I would plotz to see Chita Rivera play Velma in CHICAGO on Broadway one more time. I wish it could be in a revival of the original production of CHICAGO, but having her join the current show would be awfully fine:)
yeppers, I know the great lady has been doing Roxie in the revival production....I would love to see her rising on that Velma lift and prancing over that chair and all that jazzing one more time on Broadway:))
Albin, apparently this woman is truly ageless. I suspect they wouldn't need to "dumb down" for Chita. From what I hear she has the same physical abilities as when she created the part of Velma.
I would find it easier to believe her as Velma. After all, Roxy has to convince everyone she is preggers, and that would require a bit too much suspension of my disbelief. But I would pay to see her even if she were playing Amos!
The only alteration of choreography for Chita was the removal of the cartwheel at the end of Hot Honey Rag. But that was 5 years ago and as ageless as she might be, I somehow think I Can't Do It Alone would be beyond her now.
Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.
Many said that she had passed her prime before Spider Woman, too. I don't second guess her abilities at all anymore. I've seen her in good times and bum times and she is still here.