| Director's Notes |
| Chicago is based on a 1926 play by Maureen Dallas Watkins of the smae name, and the 1940s movie "Roxie" starring Ginger Rodgers. Ms Watkins' play is a fictionalised account of a true story - the sensational murder in the 1920s Chicago by a married woman of her lover, and the subsequent mockery that charaded as her trial, as she and her lawyer pulled every stunt in the book to have her acquitted. They succeeded and the woman became a celebrity as a result. Bob Fosse and his wife Gwen Verdon obtained the stage rights from Ms Watkins' estate after her death in the mid-1960s. Their collaboration with the renowned partnership of composer John Kander and Lyricist Fred Ebb resulted in a show that at least on paper is what you see in our production. Chicago opened on Broadway in 1975, and was somewhat overshadowed by "A Chorus Line", that opened to rave reviews just a few weeks earlier. However, Chicago's run was impressive, and it gained a reputation as a classy, well-written and stylish work. it played in various productions around the world after that, including a successful 1985 Hobart production by the now defunct Forum Theatre Copmany, directoed and choreographed by Garry Armstrong (who also played Billy Flynn!). I had the honour of designing the lighting for that production, given an opportunity as a raw, untrained yet very eager 19 year old (as we have done with one of our technical designers on this production) From that production grew a love for the music, the style and the story of Chicago. Since I started directing shows in 1987 my thoughts have often turned to Chicago. If I ever had the opportunity to direct a musical, I thought, i'd like Chicago to be the one! In 1995 Chicago, considered by many to be permanently inhabiting that theatrical wasteland of being a show that had seen its Broadway days and now belonged in "stock" or amateur production only, got a sudden and sensational new lease of life. A Broadway revival was planned and staged by City Centre ENCORE! series and director Walter Bobbie's new stripped back and painted black interpretation of this great show immediately wowed all those who saw it. It has been playbing on Broadway for over six years now, and shows no sign of closing just yet. The West End production in the same "revival" style, also directed by Bobbie, has been a hit since 1997. An Australian production (again directed by Bobbie) amazed Sydney and Melbourne in 1998/99, and since then Chicago has triumphed in every major theatre city on the planet. A movie version has been "in the works" for years and the latest news has Catherine Zeta Jones and Renee Zeillweger as the lead characters, with a film release date of 2003. Anne Reinking, who has choreographed most of the "revival" style productions, will also choreograph the movie. Chicago has been a happy performing ground for some of the greats of modern musical theatre. From the 1975 Broadway pairing of Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon, Chicago has been a dream show for actresses. Our talented duo of Kalo Cocker and Rachel Webb follow in the footsteps of Bebe Neuwirth, Anne Reinking, Marilu Henner, Ute Lemper, Ruthie Henshall, Sandy Duncan, Leigh Zimmermann, Denise Van Outen, Caroline O'Connor, Chelsea Gibb and many others. I am honoured, thrilled and excited to have directed Chicago finally, and at a time when it is such a huge show across the world. I owe a huge debt of inspiration to Walter Bobbie whose style is now the accepted starting point for producing Chicago and has made Chicago so much more than it used to be and to Bob Fosse the legendary genius who co-wrote the book, directed and choreographed Chicago to begin with, without whom there would be no Chicago for so many of us to love. I am also honoured to have directed this terrific cast, and to have again worked so closely with the established Pierrot Productions team - the immensely talented and dedicated Sally Angus, Ben van Tienen, Amanda Harper, Kath Barbieri and Chris Jacobson. I hope that whether new to Chicago or already a fan, you will enjoy what we ahve put together for you. And All That Jazz! David Walch Director |