroadwayWorld.com for a brief press call, Jeff launches into accolades and superlatives for his co-stars in the current international touring company of the show.

"I think Bianca [Marroquin]--her Roxie--has so much humanity in the way she does the role. Even if she just stands there--without even doing anything--she invites the audiences in,"he says on Bianca's Roxie Hart, whose careful and calculated character buildup had audiences roaring with laughter and applause during the limited three-week run of CHICAGO.

"The thing about 'All I Care About is Love' is you think 'what the hell is he talking about? Is he making it with all his clients or not? Is he really just in it for the money or does he actually have a higher, altruistic thing where he's trying to help society and the culture, and all that.' That's the most fascinating thing about the role, you just don't know," he says, explaining how his character's banner musical number leads audiences to think twice about Flynn's ultimate life agenda.

"I don't even know that there's one! I don't know, I mean, but even then I think he might be cynical you know? You never know where he's coming from," he adds with a furrow in his brow, relating how he grapples with the elusive moral center to his Billy Flynn.

"Depending on how I feel each evening is where I sort of land and gravitate towards (in whether I'm feeling cynical about that line or any other line); it changes every other day, depending on what's going on in the world when I read the newspapers," Jeff continues, explaining his approach to a role he has just recently stepped back into for CHICAGO's San Francisco and Manila itinerary, in yet another parallel of the hit musical's plot to today's headlines.

When asked what other role he would want to play in CHICAGO, Jeff and Roz both looked at each other, and with big, knowing grins, both admitted they'd want to step into each other's roles for a change, citing how a recent Japan casting of CHICAGO, which had an all-female cast has opened the doors to other possibilities of stunt casting.

"I'd like to play your your role! I'd love to play Mama," Jeff says looking at Roz, and she answers in a deadpan face "I've always wanted to play Billy with an 'ie! Seriously!" And you should take her seriously for Roz holds the record as the longest-running female cast member in the 18-year history of CHICAGO on Broadway.

"I love CHICAGO because it's always new; the show is always different. When I started rehearsing with this cast, I said, 'Here we go again with some brand new stuff. This is new energy. The music is the same, but it's never the same. The audiences are different,'" shares Roz, who claims the show is still amazingly fresh after all these years.

"[And] this cast is unbelievable. I've done this show with Bianca and Terra [MacLeod] about 10 times. But they change the course each time," she adds.

For closing day tickets to CHICAGO, visit ticketworld.com.ph.

How to get to Solaire Resort and Casino

From Mall of Asia:
Take Jose W. Diokno Blvd. South and turn right on Aseana Ave.

From Pasay City:
Take Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. South and turn right on Aseana Ave.

From Makati:
Take EDSA to Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. South, then turn right on Aseana Ave.

Main Photo: Rocky Christopher Fajardo