billy flynn chicago character analysis billy flynn chicago character analysis

New York, NY, Accessibility Statement Terms Privacy |StageAgent 2020. Stream #DaysofourLives exclusively on @PeacockTV beginning this Monday September 12th. Gain full access to show guides, character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! Sexy, funny, powerful and tough. No wonder Chicago has been honored with 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy, and thousands of standing ovations. Chicago Play Critique Character Analysis. To take advantage of all of CharacTours features, you need your own personal Whether intentionally or not, it brings to light some salient truths about the treatment of women by systems of power. According to all our favourite depictions of this time, it was one of sexual liberation, misbehaving women, and the heady, corrupting, influence of jazz music and abundant liquor. . She killed her husband with a carving knife after he found out she cheated on him. . She even bragged it to Mama Morton. Then its all back to the black chairs in presenting a story meant to be funny. It features Billy Flynn, the corrupt lawyer Roxie Hart, as he attempts to turn her trial into a media circus. Paul Dano is an actor who can be distant and mystifying. Roxie doesn't have one, so Mama suggests the best criminal lawyer in Chicago, BILLY FLYNN. Whenever the accused stands trial, dramatic histrionics come into play, the defendant learns how to act (sounds familiar) and the lawyer ends up turning into a scriptwriter, director, agent and press release spinner all in one. The comparison, though satirical, strikes a rather serious chord under all the cabaret, cursing and relentless . He is also flamboyant and narcissistic in the way that he can tell he is superior to everyone around him and always uses his charisma to assist him whenever possible. Nor about Billy Flynn. All that is viewed legal of course. Despite the uncomfortable way in which our social media punitive system can manifest (thanks to the brevity of public attention and tendency to accept headlines as representative of a whole), one thing remains true: we cannot rely on the system for justice, particularly when it comes to holding men accountable for their treatment of women. !, thus including him in the swelling ranks of 1920sf*ckboygaslighters. He has blue eyes and brown hair. Unfortunately, your shopping bag is empty. The show takes place in Chicago, Illinois in the 1 920s. Tom Hewitt is currently . A vaudeville is a light, comic number, combining music and pantomime to entertain - but not to educate, or suggest a lesson in morality. Join the StageAgent community Billy Flynn has been a mainstay on the Chicago blues circuit since the mid-80's. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. As he tells Roxie, This is Chicago, kid. Nora would force him inside the . They'll love you a lot more when you hang. Originally, when the score was being written for the stage, Roxie was intended as the focus of the narrative, but concerns about the health and stamina of leading lady Gwen Verdon lead to more stage time being given to Velmas character. (}1({SZW+]U|x Most versions got it right. Club sensation Velma murders her philandering spouse / her sister and Chicago's slickest legal advisor, Billy Flynn is set to shield her. <> Billy is a lot like a Hollywood Agent. That's about $60,000 in modern day buckaroos. Instead of remorse, she felt so much pride at the sight of her name on the broadsheets front page discussing the horrors of her double homicide case. xZMo6W\`e .z(zk+QH}-MflY)z2h3`~n1qv?? Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for Billy Flynn from Chicago. References to the '20s ("Roxy's dress is really a flapper dress; there are references to gangsters like . Cause that sells more papers!Billy during his argument with Roxie. Charming, funny, vulnerable, timid man. Completely loyal and devoted to his beloved wife. You can watch it like you listen to an album, over and over; the same phenomenon explains why "Moulin Rouge" was a bigger hit on DVD than in theaters. She is a nave woman with a bad temper. He can make the court believe that his client is not a murderer but only an innocent soul pushed to a corner into fighting back. It featured A-list actors and actresses varying from Renee Zellweger who played the main character Roxie Hart to Richard Gere who played lawyer Billy Flynn. While professionally a lawyer, in the story he was more like a press relations officer and a spin doctor. Gwen Verdon: Roxie Hart: Chita Rivera: Velma Kelly: Jerry Orbach: Billy Flynn: Barney Martin: Amos Hart: Mary McCarty: Matron Mama Morton: M. O'Haughey: Mary Sunshine: . Its less about the law applicable to her and more about the drama applied on the law available for her to use. . Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until . Mary Sunshine is one of the journalists assigned to cover the development in the murder case of which Roxie Hart is the primary suspect. Chicago (2002) Richard Gere as Billy Flynn. But she has Amos who may be way dumber than Roxie will ever be. I want to talk to my lawyer, a line that accused individuals say whenever they feel cornered and in need of someone to speak on their behalf. Congratulations are in order for Days of Our Lives fave Billy Flynn (Chad) and his wife, actress Gina Comparetto. And even folks who never attended law school can tell how he managed to defend Roxie Hart. Prior to Mike & Molly, Gardell was known for playing another cop - Jeff Hoyne - on My Name Is Earl and is currently starring in another Chuck Lorre sitcom, Bob Hearts . The queen from the Chicagos press. Billy is a smart, educated lawyer who can persuade anyone to do anything. The film has budget on its side, and you would be forgiven for buying into the razzle dazzle; but the comparative shabbiness of the showcurrently running at the Phoenix Theatre, London, undermines the audiences ability to suspend their disbelief. The decision to use non-singers and non-dancers is always controversial in musicals, especially in these days when big stars are needed to headline expensive productions. In the end he manages to get Roxie acquitted, largely on account of turning the trial into a media circus. Biography: CONTACT BILLY FLYNN: Billy Flynn P.O. New York, NY, Linda Ray Definitely the kind of lawyer you would hire because his antics can work to your, hes worth the money paid. Click . HOT. You can like the life youre living, you can live the life you like; you can even marry Harry or mess around with Ike, Roxie and Velma sing, all the while suggesting that they wont be tricked into dependence on HarryorIke. Naturally we dont condone murder at Harpy Mag (no, not even of your awful ex, sorry), but as this dynamic sextet protest how could you tell me that I was wrong?, the various stabbings, shootings and poisonings seem almost justified. He makes it interesting. Character Analysis (Avoiding Spoilers) . An era of flamboyant youth and flappers, gangsters and gin, and hi-jinks and hilarity. New York, NY, Ages 12-17: Camp Broadway Ensemble @ Carnegie Hall Sometimes I view that as commentary on people living in that era as sanitized enough with too manymurder cases that it has reached a point of being funny. The only prop that could have outdone the guns were the feathers that welcomed Billy into the story. He only accepts cases that can match his attorneys fee, quite hefty enough to push Amos to bankruptcy. Characters Casts Crews. Just like Velma, she is self-centered and is only concerned with the now, not the aftermath that follows the case once the verdict is handed down. As the best lawyer in town, Billy is just as big a celebrity as any of the glitzy, glamorous jazz singers. The moment a culture have managed to present even the darkest stories in the most upbeat manner possible, you know that they have learned to cope with the burden of life. Gender: Male. Get Access. And no feel-good musical would dare tell you the truth in barely-there clothing and fishnet stockings. A special $1.99 per month offer (for 12 months) is available now for a limited time. "Chicago" is a Musical with music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The undefeated lawyer, Billy Flynn was originally Velma Kellys lawyer. William "Billy" Flynn is the deuteragonist of the musical Chicago, and all of its adaptations. Hugh Jackman was apparently offered the role, but declined due to him thinking that he was too young. And of course, Roxie Hart, the heart (pun intended) for the murder case that Flynn has spun into a media spectacle. account. Teachers are striking - and its about time. THIS FEATURE IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PRO MEMBERS. Richard Gere is Billy Flynn, the slick, high-priced attorney who boasts he can beat any rap, for a $5,000 fee. Flynn, who has never lost a case, now only takes the most high-profile clients. Veronica. "My great-grandmother and I would play dress up," recounts Flynn. WhenChicago was first adapted into a Broadway musical by John Kander,Fred Ebb, andBob Fosse, each musical number was written in the vaudeville style. Just click Like on our official Facebook page, MusicalsOnline.com, and follow us on Twitter @musicalsnews. Billy Flynn became a lawyer for two reasons: a) the money, and b) because people are schmucks, as easily fooled as children.Living at the top of 1920s Chicago society. . 200,000 people annually attend performances on the Main Stage and in Flynn Space. We stand wi, "Beginning is at once a masterful composition of observational comedy, and an incredibly moving commentary on moder, Misinformation and lack of knowledge often turn our bodily fluids into a taboo. Beware Terrible view from normal price balcony seats Phantom of the Opera Her Majesty's Theatre, Top 30 Most Influential People in Musical Theater. Flynn is a composite character based on real-life Chicago attorneys of the era, William Scott Stewart and W. W. He is joined in the cast by "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" winner Jinkx Monsoon who plays Mistress Morton. Plays the judge in the courtroom scene. Open Document. Husband: Charlie. Billy will take any case as long as it is sure to put money in his pocket. Add Characters. I just realized how several versions of All That Jazz, Funny Honey and Razzle Dazzle sung outside the Hollywood really got me thinking about this hit musical. Seeking 2 Actor Team for Spring Her statements regarding the murder case conflicted after her lawyer, Billy Flynn, got preoccupied with his other client. Chicago, a musical originally choreographed, directed and co-written by the legendary Bob Fosse in 1975, is the story of Roxie Hart, a wannabe cabaret star in 1920s Chicago. A character that I either despise or feel bad for, Amos Hart is one that you could easily remember as the blindly loyal husband to Roxie. Mama is the matron of Cook County Jail. A topnotch vaudeville performer, Velma Kelly was incarcerated for her murder of her husband and her sister after catching them in bed. "I'm a work in progress," he shared. Watkins loosely based Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly, Billy Flynn and other characters in the play off the individuals involved in these