chicago

Question 1

origins of chicago

Answer 1

was based on a play writen by maureen dallas watkins which was of actual crimes in the 20s

crime was prevelant because of the prohibition and womens new found freedom without
chaperones

most murderess at the time were aquitted of their crimes and the media glamouised it making them celebs

1920s - hight of vaudville each dance is supposed to be a vaudville act

Question 2

who was roxy based off of

Answer 2

bula may anan

Question 3

who did the music and lyrics

Answer 3

music - john kander
lyrics - fred ebb

Question 4

when was it set

Answer 4

1920s
prohibition era
speak easys
banning acohol

Question 5

how does fosses own experience impact chicago

Answer 5

he was 13 when he strated dancing in berlesque / strip clubs
the expose to the sexual atmosphere had an effect on him

his heart attack made the whole show darker

Question 6

how does we both reach for the gun nod to vaudville

Answer 6

ventriloquist

Question 7

who played roxy in 1975

Answer 7

gwen virgin ( fosses wife )

Question 8

influences

Answer 8

vaudville - the whole musical is shown in vaudville acts - movement styles
maureen dalas watkins
1920s
early life - berlesque clubs - especially on choreo ( cell block tango)
he was heavy drinker and smoker and a womaniser
jack cole - theatrical jazz - provocative clothing
heart attack

Question 9

why was chicago revalvent to the 70s

Answer 9

desire for sexual freedom
women empowerment

Question 10

style

Answer 10

finger snaps
pelvic thrusts
swinging hips
splayed hands shoulder rolls
pigeon toes
angular possitions
grounded
syncopation
sensuality
revealing costumes

Question 11

impact of chicago

Answer 11

film in 2002
iconic style
still on broadway
choreo doesnt change
on broadway 1975 - 1977
revived in 1996
iconic
development of his style - more sexual
audidence love criminals suggesting that the public love criminals making it attractive

Question 12

all that jazz knowledge

Answer 12

introduces velma as the host - talks to the audience and breaks the 4th wall - refernce to texas ginan who was a 1920s vaudville performer
invites the audience into vaudville
music visualisation
direct corralation
provocative actions

Question 13

cell block tango knowledge

Answer 13

each murderess is telling their story
glamourisinig murder
isolation
female empowerment
they arent sorry and have no fear
use of chairs

Question 14

we both reached for the gun knowledge

Answer 14

nod to ventriloquist acts
Billy flynn calls her a dumby
relationship between the press and the court - everything is public - corruption

Question 15

all that jazz provocative movement motif

Answer 15

In the opening of All That Jazz the dancers stand in a triangle formation with velma at the front. They stand with their left supporting leg bent and the right in a bent second position on the ball of the foot. The dancers thrust their hips towards the bent leg and back again in isolation on the accents of the music after we hear ‘i’m gonna rouge my knees and roll my stockings down’

Question 16

they both reached for the gun motif jack cole and theatrical jazz

Answer 16

In the section They Both Reached For The Gun from the musical Chicago, Roxie and her lawyer Billy are at a press conference discussing the murder. Roxie is performing like his ventriloquist doll; specifically when she is stood up and then Billy puts his hands around her waist pulling her onto his lap and she takes small steps shuffling back with her arms at right angle and hands in an egg cup shape.

Question 17

cell block tango motif - early life / promiscuity

Answer 17

the 6 murderesses are on a chair each facing the audience as they take it in turns to tell their story. in between they hold promiscuous possitions, one of these being an open lung over the chair with their right lung in front bent on the ball of their feet and the left leg streched out behind

Question 18

interpretation of cell block tango motif

Answer 18

this can be linked back to fosses early when at the age of 13 years old he started dancing at strip clubs and berlesque bars. this exposure to such sexulaised movement influenced fosse into using the choreography in cell block tango to display the murderesses promiscuity

Question 19

interpretation of they both reached for the gun motif

Answer 19

this movement exemplifies the theatrical influences of jack cole because of Roxies overly theatrical actions which is used in thai section to convey the story line of Roxie being controlled by her lawyer and unable to tell her own less appealing story. Billy makes sure to convey to the journalists a story that is likeable.

Question 20

interpretation of all that jazz motif

Answer 20

This is sexually provocative and could be inspired by Bob Fosse’s early career in Vaudeville. The sexually provocative style supports the seduction of the lead female as she manipulates us into focusing on her stardom rather than the crimes she has committed.