Lately I've been listening to musicals again. And not just any musicals... Flambe musicals! In other words, mainly Fosse. Those kinds of musicals with pizzazz, jazz, the kind that you hear the music and you just want to dance the night away.
I, of course, always look like this when dancing around my kitchen to Fosse.
A musical I adore from Fosse is 'Chicago.' I believe it to be a masterpiece, one that goes beyond just having great music and a great story and great dancing. It's commentary on the corruption of the justice system. And if we're going to have a musical about the corruption of the justice system, where else would it take place but in 'Chicago'?
Quick synopsis if you're not familiar: a woman by the name of Roxie Hart is arrested for the murder of a man with whom she was having an affair. She hires the best lawyer in town, Billy Flynn, to take her case (paid for by her dirt poor auto mechanic husband, Amos). Billie Flynn explains that it doesn't matter whether or not she's guilty, all that matters is putting on a good show for the court and press to gain sympathy for her. Surprise surprise, she's found not guilty.
The best known version of this musical is probably the film version, starring Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart and Richard Gere as Billy Flynn. What I like about it is that it comes up with a creative way of explaining its way out of why people are bursting out into song and dance: Roxie, who is a big fan of jazz and stage, is imagining it like that. They're not really bursting into dance, she's just imagining it that way. But as much as I love the film version, it's compensating for something that you miss when you see it on stage. See, the film version takes place in the twenties (based on the dress and setting). The stage production, however, is purposefully not set in any era. All the cast members wear black and the stage is stark.
Why, you may ask? Well, outside it looking super sexy, it's part of the commentary on the corruption of Chicago law. Because no matter what, the justice system is corrupt. It always has been corrupt, and it always will be corrupt. That's what I love about the ending song, "Nowadays." Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly (the other leading lady in the show) sing about how everything is so wonderful "Nowadays," and how "in fifty years or so, it's gonna change..." But when is "Nowadays" in this world? Never is there any inkling of an era given. And that's exactly the point: in fifty years or so, nothing will change. There's nothing new under the sun... but isn't it good, isn't it grand, isn't it great, isn't it swell?