famed Chicago courtroom proceedings. Billy is a suave, educated lawyer who can persuade anyone to do anything. When you write a character analysis, you must define that character's role. Sometimes you are more interested in the lawyers showmanship than whether the accused deserved to be convicted or not. The matron of the Cook County Jail who believes that all favors she gives should be reciprocated or paid for. Chicago is still playing on Broadway and returns to London's West End this spring, after a six-year hiatus, with Cuba Gooding Jr as Billy Flynn, the lawyer who defends both women. "I'm an alcoholic and an addict," one who's been in recovery for coming up on three years. Her role is a memorable one since the song When Youre Good to Mama is pretty straight-forward about her agenda. The Phantom of the Opera: What Was the Monkey Music Box For? Amos is not very good looking and he is not very Smart. A master manipulator, Billy knows just how and when to sound sincere for maximum effect. Ha rd e n e d b y f a me , Velma is in it for the fame. "The Prince of Darkness", was a narcissistic and prolific serial rapist, robber, abductor, one-time cop killer, and serial-turned-spree killer who appeared in Seasons Five and Six of Criminal Minds. Her statements regarding the murder case conflicted after her lawyer, Billy Flynn, got preoccupied with his . Velma has already captured the attention of newspaper readers, but after the poor sap Amos pays Billy his fee, a process begins to transform Roxie into a misunderstood heroine. Roxie is not very bright and never thinks about the consequences of her actions before she says or does things, but She will does whatever it takes to be a huge star. By day, Roxie cleans, cooks and washes- but by night, she frequents Chicago's notorious jazz clubs with her lover, Fred Casely. The Road To Chicago. In the original Broadway version of the musical, he was portrayed by the late Jerry Orbach, who also played Sa'Luk in Disney's Aladdin and the King of Thieves, and King Charlatan in the 1984 My Little Pony series. I will also talk about my ideas for the costumes for the prison girls. He has never lost a case involving a female defendant in his whole career, but in turn charges high fees for his services ($5,000), demands payment in full up-front, and never takes pro bono work. Beware Terrible view from normal price balcony seats Phantom of the Opera Her Majesty's Theatre, Top 30 Most Influential People in Musical Theater. She then realized the extent of her arrogance once Roxie pointed out to her that shes been pushed off the front page. I think its female friendship. The guns got used in Roxies scene and in the heiresss scene. She sleeps around unknown to her husband, Amos, but has a falling-out with one of her lovers, shoots him and is arrested for murder. Also, there are some Kander and . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Crea un blog o un sitio web gratuitos con WordPress.com. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. It starts with Roxie Hart's cold-blooded murder of Fred Casely. . Roxie has several press . And yet, Mama Morton (Mazz Murray) and Velma (Josefina Gabrielle) share excellent chemistry and steal the show at the Phoenix when they team up for a rendition of Class. If you get the opportunity to see it live, do it. As the best lawyer in town, Billy is just as big a celebrity as any of the glitzy, glamorous jazz singers. Hi. Billy is a calm, smooth-talking and charismatic lawyer who always looks for loopholes and twists the truth in order for him to win his clients' cases. With the kind of ambition that tried to make up for what she lacked in intelligence, she found it so easy to ride along Flynns scheme of turning her into a pious woman, at least for the cameras. He has never lost a case involving a female defendant in his whole career, but in turn charges high fees for his services ($5,000), demands payment in full . The late 1920s. Comparetto shared the exciting news on social media along with nearly two dozen 60s-inspired photos that show off her baby bump and the couple's enthusiasm about the next chapter of their lives. Hes also not above putting words in his clients mouths, if they arent telling their story the way he want them to.Interests money. Do me a little favor, darling. Change Photo Log Report Last Update: 1 week ago. Lawyers William Scott Stewart and W. W. O'Brien were models for a composite character in Chicago, "Billy Flynn". Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists. In our version this person will be performed by a member from the band. 144/11. Sarcastic, sexy, tough, funny. And this is vaudeville where people are too happy to react to murders going on. If Billy is the Agent, Mama would be considered the Manager. Afterwards he happily leaves Roxie to fend for herself, again showing that he never cared about her in the slightest. The singer/songwriter known for songs like "Hip to Be Square," "The Heart of Rock & Roll," and "I Want a New Drug" played Billy Flynn in . Results may vary. Best of 2022 Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. % The reason is that it isn't about Roxie. The introductory number of Billy Flynn is a dreamy number that showcases how the sensational lawyer gets the job done and pleases his clients. And jail never tempered her need to be on the papers for the sake of remaining relevant. He is genuinely polite and determined despite being rather selfish and in the cases for himself. Roxie harts lover. We only provide suggested audition monologues or songs for an individual character if our system finds content that matches a character's traits. Who would have thought the minimalist presentation of a musical would experience as many revivals as it is now? Billy Flynn stands six feet tall. Her best attempts at intelligence are only apparent because her husband, Amos, is dumber than her. In the original Broadway version of the musical, he was portrayed by the late Jerry Orbach, who also played Sa'Luk in Disney's Aladdin and the King of Thieves, and King . 