Something from the "classics you need to know" section: if musicals were a school subject, "Chicago" would be compulsory. But it wouldn't get the "educationally valuable" rating. Media-hungry spouse murderers are not role models for young people! But here they are the stars.
Lust, murder, greed, stardom, eroticism and sensationalism. Chicago" is about all the topics that really interest people. Even those who don't admit it. The story is also taken from real life: in 1924, nightclub singer Belva Gaertner is on trial in Chicago for the murder of her husband. A few weeks later, another woman kills a man: Beulah Annan her lover. Maurine Dallas Watkins, police reporter for the "Chicago Times", is fascinated by the two cases - and writes a play about them. It premiered in New York in 1926 and became the model for the Ginger Rogers film "Roxie Hart". The 1942 film in turn inspired the choreographer Bob Fosse, who adapted the material for the musical "Chicago". It premiered on Broadway in 1975, with Liza Minnelli playing a part at times.
The production is excitingly sensual: the humor is black and so is the stage, the characters and costumes are dark - this contrasts with bare skin and shameless acts of shame. It always remains puritanical, the 14-piece big band is not entrenched in an orchestra pit, but stands exposed on stage - and is occasionally even involved in the action.
Deep black humor, caustically biting punchlines
There's no need for all the technical bells and whistles. This makes "Chicago" a musical in which the actors are left to their own devices. Singing and dancing are basic requirements. But if you really want to shine in "Chicago", you also have to impress with comedy and hit the black humor with punchlines.
"Chicago portrays the American legal system as a subdivision of showbiz", writes the specialist magazine "Musicalplanet". The play is reminiscent of satirical revues à la Brecht/Weill - Mackie Messer sends his regards - and the sequence of bitingly funny songs "looks like a comic strip etched with acid", praises the Broadway gazette "Stagebill".
"Chicago portrays the American legal system as a subdivision of showbiz"
The murderous musical soon began its triumphal march around the world: 30 countries, 12 languages, 17,000 performances, 17 million viewers. The song "All That Jazz" becomes a global hit. In 1997, "Chicago" is revived on Broadway, followed in 2002 by the film version with Catherine-Zeta Jones and Renée Zellweger.
In November, "Chicago" can be seen for the first time in Zurich. In terms of quality, the production in the original English version will be in no way inferior to the version that has been staged continuously for 20 years at the Ambassador Theater in New York: A touch of Broadway is coming to Zurich-Oerlikon.
CHICAGO THE MUSICAL
08-20.11.16, Theater 11 Zurich
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