MUNY's Production of "Chicago" with Patti Murin and Natascia Diaz

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 6:06pm

I looked at the video and was intrigued by the differences in costumes and choreography. Well, I admire them for performing outside in the hot weather. Thoughts? from RC in Austin, Texas
MUNY's CHICAGO

[DAME]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 7:02pm

I would be very curious to hear what people who actually go and see it think. I must say.. it is nice to see someone going back to the non revival version.

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 7:18pm

I have tickets for Thursday. It's supposed to be 106 degrees.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 7:32pm

Having just closed a production of Chicago last week, I'm curious to hear how they handle the Mary Sunshine reveal with Patti playing the role.

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 8:37pm

John Kander will actually be there tomorrow, and that's whose impressions I'd really like to hear.

[DAME]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 8:46pm

Any footage of Jackie Hoffman would be great.

[castlestreet]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 9:15pm

I agree with Dame- wonderful to see someone get away from the Walter Bobby version.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 9:23pm

Looks like it's set in the Harmonia Gardens.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 9:46pm

^Seriously. It looks like they're just performing on a set for another musical that they just had in storage somewhere.

Justin doesn't look half bad though. I'm surprised the Weisslers haven't had him in the revival. I bet they will.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 11:26pm

no sure the costumes work. so used to the all black costumes from the revival.

[DAME]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 11:53pm

Well that is just because that is what your used to.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 11:55pm

UMMMM. How did I not know that Jackie Hoffman is playing Mama?

[RainbowJude]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 12:27am

BrdwyTh wrote: Having just closed a production of CHICAGO last week, I'm curious to hear how they handle the Mary Sunshine reveal with Patti (Cohenour) playing the role.

At best, it could be passed off as a woman playing a man playing a woman. But it's not ideal: the choice to make Mary Sunshine female not only derails a plot point in the show (as has been mentioned above), but also clearly goes against the intention of the creators in their choice to use a character in drag as a symbol that builds into the show's themes and satirical commentary and goes against the concept of using typical vaudville acts, in this case a Julian Eltinge-type drag act, to tell the story.

morosco wrote: Looks like it's set in the Harmonia Gardens.

CATSNYrevival wrote: Seriously. It looks like they're just performing on a set for another musical that they just had in storage somewhere.

True that. It looks horrid.

CATSNYrevival wrote: Justin doesn't look half bad though.

Pity about the way he sounds though. (As though the whole thing is just too low for him to sing it comfortably.)

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:04am

There's a bit more footage of the production at this link, which is a review a local station does with a woman who attends all the shows. She thought both Patti and Justin sounded great; a little less enthusiasm for Natascia.

http://www.ksdk.com/video/1708179901001/1/Muny-Mom-review-of-Chicago

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:19am

RainbowJude, that's exactly my problem with casting Mary Sunshine as a woman. Billy's line before the reveal "Things aren't always what they seem" makes no sense unless it's played by a man.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:24am

I saw a production once where Mary Sunshine was played by a woman. When Billy said "Things are not always what they seem" she grabbed Mama Morton and kissed her, I guess implying the big reveal is that she was gay. It didn't really work there, either.

Honestly, I don't think it looks that bad. The Muny is ginormous, so realism and detail in the sets is usually kind of pointless. I wonder how the new LED screen they have is working out.

I WILL be seeing Grandma Effie in Dreamgirls in a few weeks, though!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:32am

From these video clips it looks like the whole show is set in roxy's living room...

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:43am

Phyllis Rogers Stone, GOOD GOD. That reveal doesn't work either. How could Mama be physically in the courtroom when seconds before she was listening to the trial via the radio with Velma? I'm just surprised that the MUNY went with a woman when there are plenty of men out there capable of singing the role.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:14am

I wonder what the Muny's reasoning is, too. I could get all het up and say it's probably because they think it's too controversial to have a man in drag, but I really don't think it's that. Then I thought maybe the reveal would be lost on half the theatre because the Muny is so effing big.

My guess is that they'll just cut that line, much like the movie. But I dunno. Hopefully theatredrew will come back to the tread and tell us how they handled it after he sees it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:18am

I just feel really blessed to be able to enjoy these clips of Natascia's journey.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:37am

Natascia is amazing! I'm loving that optional note she takes at the end of the reprise of All That Jazz.

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 6/29/12 at 3:38pm

I really enjoyed this production. It was 108 degrees in St. Louis yesterday and if the show had been a dog, it would have been miserable to sit there for 2 1/2 hours. The attendance looked pretty good despite the record heat, which is reflecting a lot of positive word of mouth. I'd like to see it a second time, in fact.

I haven't seen seen the Broadway revival, so I can't nit-pick in comparison to it. From what I've seen, the Broadway show is stripped down, black and white. This production is lavish--bright colored costumes on the leads, a huge ensemble (I think someone said 47 people) that at times were all on stage together. I thought it captured the Vaudeville context well, including an almost literal 3-ring circus on stage during Razzle Dazzle.

The main leads did a great job. They were all in great voice. I was skeptical of Natascia's ability to draw me in but she did. I think it was also the first time I've seen Justin do some serious dancing, and he's very smooth on his feet. Patti did well with the vixen mix of her character. The guy who played Amos was a local favorite who had some resemblance to Joel Grey.

As for Mary Sunshine, they simply cut the reveal. Her character stayed the "sob sister" she appeared to be, which was fine in and of itself. She ended up playing the role of audience, in effect, rather than being one of the acts. Maybe it plays more cynically if you get that she's really a he? "A Little Bit of Good" was the only moment that fell flat for me, but that was because I didn't think the performer was particularly good. It played like a soap-opera loving, middle-aged frau trying to sing like a Disney princess.

All in all, it was a fun night of music and dance. It's so impressive what they do with 10 days of preparation, and not simply throwing a clone of a show up on stage. The performers have to love playing to appreciative audiences that are three times as big as the largest house on Broadway.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/29/12 at 7:10pm

"The performers have to love playing to appreciative audiences that are three times as big as the largest house on Broadway."

Three times the largest house on Broadway would be more like the Fox Theatre. On a sold out night at the Muny you have about 11,000 in attendance, so you are between 5 to 6 times bigger than any theatre on Broadway.

That being said I used to love going to the Muny when I was working in St. Louis. One of the things I do miss about my summers there (though I don't miss the heat and humidity).

[DAME]

Posted: 6/29/12 at 7:16pm

Does the Muny ever sell out?

Updated On: 6/29/12 at 07:16 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/29/12 at 7:25pm

It was 108 here yesterday, AEA AGMA SM!

Dame, I think some concerts might have sold out before, but I don't recall it ever being completely sold out for a musical.