43/6 . She is a nave woman with a bad temper. American. " Razzle Dazzle " is a song featured in the 1975 Broadway musical Chicago and its 2002 film adaptation of the same name. Luckily, she's enlisted the help of hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn, whose influence is also helping make her a household name. The story is inspired by the screaming headlines of the Front Page era and the decade after. Billy Gardell plays Chicago police officer Mike who starts attending an Overeaters Anonymous group to lose weight where he meets soulmate Molly. Thanks for reading. Even if she seems to be silly and childish, also she can be really dangerous. Since Chicago is a 1970s musical that's set in the 1920s, most of the songs below are either from pre-contemporary musicals or musicals that are set in the 1920s. Living at the top of 1920s Chicago society. Manipulated easily, Amos is the only character in Chicago whose motives are entirely pure, never selfish and hes the only character who really loses ultimately. And that says a lot about some lawyers from the Prohibition Era from this musical is set to today. New York, NY, Ages 12-17: Camp Broadway Ensemble @ Carnegie Hall I am referring to how a criminal proceeding was presented with such chutzpah, you realize how such presentation ends up becoming a lot more honest about the legal proceedings. So here's our list of audition songs for Chicago, broken down by character. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Billy Flynn is a master of spin: he can transform the image of a murderer into the image of a tragic victim with incredible ease. As for Queen Latifah, she's too young to remember Sophie Tucker, but not to channel her. The vaudeville is perfect for a caricature of 1920s Chicago, where life seemed to occur exclusively in the seductive smog of jazz bars, and rejecting the moral norms of previous decades wastrs la mode. Chicago is a musical that tells womens stories predominantly through performances by female characters, so itshould feel like an empowering romp from one of the raciest decades of American history. Chicago is about you. Billy Flynn is one of the city of Chicago's most effective defense attorneys; he can win any trial and usually represents women who have murdered their lovers. "Chicago" is a musical that might have seemed unfilmable, but that was because it was assumed it had to be transformed into more conventional terms. ???? A topnotch vaudeville performer, Velma Kelly was incarcerated for her murder of her husband and her sister after catching them in bed. The all-black costumes (think of your GCSE drama class performances) and disappointingly simple set (they manage to rustle up some confetti for Duncan James rendition of Razzle Dazzle, but thats about as fun as it gets) unintentionally reveals the fragile illusion of glamour that the characters ofChicago have consumed. B oat: He once lived on a sailboat in Marina . Billy Gardell - Mike Biggs. Ring of Keys: Lyrics from Fun Home The Musical, Chicago The Musical lyrics: Cell Block Tango. Learn. Bob Fosse choreographed the protection with his style of jazz hand, side ways shoulder rolls, and bowler hats. Life is dramatic enough for the sob stories. Here Comes Baby: "Days of our Lives" star Billy Flynn (Chad DiMera) and his wife, Gina Comparetto, recently celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary. Velma Kelly and her sister Veronica had a double-act at "The Onyx", but one night before their show Velma caught her husband Charlie in the act with her sister Veronica, so she . This upsets Velma greatly as she becomes old news. From main characters to cameos and minor roles, these characters are the reason why the movie is loved by film buffs around the world. At least, in Chicago The Musical, there are song-and-dance numbers around. Get Roxie acquitted for her murder of her lover Fred Casely, Kang the Conqueror (Marvel Cinematic Universe). So we spoke to @, In the depths of January, its easy to be hard on ourselves. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists, See more characters from The Hungarian girl. Flynn has staying power. Watkins' sensational columns documenting these trials proved so popular that she decided to write a play based on them. Show Guides. And the moment that she realized that the new girl in town has taken up her space on the front page in several publications, she then tried to pair up with her for a vaudeville performance. But for the most part the film runs on solid-gold cynicism. Also he could easily be swayed into thinking one way by persuasion only to change his mind upon getting into another persuasion all over again as shown as how he immediately changed his mind into supporting Roxie again. But when Roxie Hart (Rene Zellweger) also winds up in prison, Billy takes on her case as well - turning her into a media circus of headlines. He was made to believe that Roxie is pregnant with his kid. Some things haven't changed indeed. Amos Hart. Despite representing her, he has little regard or concern for her well-being, or for that matter the well-being of any of his clients, and makes it abundantly clear that he is doing it only for the money.